ViperZ

I have been trying to narrow down a bicycle to build and as much as I love the new bikes, something keeps bringing me back to the old school classics.

I was thinking of building a Cinelli like this in a Neo-Classic modern style, using a mix of old and new parts such as Ergo Levers, modern Campagnolo wheels with old style C-record Cranks, head set...etc.


How different is the Columbus Neuron tubes set from the old Columbus SLX of the 80's?

luker

The ride should be very similar. I'm pondering a similar dilemma (wallbike, I think, is still selling this frame and fork new...). It'll be fascinating to hear everyone's opinions.

Is this frame just capitalizing on the SC mystique, or is it really a Cinelli SC?

ViperZ

Wallbike? Has one for sale?

I keep waffeling between the Cinelli and this Colnago

el twe

Eww! New Colnago paint is so fugly! And the Cinelli has class.

cuda2k

Seconded

TheOtherGuy

I think you'd be better off buying one of the NOS Titan frames on eBay... Just as well built (maybe better than the Cinelli...), interesting paint (but no chrome lugs), and under $200! Build it with modern components... Check 'em out here:
https://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZhoosierbicyclesupply

ViperZ

I know the Colnago is Garish and Gaudy, but there is something so synonymous about that with Italian bikes

I do agree, The Cinelli would look classier forever and the Colnago would always be pegged in a particular time frame. However I have always wanted a wild painted Colnago And I already have an all red bike...


Thanks, however to be honest, if I did the Classic Steel, I'm in for the Italian prestige names, and because I have always wanted a Colnag or Cinelli bike since as far back as I can remember.



Whats funny is everytime I look at the Cinelli SC, I find myslef singing Eric Clapton's "Lay Down Sally" I don't know why that particular song, however Clapton because I seen his Cinelli Super Corsa, hand signed "Slow Hand" back in the 80's by Cino himself.

cuda2k

If that 57cm's paint lookd a tad less pink in the sunlight I'd probably be bidding on it. Very unque frames and I'll certainly be watching for any future auctions.

TheOtherGuy

I would say go for the Cinelli, but close-ups I've seen of those offered on eBay (I think by 13ron) didn't look all that nice. If you didn't need NEW, I'd say find a vintage Italian classic. Something mid '80s that's already at 126mm can easily be spread to 130mm... Just a thought. OR, if you didn't need modern components, get a real Cinelli; something pre '78...

TheOtherGuy

I've got one of the white/gray marble colored ones in a 55cm...Very nice frame for the $$!

ViperZ

Whats confusing with that comment is my understanding is the newer Cinelli SC is still every much a Cinelli made in Italy, Only with the Columbus Neuron tube set which to my understanding is lighter than Columbus SLX.

I like how there is more Chrome showing on the rear stays of the new SC as well.

I'm looking to build a new bike, however I'm torn between a Neo Modern Classic or a totally new tech bike. I suppose the Neo Modern Classic comes from my serious cycling in the 70's and 80's, when Steel Colnagos, Tomassinis and Guerciottis where the most desireable bikes to own.

Maybe my concept is flawed, and if I do a classic I shoul dget a real Vintage and restore it faithfully, however I want to be more Hot Rod like and take the old bike and refine it more with todays components.


Much like this one was done, however a Quill stem is a must

luker

i didn't look very hard... here are some (actually, many) frames from various manufacturers, and several are Cinelli SCs, for $1095. I have seen them cheaper than that. This page gets me jonesin, even if I don't have room for one more derailleur in my garage...

https://www.gvhbikes.com/current.html

TheOtherGuy

Cino Cinelli sold out around '78, and bikes made after that time were still Cinelli bikes, but no longer had the "mojo" of classic Cinelli made while Cino was in command. The newer SC were made in Italy like you say, but don't look quite the same (or as nice) as the '70s models. Back then, they were made of Reynolds 531 (I believe on special order), or Columbus SL or SP tubing, not even the SLX of the mid '80s. I'm still wanting a classic Cinelli SC in my size, but only the version/vintage I've been wanting since I was a teen (early '70s for me)....Someday.

ViperZ

Lurker, thats where I have been scoping out the Cinelli too


TheOtherGuy, Gottcha, I was thinking you might have been refering to the sale. Some of the older Cinellis are nice and I know what you are saying, however not a lot of them had braze-ons and everything was clamped on then, and I'm looking for a more Modern Classic. The New SC has the same geometry as the original, and it's lighter with better paint (shiner), how can that be so bad?


I was so dissapointed that I missed out on this 94 Colnago Master, I should have bid more.

TheOtherGuy

I'm sure the new SC is a nice frame, but for the same $$$, I'd go for something else... Like that Master. I'd rather have that one than the SC of similar vintage.

cuda2k

Now that's a Colnago paintjob I could call my own. Do I dare ask how much you let it slip through your fingers for?

- really shouldn't even be dreaming of such frames for my very own any time soon.

ViperZ

It sold for $897 us. In retrospect I would have paid more for it, considering the Cinelli is $1000 us.


TheOtherGuy, problem is a person has to wait for those to become available, and hope you can get it for a reasonable price..

