Help identifying mid 80's(?) Ciocc
 

Hi all, I know this NEVER works, Cocci is shrouded in mystery, yada yada yada, but I thought I would try. First off here are some pics i took:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d02685116e.jpg

No TSD logo on brake bridge


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e0e9dc1454.jpg

the "C" has the tail, i know that dates the bike

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e3706af5d5.jpg

Club shape cut-out on the lugs

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ec9a521e27.jpg

nice seat cluster with Ciocc panto
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...28ff2c9398.jpg

Ciocc panto on the fork crown... sloping crown
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8d0f8efb8b.jpg

un-branded dropouts, with adjusters
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...11f38de1b4.jpg

The typical heart shape BB cutout. the frame"54" is stamped there, and the serial number is 91219
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...49a1adceee.jpg

no name dropout on forks
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...89491f444d.jpg

gorgeous sky blue to white fade on all tubes. chrome on drive side chain stay only. full chrome fork

So here is what else I know...
All the equipment is 1985 Shimano 600(EX). The date codes indicate the crank (for instance) was manufactured in October of 1985. If found that info here date code information.
It appears that the seatpost is 26.8 mm, which leads me to believe that it is Columbus Aelle tubing, but there are no tubing stickers on the frame. The Ciocc stickers appear to be all there and original, and the paint looks original. At first i thought the bike should have come with Campagnolo or Olfmega, and had been retrofitted (upgraded?), but I found a eerily similar bike on line by googling blue and white Ciocc, where I got this picture: link to web picture. since there are two with same groupset, I can assume there are many. the serial number is 91219, and it has 54 stamped on the bottom of the BB.
I would have thought from the groupset date code that it was a 1986 model year, but wasn't that when Ten Speed Drive was importing and selling Ciocc? I hope there is a Ciocc expert out there that has been silent so far.
It rides great, and looks lovely!

Thanks in advance for any help. ask any questions you might need the answers to, to be able to help ID this beauty!

Yes, the 26.8 seatpost points to Aelle tubing, and there were others from this era that had not tubing decal but that size post and were Aelle, too. If it was a TSD import it's odd that there's not "little rider'" panto on the brake bridge. Oddest of all that there IS a serial number, so very few Ciocc had any.

It is no earlier than 1987, when Veltec-Boyer assumed distribution from Ten Speed Drive. The fade paint and its orientation (i.e. from one side of the tube to the other, as opposed to from one end of the tube to the other), is typical of the early Veltec-Boyer era. The components are 1986 Shimano new 600EX. It would not be uncommon for a distributor to assemble using some left over 1986 groups, especially when the group did not change, so it may be a 1987 model. However, given that it's a prestige Italian brand, I also wouldn't discount the original owner having built it up from a frame, possibly using parts from a donor bicycle.

Agreed, a 26.8mm post would be typical of Alle. However, if the parts came from a Asian donor bicycle, it's possible that the previous owner just used the post from the old bicycle. To increase your confidence level in it being Aelle, examine the cinch slot. If this were an under size post in an SL frame, the slot would be about 1.25mm narrower at the top than the bottom. Also, remove the front wheel, and examine the bottom of the inside of the fork's steerer tube. An SL (or better) fork would have a Columbus steerer tube with five helical ridges.

thanks guy. the reason i was thinking that this was "stock" was that the other picture on the web was the same groupset. seems like a bit of a coincidence? but it was good and affordable at the time, so who knows.
can you tell me more about Veltek-Boyer era bikes? one company or in series one after the other?

Veltec was a Dutch based cycling distributor, perhaps most famous for handling Concorde frames and bicycles as used by the PDM team. Expanding into the USA, they teamed with Jonathan Boyer, the 1st USA pro cyclist to compete in the Tour De France. Naming the American division Veltec-Boyer provided instance status with most LBS owners. Many of the Concorde frame were manufactured by Ciocc and often there is commonality of model names.

bump to the top to see if anyone has any insights?

It doesn't look methicillin resistant

I remember seeing this particular model on sale in Torrance CA. Del Amo Mall Copeland Sports. Never seen this paint scheme since. Company went under.