Classic & Vintage - We're walking the streets of a mid-evil city in Italy and my fiancee says....

....."there's a bike". But it in a an inquisitive kind of way. We've been here 3 days and haven't seen anything, its a bicycle ghost town. There've been the occasional 'WalMart' style bikes and I did see an Atala Portour along with 3 guys on road bikes one being a S-Works struggling up a switchback.

This isnt a vacation, my finacee's aunt in ailing and they haven't seen each other in over 10 years, this has been an overly emotional trip for her. She doesnt know bikes and will occasionaly ask, "is that a good one" while pointing at something from the local department store. As we're winding our way through the narrow cramped side streets of this medieval city on our way back the hotel outside the fortressed city walls she said it....."there's a bike" She sounded inquisitive yet joking yet hoping to have found a gem. And she did.

I looked around the narrow street and saw nothing and commented, "where?" She turned, pointed and said "in there" as I followed her outstretched arm to the garage opening in the side of a 15th century building. I hesitently looked in to see an older gentleman hunched over a work bench earning his trade, he gazed my way as I blocked the incoming light. I pointed at the hanging bicycle and said with a American accent, :bicicletta!!!" to which replied, "look" in Italian. My fiancee translated and told me it was OK to go in and look at.

I was amazed. For 3 days we've seen nothing and then the proverbial 'barn find' except in this instance its a garage. The kind gentleman allowed me to take pictures and the boyish grin on my face must have obvious. He said some words in Italian which my fiancee didnt recognize, he moved a few boxes out of the way and pulled an old leather strap helmet out of a box.....and them he pulled a pair of old leather racing shoes which a strange clipless cleats nailed to bottom. He describe in Italian that the cleats were the 'premio' of their kind. Knowing 'premio' is first I was able to understand that he was telling me the Cinelli Mod 71 clipless pedals were the first of their kind.

I asked my fiancee if it was OK for me to buy.....she normaly doesnt care but this trip wasn't about me, its 100% about her and her family. She said, "sure, but do you know how much its worth?" I rolled my eyes. My inital offer was going to be 500 euros and she vehemently said NO. Not because we cant afford it but something her family instilled in her is when in Italy you barter. So I offered 300 Euros ($450) and the gentelman kindly accepted. We made arrangements for me to pick it up tomorrow but circumstances allowed me to pick it up this afternoon.

Intentionaly leaving all of you in suspence I'll only say it has Cinelli clipless pedals, Clemete tubular tires, mostly pre CSPC Campy components, some SR bits, Columbus tubing, long thin point lugs with cutouts, portacatena dropouts, a MASI inscribed Silca pump a chromed 3T stem and a fully chromed fork. It was also built in the city we're staying in.

I did a BikeForum 'advanced search' (yes, I know) and there were 'no results found'.

She's a beauty. (my fiancee)

medieval

Cool story bro.

I suggest googling "Cinelli death cleats" when you get home.

pics or it didn't happen

for serious

Subscribing for the ale of it.

Great story. When I read 'Masi Silca pump' I was thinking Confente, but if there are no search results, I guess it can't be that!

Give us a hint. What city? Padua?

I can't wait to see this Jim!

Marry her NOW!

One more vote for pics or ban. :notamused:

Just ban him already and be done with it - he owns too many nice bikes. ;)

-Kurt

Some people just have a mean streak. Name on frame, Photos, etc!

It was a good story though.

...this trip wasn't about me, its 100% about her and her family...

Be careful dude - You could accidentally make a big mistake in time - I would go down to a local bike club tratoria and start networking for a return trip or bike correspondence but even this might be to much - Good luck - Sounds like you are getting into a great family - Don't mess it up with bikes at this time...

Hope all turns out well for all of you...

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/IMG_0685.jpg
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/IMG_0686.jpg

coNFente?

Get on with it, man.

This is fun!

Tease 'em.

Clearly its a pink px10

Congratulations on your engagement.

Bent fork.

bent fork.

x2

cool story.

be even more impressive if you ride it home

No Fatties?

The cutouts resemble the Tommasini "T" to me.

No real clue of what it is though.

I didn't know Nelly Furtado made bikes!

Odd combination, the frame appears to be from the early 80's due to fork crown, brake fixation set-up and drop-outs that you described; so it is odd that the pre-CPSC components would pre-date the frame by a number of years. I suppose that given it comes from a small builder, it could simply be because their sales were so limited they may have only bought in components on an irregular basis. It can also be that the owner of the frame simply transposed parts from an earlier bike over to this frame.

Clearly its a pink px10

As much as i like Peugeot I'd never.....


Congratulations on your engagement.

Thanks. We've been engaged for awhile now and will be going back to Italy and staying in Rome in mid-September for a vacation/honeymoon.


cool story.

be even more impressive if you ride it home

Do they make pontoons for bikes?


No Fatties?

The cutouts resemble the Tommasini "T" to me.

No real clue of what it is though.

That was my initial impression but based on where I acquired it I think the cutouts are V's not T's



Odd combination, the frame appears to be from the early 80's due to fork crown, brake fixation set-up and drop-outs that you described; so it is odd that the pre-CPSC components would pre-date the frame by a number of years. I suppose that given it comes from a small builder, it could simply be because their sales were so limited they may have only bought in components on an irregular basis. It can also be that the owner of the frame simply transposed parts from an earlier bike over to this frame.

Yes, it does have an odd combination of parts. I dont speak Italian and my fiancee's Italian is limited to a few key words and phrases so we couldnt get any information form the owner. Depending on circumstances I'll to go by the previous owners with my fiancee's cousin who lives in town where the bike was and has been our tour guide for the past 4 days. It would be great to find out its history and to search out the work shop where it was made.

The previous owner is clearly a Masi fan, it has a Masi stamped Silca Impero pump and a Masi G.C water bottle. Another unique feature are the Olymipc bands on the seat tube. If memory serves me correct builders are only allowed to use them if their bikes medaled in the Olympics?

I'm dealing with an agonizingly slow and spotty Internet connection. I'll provide more details asap.

Hi Jim,

It looks like a nice find. Hopefully your fiancée’s cousin can find out more about the bike.

The rings on the seat tube aren't Olympic circles, but world championship stripes. You're right; they're not supposed to be used unless the framebuilder's frames were used to win a world championship

Hi Jim,

It looks like a nice find. Hopefully your fiancée’s cousin can find out more about the bike.

The rings on the seat tube aren't Olympic circles, but world championship stripes. You're right; they're not supposed to be used unless the framebuilder's frames were used to win a world championship

Now all we have to do is figure out what the winning riders of that era rode we'll have the answer. Easy!

PS; great story, could use more pictures though.

Now all we have to do is figure out what the winning riders of that era rode we'll have the answer.

Ah, but isn't the purpose of pushing for a world championship simply so you can continue to put those stripes on all your gas-pipe models for the next 100 years? See also http://www.theonion.com/articles/pabst-still-coasting-on-1893-blue-ribbon-win,9564/

Damnitman!!! MORE pics!!!! Congrats on the engagement and I hope her aunt recovers quickly.

This was easier when we didn't have pics. Never the less, I need more pics. "Very interesting." as Colonel Klink would say.

I really like that bike - it looks quite nicely made (I like those wide-oval seatstay caps). Tons of character. It's what an Italian racing bike is supposed to be. Plus, it will hold a lot of memories for you, even before you've put a bunch of miles on it.

I love Italy (at least the northern half of it). "NF" stands for Nice Find.

Congrats (on the bike and the engagement)

Do they make pontoons for bikes?


Funny you asked...because you're in luck! I spotted this on CL today, HA!.
http://cl.ly/87cT/Screen_shot_2011-07-02_at_7.12.34_PM.png

N o F un

without more clues :p

I suspect that it's actually "F N" and not "N F" given the European convention (and the prominent "N" on the fork crown).

This was easier when we didn't have pics. Never the less, I need more pics. "Very interesting." as Colonel Klink would say.

I think you're confusing the Colonel with Artie Johnson
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SCfwBkF65oY/Sreo87SmC0I/AAAAAAAAQ4U/Yu5SqhTyr6s/s400/Very+Interesting+mouth+closed+eyes+open+wide.png

f5f5f5f5f5f5f5f5



EFFFF FIVE!!!!

Niccolo Fitti

NATALINI FRANCO (Or as we would write in North America Franco Natalini)
VIA S. PIETRO
VITERBO

Stop by and speak to the man himself.

NATALINI FRANCO (Or as we would write in North America Franco Natalini)
VIA S. PIETRO
VITERBO

Stop by and speak to the man himself.

That is the plan!! Thank you for the information you've been able to provide. I have a short window of opportunity tomorrow morning before we head back to Rome on the train, I'll try to make it by in the morning.

More pictures as requested.....I have more but they'll have to wait. We've off to see a church.

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/IMG_0702.jpg
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http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/IMG_0697.jpg

Whoah! Seriously beautiful. Congratulations!

Can't wait to see it cleaned up and polished :P

OH, NATALINI .......of course !!!!


huh?

That is one beautiful bike, and rare.

Yes, very nice indeed.

Boy, those headtube and seattube decals are sure a Masi homage. Looks like a late-70's bike to my eye, and nicely executed.

I'll instruct my girl to keep her eyes peeled this summer when we're in France. Great story, great bike.

That's a new one to me, but it's also one of the most beautiful and distinctive I've seen...absolutely love it, especially the lug cutouts.

And came complete with a Masi water bottle. That's a very interesting decal on the back of the seat tube. I like those cut-outs too. Must've been a challenge for Italian frame makers to come up with a new style cut out design that no one else was using.

Boy, those headtube and seattube decals are sure a Masi homage. Looks like a late-70's bike to my eye, and nicely executed.

The graphic designer Masi used to create the Gran Criterium graphic set did have a strong influence I think, although it could have been Pogliaghi that set the formula for Italian racing bike graphics for the 70's. The 1971 Colnagos also had good graphics, and Ernesto went them one better with pantographata.

Anybody know if it was Masi, Pogliaghi or someone else that first applied the "signature" transfer to the top tube?

Knowing that Italy appears to be a "small world" in regard to race bike builders, I would not be surprised that all three previously mentioned used the same graphic designer for a time, maybe the transfer maker being the connection.

Thanks for the images, it really looks like a great find. CdM has stated at some point that there are/were a umber of small builders that are not seen outside of Italy. Aside from that notorious Maasi.