iab

Unfortunately some people will never understand it is not about the bike. Colnago, Bianchi, De Rosa, Cinelli, Masi or whatever, they are all good bikes. One being "better" than the other is irrelevant.

KonAaron Snake 

Disagree...orange ones are better

3alarmer 

But so essential to the meaning of life on planet Fred.

well biked

I have to agree with this, although it might not even be CL, sometimes bikes almost literally fall into your lap.

In my case, I've appreciated Italian bikes, Italian bike components, etc for a long time, but when I opened my bike shop three and a half years ago I was too busy to be thinking about acquiring an Italian bike, or much of anything else for me personally.

But one day not long after the shop opened, an older gentleman who stood about six foot five came into the shop and announced that he wanted to do some "horse trading." Turns out he's a friend of a friend, and a very nice guy. I asked him what he meant by "horse trading" and he said he had a used bike he wanted to trade for a new one. I quietly commented that it usually doesn't work that way, but asked him what he had. "A Pinarello." My interest was a little more piqued, but I was still skeptical.

We walked out to his car and he pulled out a shiny blue, lugged steel Pinarello that looked tiny next to him. He explained that his room mate of quite a few years had fallen on hard times and had to move away. The bike had been the room mate's, and when the room mate left town he owed this gentleman some money for rent. They agreed on a trade that included the Pinarello. As he explained all this, I had gone to get my measuring tape. I'm between five-seven and five-eight. The seat tube (c-t) measured 54cm, the top tube (c-c) was 54.5 cm.

Looking at the bike, and looking at his six-foot-five frame, I asked, "Have you ridden this bike?" He shrugged, and said, "about a hundred yards." He explained, in a very frustrated voice, how uncomfortable it was and how he had decided "it's just not for me."

Now, before anyone accuses me of taking advantage of this fellow, which I would have never done anyway, let me say that the conversation turned very serious soon after. He explained that he had been on ebay and other websites, and that he knew that these bikes were worth a good bit of money. I agreed with him, and said that it wasn't your average used bike. We talked and talked, and basically, he just wanted a new, comfortable, hybrid bike that FIT him, and maybe some accessories. We explored lots of possibilities.

The Pinarello had a full Shimano 600 group on it when he brought it in, which did not turn me on at all. It had a decent set of wheels on it, Mavic rims with Shimano 600 hubs. My business partner was interested in those. I had never owned an Italian bike, and if I did, it wasn't going to be Shimano equipped. I love Shimano stuff, just not on this bike, I decided. So I talked about ebay with the fellow, and the Shimano 600 group, and the potential for value there.

In the end, I stripped the bike completely, cleaned up all the parts for him, my business partner made a separate deal for the wheels, the fellow ebayed the Shimano 600 stuff, I got a beautiful Pinarello frame and fork, and he walked out with a nice, new, gigantic hybrid bike equipped with a rack, bag, and a new helmet. He came in a few weeks later and told me how much he was enjoying the bike, how happy he was about our deal, and that "this was exactly what I was talking about when I said I wanted to do some 'horse trading'." I agreed wholeheartedly that it had worked out well for all involved. I haven't seen him for quite a while, but he did come into the shop periodically for a long time, and we had some nice visits.

I consider the day that fellow walked into the shop wanting to do some "horse trading" a very luck one. I equipped the bike with '09 Centaur, and have had several cockpit configurations on it since I've owned it. It fits me perfectly, and rides like a dream. It's from the late '90's, most likely one of the last lugged steel Pinarello's, built from proprietary Pinarello tubing (Deda). I enjoy it more than any bike I've ever owned, it makes me feel faster than I am:

753proguy

No ship, sherlock.

753proguy

Yeah! So there...!!!

treebound 

well biked,

Thanks for the story, I enjoyed it, I've also been known to do a horse trade or two.

To the OP,

I have a Colnago Master Light, partly because I got a deal from a now closed local shop, and partly because I always wanted one, and partly because of the tubing, marginally because of the paint.

If I were to seek out one then I'd look for a Viner, or a DeRosa (with the heart, not the wheel for the "o"), or a Pinarello, or something else, or something I couldn't pronounce the name of, or basically whatever fell into my lap and budget.

Decide if you want newer or older, or something Italian "just because". To me, "just because" is a valid enough reason.

To all,
Did Merckx ever handle a torch? I really don't know, flame not intentional. Seems kind of like a meaningless point when the goal is the final result and the history to back it up. A great orchestra conductor may not be able to play the tuba, but as long as he can direct them then the music is all that matters in the end.

Sixty Fiver

I ran into an Iride (Irideh) the other day... these frames are built by the Gemmati family in Italy and they have been doing this since 1919. I was quite pleased with the build quality and ride of the "Special" model. Columbus frame and mostly Ofmega gear made this a middle of the road model and rather unique as far as Italian bikes go.

