Cinelli Stem & Handlebar Size Confusion
 

Hi Everyone-

I have a “Cinelli Milano” stamped 1A stem that is clamped to an early Cinelli 64 Mod. Giro d’Italia handlebar. The center section of the handlebar is 26.0. I picked up another early 64 handlebar that also has a 26.0 center section. I was under the impression that all Cinelli bars and stems up until the ‘90s were 26.4. Am I wrong here? 26.0 bars and stems existed in the ‘70s apparently?

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...582ea8c12.jpeg
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Cinelli switched to 26.0 in the 90s. The stems are stamped "26" on the quill. Not sure if the bars are similarly marked.

My Cinelli bars and stems from the '70s are all 26.0.

Yeah, that's weird you have a shield logo bar with 26.0 clamp. Beautiful unblemished sleeve, though!

Every vintage Cinelli stem/bar combo I've had has been 26.4.

Same, all 26.4. I think mine are all mid to late 70s and early 80s. Maybe there were some 26.0 prior to mid 70s?

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a197e61029.jpg
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I just measured four from the eighties or maybe a little older and two newer ones from probably 2000 or later. The older ones all measured right at 26.29 - 26.31. The newer ones measured 26.0 and 26.1. All measured at the center of the knurled clamping area. The old ones are all used but the newer ones are unused.
I measured one older used stem at 26.4 and one unused newer (2000 or later) that is labeled 26 and it measured from 26.4 - 26.5!
These are all Cinilli bars and stems. My digital calipers are decent quality hardened stainless probably made in China and I reset zero before use.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0696b30669.jpg

Mon dieu! French-sized bars on a Cinelli?!

Those Cinelli bars with the Flying C are newer than what OP is talking about.

You can get the new ones in 26mm, or 25.4mm, which is an odd thing to call French, as it's one inch.