More bike bling - 1981 Picchio Special
06-02-17, 06:44 PM
#1
my name is Jim
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More bike bling - 1981 Picchio Special
I just finished the build on this Picchio Special. Frame was restored in Italy using genuine Picchio decals. Colors are the colors of the city of Torino, Italy. Seller believed this was a 1981 model. Extensive use of crimped tubing. Build is late version Campy Super Record, including the last gen cranks that did not have fluted arms. May still change bar tape and waiting on a new tubular for the rear.
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06-02-17, 06:56 PM
#2
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Holey moley, you can pick'em. Stunning. I love silver with blue and chrome. I haven't seen that aero downtube lever placement with Campy.
Boy, nice work making it flawless.
Boy, nice work making it flawless.
06-02-17, 07:03 PM
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The more I look the more I think this is my fave of what I've seen of yours awesome stable. More things I don't think I've seen before, like the headtube lug detail around the headset; is there a little lip there?
06-02-17, 07:33 PM
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Love your bike. I always assume aero mounts to be 83-ish for no good reason.
I would have tried yellow housing with yellow straps but that doesn't take anything away from the beauty of that ride.
I would have tried yellow housing with yellow straps but that doesn't take anything away from the beauty of that ride.
06-02-17, 07:36 PM
#8
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Thank you for posting. I am not familiar with the marque, but I am VERY impressed. Nicely done!
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
06-02-17, 07:49 PM
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I believe the subject bicycle is 1984. That is the year that the USA importer, Wm. Lewis, started running advertisements proclaiming the Rigido tube treatment as being "A New Wrinkle in Frame Design". Had the design been three years old, I would have expected a different choice of words. Also, this is about the end of the time frame for top mounted shift levers, other than on time trial frames. Furthermore, I would expect a 1981 to have Portacatena dropouts and not have have a front derailleur tab.
06-02-17, 07:59 PM
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Reinforcing rings around the cup ends of the head lugs were not unknown. This provided additional protection against the head tube splitting when the headset cups were inserted, which could happen with thinned lugs. Some lugs were manufactured with this feature. Think of it as an externally butted lug.
06-02-17, 09:07 PM
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Really excellent bike you have there. I was not familiar with this brand. But wouldn't turn one like that down. 
. Only minor nitpick would be that I would move the brake levers down the bar a bit. I usually like them to just touch a straight edge held against the bottom of the bar. Try angling the bars up a few degrees to see if you like the hand position in the drops better or not. Finally some Binda straps but you already knew that. Enjoy the ride!
. Only minor nitpick would be that I would move the brake levers down the bar a bit. I usually like them to just touch a straight edge held against the bottom of the bar. Try angling the bars up a few degrees to see if you like the hand position in the drops better or not. Finally some Binda straps but you already knew that. Enjoy the ride!
06-02-17, 09:15 PM
#14
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All I can say is, Beautiful!
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06-02-17, 10:14 PM
#15
my name is Jim
Thread Starter
I would agree. That's why I put a 1984-85 set of components on it. I thought the seller was dating it a bit early. Thanks for the info.
I believe the subject bicycle is 1984. That is the year that the USA importer, Wm. Lewis, started running advertisements proclaiming the Rigido tube treatment as being "A New Wrinkle in Frame Design". Had the design been three years old, I would have expected a different choice of words. Also, this is about the end of the time frame for top mounted shift levers, other than on time trial frames. Furthermore, I would expect a 1981 to have Portacatena dropouts and not have have a front derailleur tab.
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Flickr Albums
ebay: cicloclassico
70 Pogliaghi ItalCorse, 72 De Rosa, 72 Masi Gran Criterium, 75 Masi Gran Criterium, 77 Melton, 79 Bianchi Super Leggera, 79 Gios Super Record, 81 Picchio Special, 82 Guerciotti Super Record, 82 Colnago Profil CX, 83 Colnago Superissimo, 84 Fuso
Flickr Albums
ebay: cicloclassico
70 Pogliaghi ItalCorse, 72 De Rosa, 72 Masi Gran Criterium, 75 Masi Gran Criterium, 77 Melton, 79 Bianchi Super Leggera, 79 Gios Super Record, 81 Picchio Special, 82 Guerciotti Super Record, 82 Colnago Profil CX, 83 Colnago Superissimo, 84 Fuso
Last edited by BlueDevil63; 06-02-17 at 11:01 PM.
06-02-17, 10:16 PM
#16
my name is Jim
Thread Starter
I tend to set brake levers pretty high to give me a comfortable position without stressing my bad back. The stem on this one is already a bit longer then I usually use so setting the levers up higher compensates a bit. They could be a bit lower though. If/when I change the bar tape I will move them down a bit.
