I'm curious....I was goofing around and looked at GVH bikes...and just fell in love with the Cinelli super corsa....red with chrome......all steel, lugs...... I can see that with a mid level campy build.

I am not getting anything for a while, but wondered if it was worth keeping an eye out for a good used frame if there is not a lot of differences.

All in all it is probably silly....but a fast, sexy red italian vehicle would be great...especially as I don't see a ferrari in my near future

back to truing the wheels for my miyata rebuild.

thannks

Super Corsa's of today are not the same as those pre-Columbo buyout. Still, they have kept on making lugged steel while others gave up. An old mid 70's or earlier Super Corsa will be more money than new, and the new ones will fit the current parts.

Mid level build? Surely you are joking. Chorus maybe, maybe even Centaur cranks as they are alloy...Go with Shamal wheels in the new titanium color. Buy now as soon a "top tier" function non carbon groupset will be out of stock, kind of a bummer.

I have a post Columbo SC, a 1984, to be exact. I'm not so sure that the early to mid 80's frames are any 'worse' than the late 70 frames. Less desirable, from a collecting standpoint, but I doubt that they are less ridable. Cino was not a builder, and I would think many/most of his builders stayed on as the factory was modernized.

I've seen complete Super Corsa models in excellent condition go for right about the price of a frame on GVH. One thing to bear in mind, is what type of riding you do. I've found the SC to be a 'pay attention at all times' sort of ride. If you are going race criteriums, that's just fine, for a fast ride in the country, you would be better served by a Merckx or De Rosa, IMHO.

I love my Cinelli, and would never even consider selling it. It was my daily driver for over 20 years, but it is not my favorite bike. I agree that it is one of the best looking frames around, though. Not to gaudy, just understated elegance.

I guess this is the problem with falling in love with a sexy Italian... you have to deal with the temprament any specific de Rosa to look for? thanks

I've had a 63, a 69, a late 70s and an 84, the 84 is the only one I've kept, mostly because I prefer the ride. Of course, the earlier ones are worth more, which is fine by me because I made more money selling them! The 84 is a "maybe" little squirrelier than the earlier ones, but its still a stable, responsive ride in the classic Italian style. My 84 is SLX, don't know what they're using these days, but I'd guess you'll be happy with one. Honestly, I think its as well made as any other Cinelli too.

All the vintage De Rosa bikes are "Professional" models. It can be confusing, because two identical bikes could have different treatments, chrome seat stays, fork treatments, etc. I'd look for one that fit, first and foremost. It took me a couple of years to get one at a price I could live with.

Construction quality I will set aside, but the geometry of Cinelli Super Corsa's has changed quite a bit over the decades, In this depatment Cinelli caught up with the times after Cino's influence passed.

In the 70's Cinelli was considered behind the times in design, low low BB, generous front center, longer chainstays than was the popular trend, room for mudguards even, an essentially full day road bike, not a criteruim machine at all, but one that gave much confidence to the rider down long descents, and due to tube selection and or sand cast lugs, heavier than most. But they always garnered respect.

The later bikes do not interest me as much as they appear Pinarello clones as far as geometry, not bad, just not Cino CINELLI.

DeRosa kept the "conservative" geometry for quite a while, I have a '95 or so Primato, not the same as an early 70's DeRosa, still conservative, with chrome head lugs and fork crown for flash.

It appears that Eddy Merckx is the maker that has kept to the most conservative geometry the longest.

Yeah, I'd agree. But if I want that laid back geometry I go ENGLISH!

A small De Rosa on ebay straight out of the motherland: https://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-Italian-Bic...QQcmdZViewItem

I would not go that far. I think Pinarello and Guerciotti were both imported by the same distributor, and they are a bit 'quicker' in handling than say, a 1983-85 Cinelli. My Cinelli climbs well and handles decently. My Guerciotti is noticeably 'quicker' in it's handling. There are a lot of subtle differences in the bikes that make them all handle a bit differently. Bottom bracket height, chain and seat stay bridges, fork design and rake all combine to define the ride characteristics, as well as the frame material.

To me, it is hard to beat a De Rosa as a sum of all those things. They are quick enough for a crit, and smooth enough for a fast century, they climb very well too. The ideal thing is to have a Cinelli and a De Rosa/Merckx. You can have both for what a mid range modern bike would cost.

BTW, the one on eBay is by no means a 1975, and not the traditional 'Professional' model.

Love my '98 Cinelli - Just thought I would add to the thread, better late than never!

When I bought mine from Tom at GVH, he told me the newer ones had a more relaxed geometry than the older ones, and would be well mannered all day riders.

I'm just shy of finishing my build - when I'm done and riding it, I'll let the world know what I think. I've never ridden a early one, though, so I can't compare the two.

You need to find a geometry you like. For sprints, climbs, and fast rides, I tend to like Italian frames of the early 1980s (no bias here ). For long distance, in a crosswind, or on a rough road, I prefer the slacker frames of the 1960s.