A New Master Lite or Master carbon is $1500 to $2500 us And a different Animal

TheOtherGuy

Tell me about it... Exactly why I still don't have my old Cinelli SC... The size I need is also very popular with Japanese Cinelli lovers.

duckliondog

I'm glad Cinelli continues to make new Supercorsas. I love the idea of building up classic frames with new parts. A friend of mine has an early 80's Colnago with new Dura-ace on it. It looks and rides great.

cyclezen

Looking at the frame spes for the Cinelli, it would certainly suit what to me contributes to the ride qualities of the finest Frames. As would the Colnago (based on their published specs); however the new Colnagos are very high on the 'cheese' scale for their cosmetics. The Cinelli seems a solid choice, and would prolly be an easy fit for any modern bits.
In comparision (you mention 'new tech bike) I went to the Giant and Trek sites to get frame specs as points of comparison. For Giant, as expected, Their frame spec numbers are very limited , as a reflect of what they think we need to know; and this was on their top of the line Comp bike.
Trek surprised me considerably, in that I wasn't able to find any frame specs for their Madone, as if they're saying "trust us, if Lance luvs it, you must also". Well, it tells me I really don;t want a new Trek.
I have my ideas on what qualities contribute to my idea of a great frame and bike, and not having any info takes the Treks completely out.
'Updating' a 'vintage' frame is a fun thing. I've done a bunch of that to get my Colnago Super much more modern and the Titan I bought a few weeks ago will be 'pushed' quite some significant amount further. I like the looks of that Cinelli even more than the DeRosa pic you posted. And it doesn;t look any bit like that Bus Station Skank Colnago posted in mid-thread (not referring to the Master shown later in the thread). Shame many of these modern bikes have such 'Ho House' cosmetics.
Keep up updated if you decide on the Cinelli.

ViperZ

I think they have actually stopped making them now, so once they recent stock is gone, that it too.

Thats what has me thinking if I'm going to do a Neo classic I should Maybe do it now instead of that new Carbon or Ti Wonder bike I was wanting to build.


cyclezen "Bus Station Skank Colnago" "'Ho House' cosmetics." That's funny. I suppose that's what it looks like, and not every one is like-able, but I have to admit, it still does appeal to me for some strange reason, be it super tacky

Sure it looks like Bus Stop Graffiti, but I like it for some reason. Here are some of my Fav schemes







No doubt about it, they are garish, But thats what I like about them


Anybody remember those Canondales from the mid 80's? The R900 & R1000 had those hand painted (airbrushed) graffiti triangles and what not in random place. I Sooo wanted one of those, but bought a Plain all red Klein Quantum Pro instead

TheOtherGuy

Just like many of the odd fade paint jobs so common in the '80s, I think these very busy Colnago paint schemes won't be around forever... The trick may be to find one you can live with for a while. Gotta have lugs to keep me happy though.

cyclezen

Actually don't remember the airbrushed C-dales - anyone have some pics? prolly jar the 'nickel' loose when I see one.

Garish? Its like so over the top. The overdone logoin (check out the logo on the bottomside of the downtube, near the BB, on the black frame) of the frame added to the logoing on the components. They can't even leave the seatstays alone. Italian design isn't always the most subtle, but this is really way too much. The Huge logoing on the wheels, gawd forbid they just do a clover on the fork...
They all make that Col-Master look 'understated' (which of course, it isn't) and the Cinelli looks downright 'naked' (in a very good, Bottichellian way...) If that was stuff I was marketing, I'd be embarrassed by it - talk about the pinnacle of 'small dick' marketing.
I know you're not takin this personal, cause itz not intended, nor for anyone who is strong enough to 'move' past the cheap lipstick and appreciates the bike for what it prolly rides as (my assumption). But I just can't get past that. Its in my nature and daily chores to be aware of the 'form' of things, and not something I easily ignore, especially when it comes to bikes.
Materials and ride aside, the Cinelli is just so far superior I do believe that given the same components with more silver finishes (minus the logo assault), standing next to the Colnago, the SC will far outshine the 'tart'.
I'm also very tired of the overuse of Black - overdone, it makes things 'heavy'. Black works best when played against light. If one were to take most of the black on these bikes and change to 'silver'/alloy, they would look lighter and cleaner (and not as easily logo'd).
If one gets away from looking at 'silver' as a statement of 'vintage' and just reflects on the overall effect of a 'shiny' bike over a black one, the graphics need not be overdone, the colors can be subtle tonals, and the overall impression is one of 'lightness'. The Black ones in comparison look like draft horses, ponderous and overly Drachinian (Flintstonian).
The Big Challenge I have with the Titan is to find mostly alloy finish newer stuff. Happilly my 2 fork possibles are both Chrome. Sadly the compact Cranks are Black, and the Stem (threadless) is black, headset is Blk. I can live with a blk headset, but for the other stuff I need to keep looking, as hopeless as it may seem.
Anyway, my opinion is that in any group of high end bikes, that Cinelli in its shiniest form, will stand out as a thoroughbred, even though that might not be the full truth.

luker

one of the local bike shops has sold a couple of Colnago Presidents, and a few more ordinary C-50's...they always try to get me to ride one, and I fear for my bank account too much to oblige - I'm sure that it is an outstanding ride. I can also admire the technical proficiency that the paint shop displays - they are unbelievably complicated and probably very difficult to make - They'll be the snaz in twenty years...

ViperZ

I have an old "Cyclist" magazine where they profile Italian bikes. They counted no less than 30 something stickers and decals on most makers models. Even then they said that was the Italian flair

Italian bikes, esp Colnagos have always been known for their outrageous and flamboyant paint schemes, that's part of the charm I think for me.

While the Cinelli is understated, I feel I have owned too many "safe" understated bikes in my life, thus the desire for the out there, different than what I previously owned unit.

Still not sure what I'm going to do but I really appreciate everyone's input thus far



The Black one is the CT-2 Titanium with carbon stay unit. It's also available in in a sloping top tube model. Building that would kill a few birds with 1 stone. I would get a modern bike from this century, it would be Titanium, and it would be a Colnago, almost every thing I want, but the classic part....sigh