R3tired

I have restored a CIOCC. Here's the story. I had a CIOCC back in the 80’s. I bought the frame used and built it with a mix of parts. I couldn’t afford the good stuff. It was a little too big for me but it was handmade, Italian, and RED. it was a Ferrari compared to my previous bikes. I sold it after a couple of years as it was too big. Fast forward to last year. I got back into bikes and started thinking about that CIOCC.

I found a neglected frame on CL. It was scratched, rusted, rear dropout was bent, the RD nut mount wasn’t even round, but it had no dents and was my size! It was also an earlier frame with no FD braze-on, single hoop cable guides, and tear drop lugs. I bought it. I did some research and found out Mr CIOCC, Giovanni Pelizzoli, was still in the bike business. I contacted them and asked if they would restore my frame. They said they would. June 8, I sent the frame – took 3 months to get there.

They did the following work; new seat stays (rust holes), new rear dropouts (damaged), added a FD braze-on, chromed the rear triangle, forks, head tube lugs, re-spaced the rear to 130mm, and painted it - RED.

I think Giovanni actually did some of the work, as he apparently gets involved in the restorations. He signed the bike, and they put on a decal to certify it was an original CIOCC frame prior to him selling the brand in 1980. Very cool.

They finished on December 19 and sent it back. Took 3 months to get there, 6 days to return. And the return trip cost less. Go figure.

So, I got my CIOCC again. Handmade, Italian, and very very RED. And this one fits! AND it was restored by the guy that made it. How cool is that?

I finished the build. C-Record, Delta, Triomphe pedals (love them), Record hubs, Mavic SUP Ceramic rims, Dura Ace downtube shifters (they just work better). Looks awesome. Just need the snow to go.

JayGK927

Wow!!! It always amazes me the transformation old frames can go through. That is wonderful you were able to rescue such a beautiful bike frame!

Old Yeller

Beautiful restoration! Would you mind posting what they charged for the factory restore?

Trick fall

That's awesome.

vonfilm 

That is fantastic. What a great restoration.

rjhammett

Beautiful.

CroMo Mike 

What an impressive restoration! That story certainly raises my level of awareness and respect for the brand.

R3tired

thanks. Old Yeller - Pelizzoli charged me 600 euro for the repairs, chroming, paint and return postage. about $900 canadian. it would cost me more than that just for the paint/chrome here in toronto. how much extra is it worth that Giovanni did it? priceless.. he's the end of an era.

gomango

Really, a showstopper.

Enjoy!

repechage

He looks pretty proud in a subtle confident way holding up that frame. That and the terrific result is worth the price of admission.
Looks like they replaced the LH seat stay too, in addition to at least one dropout, maybe both.

unworthy1

WOW!!!

PedalTraveler

What a bike, and beautiful work, that's a bike of a lifetime.

R3tired

he replaced both seat stays and both rear dropouts. you folks know more than me, but from what i can figure he's one of the last old school hand made guys. rumor is he apprenticed under De Rosa. who knows. maybe i'll ask. eh, i'm just happy to have one again. and RED. hehe

zazenzach

wow. phenomenal.

i don't know much about ciocc, but at that price, didn't you end up paying more than if you would have bought a good condition frame?

sloar 

Beautiful restoration. But you ruined it for me when I show my restored ciocc. Enjoy the bike.

Michael Angelo 

Fantastic work, beautiful bike.

R3tired

Sloar - i think your's is and will be awesome when it's finished! YOU restored yours. all i did was build mine. i WISH i had the skills to do what you did. sure mine looks nice, but i basically sent it back to the factory. it's my grail bike.

Zazenzach - probably, but i would never find the frame i have in my size. CIOCC makes new steel frames for around US$1800. i'm ahead of that and have some history.

JJScaliger

From ugly duckling to swan. What a transformation! Enjoy that beauty!

noglider 

That's a good story! I like Ciöcc bikes. The name is novel, and the bikes are less gaudy than many other Italian brands.

My favorite picture is of the old man!

Cougrrcj

Droooolllll.... I think I wet myself...

Sir_Name 

Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Cougrrcj

What year was your frame originally made?

More Cowbell

That is very nice. It gets me thinking I should take advantage of Giovanni's skills on mine. Although the "patina" has grown on me.

WNG

Ciocc was a one of my desired brands by the late 80s. It was still out of my financial reach being a poor college dropout then.
Beautiful results and to have the old master lay his hands upon it once again, I think it's priceless.

I agree with Tom. They are subtle, detailed, and rode wonderfully. And what a novel name!

Lascauxcaveman 

+1 on the "Wow."

And considering how much they had to do to get it back to new, the price seems pretty reasonable. When you were describing the rebuild/restore process I was thinking, "OK we're talking crazy money here... "

But not bad, considering how far gone it was. :Thumb: