lostarchitect 

I doubt it. I bet it's gaspipe.

exxongraftek

But vintage, attractive gaspipe.

lostarchitect 

Definitely. It's pretty.

AlexCyclistRoch

Gaspipe? With internal cable routing? I have never seen internal cables on gaspipe-level bikes.
No, it's rough, but a collectible frame. Worth as much as $400 to the right person in a high-price region (NYC, LA, etc.) for the frame alone, undressed and cleaned-up.

T-Mar

I'm pretty sure those aren't tubulars. It's definitely been frankenbiked and while it is a nice bicycle, the Campagnolo (Gran Sport?) rear derailleur definitely uses a claw and the dropouts appear to be stamped. A lot of the lower end Italian models could be real eye candy, so just be cautious. This one could go either way.

KonAaron Snake 

+1...not getting the big deal here. Looks like a lower end frame with some decent, inappropriate parts on it. I don't know the brand, but apparently they are more known for mopeds. Frankly I'd be surprised if it's a $300 bike.

Personally, I'd pass unless you wanted the parts. The internal routing is a nice touch, but not unheard of.

randyjawa 

Really? I have owned a lot of such entry level gas pipe bicycles, and some did feature the internal cable routing...

Velocivixen

OK, so far I'm hearing stamped dropouts, maybe not high end tubing.....I'm no connoisseur of "fine" bikes as most of my bikes are late '70's - late '80's Japanese (Univega, Nishiki, Miyata) road bikes with early & mid-'90's Trek mountain bikes.

I'm not really sure how to proceed. I understand everyone here has different "make or break" criteria for buying a bike. My standards are likely somewhere in the middle. All my bikes have built in derailleur hangers, etc.

I see what look like cottered cranks.....Italian bike...will parts be impossible to fine if the bb is shot? Will I require special tools?

bikemig 

You can remove and install cotter pins using some home made tools; or find a bike co-op with a cotter pin press. Not impossible to find parts for an Italian BB; they're available.

English and Italian threading are very similar. That doesn't do you any good for the BB (different length, different threading for the fixed cup) but you can use english parts for the headset, freewheel, and pedals. Just don't go back and forth between Italian and English. Once you've threaded an english threaded freewheel on the hub for example, stick with English threaded freewheels. This changes the profile of the threads if I remember correctly and not something you can go back and forth with in any case.

bikemig 

Working on this bike won't be hard. You don't need to spend a lot to make it work right if you don't care about making it 100% period correct. I didn't with my Olmo gran sport. Part of the fun is hunting around for the parts.

lostarchitect 

Sounds like you haven't seen enough bikes yet, then!

I'm not saying I don't like it, or that OP shouldn't get it if she likes it. I think it's really charming. But it's almost certainly gaspipe. That frame being $400 is la-la land, even here in NYC.

Velocivixen

@bikemig - Thanks! I own a Park Tool Cotter press, actually, so no need to go to co-op (I even have a "magnet keeper" for Sturmey Archer dynohubs!). OK, that's good to know. I just think this is a pretty bike.

Given what others have mentioned I prolly shouldn't get it if it's too big, which I already know it likely is. I'll post later after I've seen it.

lostarchitect 

I think it's just one of those things, where if it charms you, you might decide you need it. It is probably pretty heavy, it has mismatched parts, and it's most likely lower end tubing, but on the other side, it's very handsome and may just be a great ride. But don't be fooled into thinking it's a goldmine.

KonAaron Snake 

I don't understand why someone would restore gaspipe (and I do think it's gas pipe) that doesn't fit, but to each their own. I don't think it's an especially charming, interesting or attractive bike...but again, to each their own. Lost is very on point with his analysis.

howsteepisit

Buy it and flip it to Alexcyclistroach.

KonAaron Snake 

LMAO

I actually wrote something to that effect, thought better of it, and deleted it yesterday.

Velocivixen

Hey all. I really appreciate all your feedback. It caught my eye because I thought it looked interesting and I figured for $200 it would be interesting. I already know it's too big.

BUT.....owner's wife just called and said, "I don't know how to put this, but we didn't do our research on the bike. We want to take it to some bike shops and see what it's worth. Cimatti only made a limited number of bikes....and this one is 'very rare'".

That pretty much answered my questions....She thinks it's worth a lot and wants to "be sure". I told her that it was fine, but to keep in mind that young folks in our local bike shops may or may not know what it's worth.

Actually there's a nice Nishiki Prestige I'm likely gonna go check out so .....

lostarchitect 

They probably read this thread!

ramzilla

what a sexy beast!

Velocivixen

Thank you. I didn't know you felt that way.....


hahahaha

CV-6 

Rare does not equate to value. Whatever they ask for it, they will have to find someone willing to pay the price they ask. Good luck with the Nishiki.

Velocivixen

Yes well I thought about telling her to be sure and ask the bike shop how much it will cost to do all necessary work to overhaul. However I was extremely polite.

randyjawa 

Call or email back in a week or two.

To this day, I have a list of vintage bicycle locations, the bikes I could not or did not want to buy the first time around. Since then, I have depleted much of the list but a few gems are still beckoning. Who knows, that late sixties Torpado Professional that Bill owns just might come my way. I call him, with his permission, once a year.

juvela

Two points on this machine in the event it goes to the hand of a forum reader -

Its hubs are Campag Sportman which were only produced for a period of three or four years in the early 1960's. Removal of the axle lock nuts will reveal a date within this time. If original to the cycle they will yield an approximate date for the bicycle. This model of hub is a bit of an orphan in terms of catalogues. It did not launch until ~1961 so it did not get in to catalogue nr. 14 of 1960. Yet it was discontinued prior to the release of catalogue nr. 15 of 1967.





VeloBase.com - Component: Campagnolo Sportman


* * *

The outer chainwheel on the bicycle's chainset is an interesting piece. It is made in a manner mostly disappeared by the time of the bike's manufacture. Note the ridge or lip just below the teeth. It may be that it is not original to the chainset. Or it may be that it has been reverse mounted to extend tooth life. Most steel chainwheels by this time were of simple stamped sheet. Will be interesting to learn if it bears any markings. Possible chainset may issue from a maker such as FB.