cudak888 

A local friend sent me photos of this powdercoated mystery meat that he's considering from a local seller. The seller insists, in levels of stupidity that are sublimely ridiculous, that it's a Cinelli. Because, of course, the myriad of slapped-on stickers don't make a bike a Cierckxanagook, they make it a Cinelli, because that's what the biggest aftermarket decal says it is.

Stupidity of the human race aside, I've been asked if I can identify it, and I'm frankly at a loss because I'm almost certain it is a SR Semi Pro Aero...except for one major variance. Everything matches - including the really distinct rounded-end seatstay caps - until you get to that grub-screw seatpost binder. Somehow, the original 600AX post has also survived with it, which someone has unceremoniously rammed lower than it should be:



Far as I know, the SR Semi-Pro Aero used an aero-shaped lug with a conventional pinch bolt, which is the one thing that completely mystifies me.

Any thoughts? Fork even has the proper sloping crown.



Here's the rest of what I have for it. Not really much to extrapolate other than the over-the-BB cable guides.







-Kurt

Campagnerdo 

A pic of the serial number would probably clinch it...

cudak888 

Seller's pics, don't have an SN at the moment.

-Kurt

MauriceMoss

The seller is wrong. It's a Shimano, it says so right there.


There's also a slight chance that it's a Shogun 1000AX







There were at least two more versions of the aero Shogun, with a different (more traditional) seat cluster, as well as cable routing along the top of the top tube.

cudak888 

Well, that certainly looks like a dead ringer for it, seat cluster and all. I notice one has a curved lug and one a flat lug; perhaps a running change to accommodate that seatpost gasket?

Side note: I should have considered that the stays were also a part of this Tange tubeset and would therefore be shared between manufacturers.

-Kurt

pastorbobnlnh 

Just for comparison's sake, here's a close-up of the seat-stay cluster on the Lotus Super Pro Aero.

Looks like a Merckx-Cinelli hybrid to my untrained eye.

stardognine

Aha, I thought I remembered seeing that odd duck binder bolt before. I couldn't remember where, let alone what bike, so kept my trap shut. 😉

squirtdad

Cinelli and Eddy Merckx a deal at twice the price due to the rare collaboration

cudak888 

Thanks, Bob.

Forwarded all of this to my local friend. We'll find out if he becomes the new owner of a Cierckxanagook 1000AX or not.

-Kurt

madpogue 

Does he have a rack to carry in on the back of his 6000 SUX?

(...or is he cruising a Herkhimer Battle Jitney these days?...)

cudak888 

I made a vaccuformer a few years back using an upturned Sears blower/vac. Guess what I called it?




-Kurt

T-Mar

Prior to reading your custom label, I thought that Suck-U-Matic might be a candidate.

cudak888 

Well, there's only one joke to follow that one up with.


-Kurt

smd4

I think it's rarer than anyone thinks.

It's clearly a Cinelli/Merckx/Colnago/Look collaboration.

Duh. Just look at the decals.

T-Mar

The subject frame appears to be a Miki product. They produced aero frames for both Shogun and SR, as well as others. Most manufacturers tended to favour either tubes with an aero profile over their full length or tubes that were aero profile in the mid-section but round at both ends. Miki, on the other hand, liked down and seat tubes that were aero in the mid-section and at one end but round at the BB end. I susepct that his was to retain lateral rigidity in an area where the spinning crankset and legs negated most of the aerodynamic benefits. There would also have been an associated cost benefit.

Small details, such as the seat post retention method, do not appear to be brand specific, as I have seen both methods used on the same brand. They could be year and/or model specific but I have not been able to collect enough information to make a definitive statement,

It's definitely not a Cinelli, as it looks nothing like their Laser aero models. If your friend buys the bicycle or even goes to see it, I'd appreciate the serial number for my database. TIA.