Originally Posted by
randyjawa
The Cinelli is lovely. Long have I lusted for a Cinelli, and I have even owned one, which was too small for me to ride with any degree of comfort.
The problem for me is that I don't see bicycles as being built for riding only. I love to ride the Cyclops, and the well worn Bianchi, but I can stare at my Rabeneick, and my Peugeot and enjoy the time spent doing so immensely. Will I go to just one bike? I hope not but then again, I hope so.
Always have had a problem with making decisions that do not have to be made.
I also have a slightly-too-small 1972ish Cinelli - in fact, it was my Eroica ride in 2016 and 2017 - that is now stripped down to frame and fork. It rides really well, but not noticeably better than my others. This one rides noticeably better than my others. I guess size really does matter.
I agree that bikes - at least my bikes - are not just built to ride. I absolutely want them to ride well; if I don't like the ride, I don't want it. But, shallow as I am, appearance matters a great deal. If I don't like the color scheme, i don't want it and/or will change it. If I don't like the graphics, I don't want it. In short, I want to love riding it and I want to love staring at it. And I understand that both of these factors are largely subjective and others may not share my tastes in ride or appearance. 'S okay by me. Ride what floats your boat.
I have been very fortunate to find frames that either already did, or were able to be made to have, both characteristics. I love staring at all of them. I love riding all of them. I love staring at them while riding them (carefully). But on all fronts, I love the Cinelli a bit more (even though it's paint is significantly more beat up than any of the others).