Originally Posted by
A.Winthrop
So I thought I'd add pics of my Cinelli Equipe Centurion,
despite the fact that these 1985-only "project-bikes" have
no serial numbers, only a c-c sizing stamp on the underside
of the bottom bracket shell among the derailleur cable
guides.
www.sheldonbrown.com/centurion
I've also asked another Equipe owner post his pics here
because his example is the best I've seen monitoring eBay
for Equipes since the spring of 2003 when I bought mine.
I think the pics can be useful in identifying the Cinelli
Equipe and distiguishing it from "real Cinellis" in future.
I've seen a few of these passed off as real Cinellis on
eBay in the past and the frames are very close in appearance
to the Cinellis of the same period (ie. mid-80s).
.
Methinks that other Equipe owner may be me. A. Winthrop alerted me to this bike and I simply bid on it and bought it, no sniping or excitement, nothing but surprise and mild elation, on an auction that ended midday in California. His recommendation was as accurate as his artillery work in 'Nam.
The bike appeared to be OEM except for a Shimano cassette; here's the lineup, front to rear:
Cinelli 66-38 Campione del Mondo bar on 95cm Cinelli black 1A stem, Ofmega headset.
Universal AER brakes and levers with DiaCompe hoods.
Campagnolo Record hubs on Sun M14 700c rims, 32 spoke.
Cinelli fork with chrome lugged crowns, panto'd in red and with red cutouts.
Cinelli frame panto'd on the seat stay caps and brake bridge, decal under the clear "Made in Italy."
The frame has chromed fork ends, crowns, R chain stay and Campagnolo chrome dropouts.
Cinelli BB, and no serial number.
Ofmega Mistral crankset, Omega Sintesi composite pedals w/Christophe clips and straps.
My BB is Campagnolo, I think some are Ofmega.
The shifter/FD/RD are Campagnolo Nuovo Record, Patent 1984.
It appears the shifters were panto'd in green, as was the brake bridge Cinelli logo, and both have faded or been polished off.
Hubs are Campagnolo Record on Sun M14 rim, 32 spoke, but the cassette may be Shimano, or at least the lock ring is.
The original was likely Regina, but if I can find Ti cogs, I'll use 'em.
Tires appeared to be OEM Continentals, were delaminating and pretty hardened on the sidewalls.
The seat post was the Campagnolo 2-pc with the Cinelli Volare black suede saddle.
Changes:
I'm a wide-body, so I had to change out the bars and stem to accommodate same, stayed with Cinelli both.
I have no idea what model the new bar is, but the stem pictured is an XR, I think. The tape is the new Cinelli carbon-look.
The tires went to Hutchinson Fusions, 700x20 front, 700x23 rear.
Not wanting to mess up a unique and fine saddle with my tired old butt, I opted for a Bianchi that matched the bike and me.
The original Cinells saddle is not NOS, but very close, including the stickers and side logos.
(A NOS just went for $237.85 on eBay, and as soon as I get it ready, mine will be up there.)
The original toe clips were black Christophe, and I bought a spare set of pedals from France which had chrome clips, and swapped them out.
Those are the only toe clips that fit that pedal that I've been able to find. I used freetranslation.com to message the seller.
Other:
Forgive me if the bike isn't perfectly clean. It's ridden. It went 10 pleasant miles yesterday and about 5 today.
I am currently addicted to my single-speed, or I'd have gone further today.
I don't like the bar tape, but will keep it until I decide whether or not to remove the anodize on the stem and polish it to mirror.
I also am slightly embarrassed by the seat post; I did not put the scratches on it, but I can sure get them off, and will.
I'm an Ironman fan, but A. Winthrop and T-Mar have been invaluable in learning about the Centurion lineup,
and perhaps I'll start a little tribe of my own. ....Well, probably.