1970's Cinellli stem and bike
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1970's Cinellli stem and bike
Hello everyone! I haven't been active on the forum in a while (mostly because I end up lusting for bikes and spending money), but some of you know me personally and I thought this group would enjoy this bike.
This is a 70's Cinelli Supercorsa that found me. I've been done looking for bikes for a while but my father-in-law called me and said I should check this one out. I guess one of the employees at his local Trader Joe's noticed he always rides his bike to the store and mentioned she had an old bike that belonged to her husband's grandfather and they were looking to get rid of it... Long story short the bike now lives with me
It is still a work in progress but I cleaned it and got to ride it a couple of times already. I'm waiting for hoods and then I'll replace cables.
I guess what I find most interesting about the bike is the stem.. I have never seen a Cinelli stem with a badge and can't seem to find another one online. There are no other markings on the stem besides the badge. Maybe there's writing under the badge but I don't want to mess with it. Because of the details on the badge I don't think it is a reproduction. I know the original owner saved a lot of money to get the bike just like he wanted so maybe it was an expensive option...? I took the bike to Wastyn cycles where it was originally purchased and Mr. Wastyn said he remember seeing those stems but he had no additional insights. Any info is appreciated.





This is a 70's Cinelli Supercorsa that found me. I've been done looking for bikes for a while but my father-in-law called me and said I should check this one out. I guess one of the employees at his local Trader Joe's noticed he always rides his bike to the store and mentioned she had an old bike that belonged to her husband's grandfather and they were looking to get rid of it... Long story short the bike now lives with me

It is still a work in progress but I cleaned it and got to ride it a couple of times already. I'm waiting for hoods and then I'll replace cables.
I guess what I find most interesting about the bike is the stem.. I have never seen a Cinelli stem with a badge and can't seem to find another one online. There are no other markings on the stem besides the badge. Maybe there's writing under the badge but I don't want to mess with it. Because of the details on the badge I don't think it is a reproduction. I know the original owner saved a lot of money to get the bike just like he wanted so maybe it was an expensive option...? I took the bike to Wastyn cycles where it was originally purchased and Mr. Wastyn said he remember seeing those stems but he had no additional insights. Any info is appreciated.






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I've never seen the badge affixed to an alloy stem, either. I wonder if it was a cobble job. If so, it looks pretty good! Btw, are the brake caliper arms stamped or bare?
That's one beauty of a survivor!
DD
That's one beauty of a survivor!
DD
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OMG. That is nice. Good snag.
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I’m not a campy expert but I had never heard of the plain calipers. This is what mine look like. Probably nothing special.
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Most likely the stem was custom by the selling shop.
Only mess with it if you require a different length stem.
"no name" calipers were a first year of production thing. As the frame shows latter details I would not expect them.
You did well. The seat post and saddle are very uncommon, Ideale… (note Cinelli owned Unicanitor saddles)
Special Ideale alloy clamp for a plain seat post.
I think it deserves another set of wheels, high flange hubs, Fiamme tubular rims (red or yellow label), high quality tubular tires. What is one there is practical, not commanding. Red toe straps- Binda preferred.
Only mess with it if you require a different length stem.
"no name" calipers were a first year of production thing. As the frame shows latter details I would not expect them.
You did well. The seat post and saddle are very uncommon, Ideale… (note Cinelli owned Unicanitor saddles)
Special Ideale alloy clamp for a plain seat post.
I think it deserves another set of wheels, high flange hubs, Fiamme tubular rims (red or yellow label), high quality tubular tires. What is one there is practical, not commanding. Red toe straps- Binda preferred.
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Most likely the stem was custom by the selling shop.
Only mess with it if you require a different length stem.
"no name" calipers were a first year of production thing. As the frame shows latter details I would not expect them.
You did well. The seat post and saddle are very uncommon, Ideale… (note Cinelli owned Unicanitor saddles)
Special Ideale alloy clamp for a plain seat post.
I think it deserves another set of wheels, high flange hubs, Fiamme tubular rims (red or yellow label), high quality tubular tires. What is one there is practical, not commanding. Red toe straps- Binda preferred.
Only mess with it if you require a different length stem.
"no name" calipers were a first year of production thing. As the frame shows latter details I would not expect them.
You did well. The seat post and saddle are very uncommon, Ideale… (note Cinelli owned Unicanitor saddles)
Special Ideale alloy clamp for a plain seat post.
I think it deserves another set of wheels, high flange hubs, Fiamme tubular rims (red or yellow label), high quality tubular tires. What is one there is practical, not commanding. Red toe straps- Binda preferred.
I guess you are right about the wheels but I’m really liking the ride of the panaracer tires. For some reason I don’t feel inclined to make this bike completely period correct.
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Absolutely beautiful, and almost identical to my garage find. I wouldn't change a thing on that bike. The stem badge looks to me to be a modified head badge...certainly not something Cinelli ever did.
MY Cinelli as found:
Cinelli as found.jpg
MY Cinelli as found:
Cinelli as found.jpg
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Absolutely beautiful, and almost identical to my garage find. I wouldn't change a thing on that bike. The stem badge looks to me to be a modified head badge...certainly not something Cinelli ever did.
MY Cinelli as found:
Attachment 590914
MY Cinelli as found:
Attachment 590914
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Well, maybe not so small looking again, but still, I'd never doubt that it left Cinelli that way!
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Yes, I have enjoyed looking at your Cinelli - thanks.
On the badged stem - I once attached an OLMO steerer tube metal badge to an old Ambrosio alloy quill stem. It just needed a little extra curving and a couple of small holes drilled in the stem. Easy and it looked great. I would guess that your badged stem is home-made.
On the badged stem - I once attached an OLMO steerer tube metal badge to an old Ambrosio alloy quill stem. It just needed a little extra curving and a couple of small holes drilled in the stem. Easy and it looked great. I would guess that your badged stem is home-made.
Last edited by Gary Fountain; 12-01-17 at 10:47 PM.
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-----
suspect frame may be slightly earlier than some of the fittings.
note brake calipers. front pads are up near the top of the adjustment slot while rear caliper has pads at bottom of adjustment slot. frame likely built with some model of Universal brakeset in mind. model Super 68 for example has a centre of slot dimension on the front of 47.5mm and on the rear of 56.5mm. the Campag Record 52mm brake set has an upper adjustment limit of 48mm and a lower adjustment limit of 56mm. this fits pretty well what we see.
---
in case one wishes to run a Campag Record type saddle pillar with a Tron et Berthet I-serie saddle as we have here adaptor mounting plates for the combination were produced:
suspect frame may be slightly earlier than some of the fittings.
note brake calipers. front pads are up near the top of the adjustment slot while rear caliper has pads at bottom of adjustment slot. frame likely built with some model of Universal brakeset in mind. model Super 68 for example has a centre of slot dimension on the front of 47.5mm and on the rear of 56.5mm. the Campag Record 52mm brake set has an upper adjustment limit of 48mm and a lower adjustment limit of 56mm. this fits pretty well what we see.
---
in case one wishes to run a Campag Record type saddle pillar with a Tron et Berthet I-serie saddle as we have here adaptor mounting plates for the combination were produced:
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Yeah... that bike's OK.

