Pondering Marinoni...
 

I went to our "LBS" [really more of a sporting good shop that happens to sell various bikes also, we dont have any actual bicycle shops in our city anymore!] to buy a trainer and I spotted a used Marinoni hanging from the ceiling, it looked to be my size up there and it was BEAUTIFUL, red yellow and blue paint job. I saw it had the Columbus tubing decal and it was all campy equipped. The pedals were updated to clipless but other than that it looked all period correct, It had non aero brakes so im guessing it was early to mid 80s. I asked what they wanted for it - $450 [CAN]. I know you can do better price wise if ya get lucky at a yard sale.. but hey its in a store. Shes just so purdy, ive got the cash and im aching to bring her home but thats still a fair chunk of change to me. Im thinking I may be able to soften it down to and even 4 if I act pitiful and desperate enough.

An 80's marinoni is GOLD. especially at that bargain price. I paid 320 Canadian for my bare frame and it is a 1992 special, built for racing, it is very well made but I hear the earlier ones are even nicer. I also have a 1996 (still lugged columbus) waiting to be built up for my girlfriend, it's a corsa and not as finely finished but the DOs are still chrome and there is still pantographs and cutouts.. I also have a 1981 pista special on they way and I just emailed 3 different people about Marinonis they have for sale... I may become a Marinoni collector. Go get that bike! T-mar will be able to tell you more.

Neighbor has one. Gorgeous bike go for it. Dont kick yourself in the but when its gone. Its a cant loose, cash and carry no shipping ride it home. You wont be dissapointed.

Don't walk. Run. That is SUCH a great bike, and when you consider that a new POS entry level road bike today will cost you 2 or 3 times that ... eeeesh.

Alright you guys twisted my arm! At least I have some stuff im not attatched to that I could huck up on ebay when spring rolls around to soften it up some more for me.

Can't wait for the pics!

What, no bike shops in a city the size of Ontario??

Ontario is our province like your state.

Where is this store and what size is the bike*rubbing hands together*? *oh yes* 80's 'Noni? Run back to the shop and grab it up.

Hello, I went back.. and they let me have it for $400 so yay! Apparently its been there for quite a while too they said. I walked over there and rode her home and shes was a joy to ride despite it being -20 outside! Its 52 centimeter c-t-c.. a whole centimeter smaller than my proper size, but that seems to be no big deal. I'll take some photos tomorrow, not much light out there right now.

Hell yes!DON'T FORGET THE PICTURES!!!!:D

I didn't know Idaho fit inside Virginia. I know that Texas plus a bunch of other states fit inside Ontario. :p

I believe divineAndbright is in northern Ontario, up in the boonies.

Oh, and I too am looking forward to seeing those pix. I don't remember any Marinonis from the early eighties that weren't all campag and most had pantographed chainrings.

I'm excited for him what a find!!

Yeah! do you know what kind of components it has? I know a girl who bough an 84 for $175 off CL a couple weeks ago... it did have 980 stuff on it but it was still a good price. Divine and Bright, do you know what group you have? I would love to get my hands on anything marinoni pantographed... does it have the maple leaf cutouts and pantos? I believe that was used for much of the 80s... I think Gardin may have had some maple leaf action too...

Did he build bikes in Italy then came to Canada or whats the story?

Built in montreal i believe, in the 80's you couldn't throw a rock without hitting a rider on a 'noni

see this for a very brief history of Marinoni:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homep...in/ABOUT_1.HTM

They're all built in Quebec and production began in 1975. It says in there that all frame are made by Giuseppe Marinoni and I believe that document is dated to 2000.

I've always thought it would be a great thing to have, as a Canadian, a nice frame built by Mr. Marinoni, a great Canadian bicycle frame maker. He himself is still producing frames and when I get up the scratch, I will take a trip over to Montreal and get a nice one from him. I had one back in the early 90s, a road bike, but I knew jack about road bikes back then and sold it for next to nothing. Sigh.

Or you could stop into Bicycle Specialties in Toronto, and order a Mariposa - from that other great Canadian custom bike builder.

Does Cramerotti still build out of Toronto? Not meaning to take away from the 'Noni-ness. My, but we have some good bikes made here.

Its not %100 percent campy actually, but here are the specs after going over it

Frame/Fork: Columbus
Drop outs: Campagnolo
Crank: Gipiemme 170mm 53/42
Brakes: Modolo
Headset: Gipiemme
Stem/Bars: 3TTT
Seat Post: Gipiemme
Saddle: Super Corsa
Rims: Ambrosio (they are clinchers, the rear doesn't match the front so im guessing it was replaced at some point)
Hubs: Campagnolo
Deraileurs/Shifters: Campagnolo (not sure which exactly)
Freewheel: Regina 7 speed (13-21)

There is a decal on the left chainstay -marinoni special.

The clipless pedals are campy and im gonna keep the bike clipless as I tried them out on the trainer and I really prefer em over straps + clips.. Like the float.. just gotta get some shoes (the ones that came with it are a size too small). Think I might swap the levers out for Aero ones also.. gonna put yellow cable housing all around.. or maybe blue? We'll see! I love her, wish it was warm out so I could really ride her, but soon-soon.

oh baby.....

D and B, let me know if that 52cm frame is too small for you, I think it would fit me just fine. I started my bike collecting with the intent of keeping things Canadian, I have since wandered into Italian and French stuff. A nice Marinoni would put me back on track!

Yup, him too. I will try to remember to get a photo of the Mariposa hanging on the wall of that coffee shop I mentioned in another thread. It isn't necessarily C&V but it is a great example of a classic-looking frame with new components. Lovely.

Bicycle Specialties is also a huge Marinoni Dealer. I am not sure where Cramerotti's are built but I thought they were based in Vancouver. Campione is the shop where they are sold, The marinoni dealer is 5 blocks from my house.