Really excellent bike you have there. I was not familiar with this brand. But wouldn't turn one like that down. . Only minor nitpick would be that I would move the brake levers down the bar a bit. I usually like them to just touch a straight edge held against the bottom of the bar. Try angling the bars up a few degrees to see if you like the hand position in the drops better or not. Finally some Binda straps but you already knew that. Enjoy the ride!
. Only minor nitpick would be that I would move the brake levers down the bar a bit. I usually like them to just touch a straight edge held against the bottom of the bar. Try angling the bars up a few degrees to see if you like the hand position in the drops better or not. Finally some Binda straps but you already knew that. Enjoy the ride!
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Flickr Albums
ebay: cicloclassico
70 Pogliaghi ItalCorse, 72 De Rosa, 72 Masi Gran Criterium, 75 Masi Gran Criterium, 77 Melton, 79 Bianchi Super Leggera, 79 Gios Super Record, 81 Picchio Special, 82 Guerciotti Super Record, 82 Colnago Profil CX, 83 Colnago Superissimo, 84 Fuso
Flickr Albums
ebay: cicloclassico
70 Pogliaghi ItalCorse, 72 De Rosa, 72 Masi Gran Criterium, 75 Masi Gran Criterium, 77 Melton, 79 Bianchi Super Leggera, 79 Gios Super Record, 81 Picchio Special, 82 Guerciotti Super Record, 82 Colnago Profil CX, 83 Colnago Superissimo, 84 Fuso
06-02-17, 10:23 PM
#17
my name is Jim
Thread Starter
A few more pics of the frame before build up. Shows the crimped tubing.
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ebay: cicloclassico
70 Pogliaghi ItalCorse, 72 De Rosa, 72 Masi Gran Criterium, 75 Masi Gran Criterium, 77 Melton, 79 Bianchi Super Leggera, 79 Gios Super Record, 81 Picchio Special, 82 Guerciotti Super Record, 82 Colnago Profil CX, 83 Colnago Superissimo, 84 Fuso
Flickr Albums
ebay: cicloclassico
70 Pogliaghi ItalCorse, 72 De Rosa, 72 Masi Gran Criterium, 75 Masi Gran Criterium, 77 Melton, 79 Bianchi Super Leggera, 79 Gios Super Record, 81 Picchio Special, 82 Guerciotti Super Record, 82 Colnago Profil CX, 83 Colnago Superissimo, 84 Fuso
06-02-17, 10:48 PM
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Even the functional crimping is aesthetically pleasing, wow. Italian style is something else. Wonder how it rides . . .
06-02-17, 10:51 PM
#20
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Reinforcing rings around the cup ends of the head lugs were not unknown. This provided additional protection against the head tube splitting when the headset cups were inserted, which could happen with thinned lugs. Some lugs were manufactured with this feature. Think of it as an externally butted lug.
Yet another structural detail made beautiful, then.
06-02-17, 11:03 PM
#21
my name is Jim
Thread Starter
When I get the new rear tire I'll take it for a ride. I have a big back log of bikes that need their "at least once a year"
ride.
ride.
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Flickr Albums
ebay: cicloclassico
70 Pogliaghi ItalCorse, 72 De Rosa, 72 Masi Gran Criterium, 75 Masi Gran Criterium, 77 Melton, 79 Bianchi Super Leggera, 79 Gios Super Record, 81 Picchio Special, 82 Guerciotti Super Record, 82 Colnago Profil CX, 83 Colnago Superissimo, 84 Fuso
Flickr Albums
ebay: cicloclassico
70 Pogliaghi ItalCorse, 72 De Rosa, 72 Masi Gran Criterium, 75 Masi Gran Criterium, 77 Melton, 79 Bianchi Super Leggera, 79 Gios Super Record, 81 Picchio Special, 82 Guerciotti Super Record, 82 Colnago Profil CX, 83 Colnago Superissimo, 84 Fuso
06-03-17, 01:09 AM
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Truly an impressive restoration! Well done!
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06-03-17, 02:05 AM
#23
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I have been hunting a Picchio for many years. No luck yet. They all seem to be in the "wrong" size for me. Congrats on a very nice frame!
06-03-17, 05:55 AM
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I tend to set brake levers pretty high to give me a comfortable position without stressing my bad back. The stem on this one is already a bit longer then I usually use so setting the levers up higher compensates a bit. They could be a bit lower though. If/when I change the bar tape I will move them down a bit.