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As far as the stem... I was hoping for a prototype or something special but Iab’s comment rings pretty true to me as far as the position of the badge goes. The funny thing is that Oscar Wastyn, who probably sold the bike, didn’t mention it. They are pretty nice to me at that shop so I guess I’ll go back and ask.
Last edited by elguicho; 12-01-17 at 10:25 PM.
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-----
suspect frame may be slightly earlier than some of the fittings.
note brake calipers. front pads are up near the top of the adjustment slot while rear caliper has pads at bottom of adjustment slot. frame likely built with some model of Universal brakeset in mind. model Super 68 for example has a centre of slot dimension on the front of 47.5mm and on the rear of 56.5mm. the Campag Record 52mm brake set has an upper adjustment limit of 48mm and a lower adjustment limit of 56mm. this fits pretty well what we see.
---
in case one wishes to run a Campag Record type saddle pillar with a Tron et Berthet I-serie saddle as we have here adaptor mounting plates for the combination were produced:
suspect frame may be slightly earlier than some of the fittings.
note brake calipers. front pads are up near the top of the adjustment slot while rear caliper has pads at bottom of adjustment slot. frame likely built with some model of Universal brakeset in mind. model Super 68 for example has a centre of slot dimension on the front of 47.5mm and on the rear of 56.5mm. the Campag Record 52mm brake set has an upper adjustment limit of 48mm and a lower adjustment limit of 56mm. this fits pretty well what we see.
---
in case one wishes to run a Campag Record type saddle pillar with a Tron et Berthet I-serie saddle as we have here adaptor mounting plates for the combination were produced:
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Oh my, that is such a beautiful bike! Congratulations on such a nice Cinelli. Let us know how you like the ride. (I hope to have one of those one day. I just have to find the correct size.)
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Heck of a find. Thankfully it was well preserved!
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Man. Maybe one day something like this will find me.
Buy yourself a lottery ticket, mister. Quick.
Buy yourself a lottery ticket, mister. Quick.

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A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
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Gorgeous bike! The original owner obviously treated it right.
I agree with repechage that high flange hubs, and silver tubular rims would be the hot ticket. (I would look for high flange hubs if building a set, but your current low flange hubs would be a close second for me. ) Your bike is from right around the time low flange hubs were starting to be considered "cool". Conversely, the leather Ideale saddle is the opposite. I would expect leather saddles and high flange hubs before the early 70s, and plastic Unicanitor saddles and low flange hubs after.
Personally, I would really try to find some silver rims, even if not tubulars. Those dark grey anodized rims just scream "80s". Nothing wrong with them on the right bike, this just isn't it. Not quite as bad as aero, deep section rims, but close :-)
Either way, beautiful bike. I hope you get a lot of miles on it.
I agree with repechage that high flange hubs, and silver tubular rims would be the hot ticket. (I would look for high flange hubs if building a set, but your current low flange hubs would be a close second for me. ) Your bike is from right around the time low flange hubs were starting to be considered "cool". Conversely, the leather Ideale saddle is the opposite. I would expect leather saddles and high flange hubs before the early 70s, and plastic Unicanitor saddles and low flange hubs after.
Personally, I would really try to find some silver rims, even if not tubulars. Those dark grey anodized rims just scream "80s". Nothing wrong with them on the right bike, this just isn't it. Not quite as bad as aero, deep section rims, but close :-)
Either way, beautiful bike. I hope you get a lot of miles on it.
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Can anyone ID that bar tape? Sexy as hell, that.
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That’s the new microfiber tape by Brooks. It’s very close to the fizik version but the colors are meant to be more like their saddles. I put it on and started trying different things to age it, I didn’t love the original color.