Italian by way of Canada... Marinoni bicycles are very well made with excellent attention to detail and when you talk to them you are talking to family. A friend has the last lugged frame they built and had it special ordered... he owned a bicycle shop and was a long time Marinoni dealer... the bike is spectacular.

Am really loving my bike boom Garlatti as it falls into the category of "ride is everything" and the fact is it completely chromed does not hurt.

blue9

I've never owned an Italian bike, but lately have been keeping my eyes out for an affordable frame to build up during the winter. It's pretty much all aesthetics for me, to be honest. I've been obsessed with Ciöcc - the font, the pantographing, I dunno...just very "right" to my eyes. And yes, that pink/purple one on eBay is such a tease - too small and (for me) too expensive. Though I wonder if it's a re-paint?
What it'll come down to is (a) finding a frame in my size and (b) it being affordable. I think it'll be a long wait...

dbakl

Any idea of the period you're looking for?

I'd think anything high-end from the 50s would be pretty sweet from most Italian makers.

A Bianchi from the 60s would be killer. Or a Cinelli, even better.

Colnagos and Masis ruled in the 70s, DeRosa was an up and comer. Early Pogliagis are highly regarded.

80s-90s-00s, I don't know, not really my time period; eveything seemed to kind of blend together for me.

But honestly, anything from the upper end is going to be a pretty fine bicycle. Avoid the Firenzes...

Giacomo 1 

Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories and knowledge of Italian bikes.

Soon, I'll be scouring e-bay and CL to see if I can find my dream bike. You guys have opened up my mind and made me aware of so many different brands that I had forgotten about or never even heard of. Zullo, Tommassino, Pogliagi's are all brands I forgot about. I think I'll be much more open-minded now in my selection, although I think Bottecchia will remain on top. Brand recognition does mean something to me and I fondly remember a red, white and green one that oozed "passione Italiano" that a friend of mine had as a teenager. That might be a silly reason, but it is more of reason than I can give for any of the other makers.

Again, any thoughts on Bottecchia? I'll be looking for anything up to the mid 80's.

Good stuff guys, keep on schooling me on the Italians!

Sixty Fiver

Hottest Italians...

Sophia Loren

All the rest

robatsu

My Tommasini Diamante was just superb, really had it all. Terrific ride/handling, very stiff. The outrageous paint, very well executed, and chrome & lug shaping, etc, were all just extra catnip.

Other italian bikes I've had long term relationships with were a Pinarello and a Tommaso. Both were terrific, but in more of a generic terrific italian steel road bike way. I'm pretty sure I could have picked the Tommasini out in a blind test, not so sure about the others.

Picchio Special

A bit hard to grasp the fascination with Bottecchia, as they are primarily known for a ton of mid-level pack fodder. Why they're "on top" of your list is a bit of a mystery, honestly. Bottecchia was the official supplier of the Molteni squad during part of the 60's - when the bikes were blue - but they were actually built by Colnago. IMO, the one Bottecchia worth having (besides an actual team bike) is the red-white-chrome "Equipe":

https://www.raydobbins.com/bottecchia/

Which is quite lovely.

Edit: Sorry - somehow missed the "nostalgia" explanation for the Bottecchia jones. I get nostalgia, but personally, if you're looking at Italian bikes generally, I'd be looking at the Equipe or looking elsewhere.

dbakl

Oh, Galmozzis are highly thought of too, for something a little unique...

3alarmer 

https://www.hotitalian.net/

they actually sell Birra Peroni on tap.

Why can Italians not make decent beer? Hell, even
the Canadians can make decent beer.

Old Fat Guy

Canadians could make decent beer, but they don't seem to.

Italuminium

I'm working on a paper that sort of reviews the theory that Europe is divided in two broad culture zones, the zone of beer & butter and the zone of wine & olive oil. Clearly, Italy is the epicenter of the latter. Have a glass of Barolo, the bottle of course opened with one of those: https://www.campagnolo.com/jsp/en/new...ewscatid_3.jsp.

Picchio Special

I would suggest not going after a Galmozzi unless and until you comprehend why the heck you want to go after a Galmozzi.

Picchio Special

Which breaks down further, of course, into the risotto and pasta zones.

You're really going to have to work to explain that fact that France is hard to fathom as other than a wine and butter zone, BTW.

Italuminium

In a classic case of "what did the Romans ever do to us?" they covered every sunny south facing hill in the bloody country with grapes. The Gauls were a beer (and mede!) culture at first. Glad the idea caught on, or else I wouldn't have been drinking that lovely Bordeaux yesterday.

Picchio Special

As long as you're paying attention and keep your hands on the bars. Or know how to steer a bicycle using opposite lock.

Picchio Special

Confluence of cultures, then. Works for me.

eschlwc

"You left out beer (with good reason)."
"Why can Italians not make decent beer?"



try the 7.2% birra moretti la rossa double malt. it's almost as moving as french existentialism.

afilado

LOL. You're too quick. In this case, in more than one respect. ;-)

J