Originally Posted by
machinist42
26.8, the correct seat pillar size for the (early) Acer-Mex Windsor and Carabela Profesionals is 26.8.
Because no shim/insert-reinforcement in the top of the seat tube. Using a longer seat post stiffens the seat stay/seat tube/top tube juncture similarly.
The ride quality of early Acer Mex Pros is indistinguishable from cotemporaneous Cinelli Mod Bs, (or SCs for that matter). no surprise as they were built by a guy who built them for 25 years. After they became popular, mid-70s or so, the quality declined and discrepancies presented.
Cinellis changed too, so a mid-80s example sure does not ride the same as one from the mid-60s.
I will defer to your superior knowledge of the early Acer-Mex/Carabela examples. I thought all Windsor Pros had 27.2mm seat posts, but I now know better. Thanks. And I agree that, at some point post-Colombo sale, Cinelli abandoned the 26.2mm seat posts. But as a matter of my own personal biases and fancies, my interest in Cinellis does not extend past the 1978 (I think) sale to the Colombos and thus does not extend to the non-26.2mm seat post era. Nothing wrong with those post-sale frames, just not my cup of tea.
Originally Posted by
smd4
The '80s frame probably rides better because of the racier geometry.
I would very much expect that a 1960s Cinelli and a 1980s Cinelli to ride differently. As for whether the shorter, more upright 1980s frames ride better than the longer, more laid-back1960s frames - that is very much a matter of personal taste.
First, one has to define what "better" means. Is it better if it is stiffer? If it is more agile? More all-day comfortable? More straight-line stable? Pretty much all of these are YMMV criteria.
As for me, I have two mid-1960s Cinellis, both 64cm ctc, both heavy, both with 73/72.5 angles, and both with looong wheelbases. They both ride great. The one that I have blasphemously desecrated with a Campy 10sp triple drivetrain is the best riding bike I have ever been on. What makes me like it better to me than the other, Eroica/Cino complaint one is solely a matter components. Both bikes are stable, plenty stiff, plenty responsive although no one's first choice for a criterium, plenty comfy on a long ride, and have a certain slight extra, alive-feeling springiness that I can't quantify or adequately describe but that I love.
Would you prefer the ride of the 1960s Cinellis over that of the 1980s Cinellis? I don't know, but based solely on your comment, I kind of doubt it. I also largely don't care other than hoping that the bikes you ride - Cinelli or other - put big smiles on your face. As for me, if you see me on the road, I'll be the big guy on the big mid-1960s Cinelli with a big goofy grin on my face. Whatever you are riding, I wish you the same goofy grin.