ID help: Cinelli frame
 

http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/jschmal/cinelli/

This frame was a throw-in with a parts trade I made. I'm trying to figure out if I should pay to have a busted seat tube replaced and it'd probably help to know what it is I *could be* riding. Any non-classic-Cinelli experts with words of wisdom?

It has cool internal cable routing recesses on the top tube. There's chrome under this DIY green disguise though I'm not sure how much. It says L'equipe Delta on the chain stay and it's got holes in the undersides of the seat stays right before they meet the cluster. Detailed pics at the link listed up top.

Much appreciated.

Having Shimano dropouts would rule out it being a Cinelli.

STICKY; Cinelli bottom bracket shell does not mean it's a Cinelli frame.

Still looks like a nice frameset though.

Looks very nice. Did any other Japanese brand beside Centurion make a "Cinelli Equipe" frame?

What! So you mean that this bike of mine is not a Cinelli?:p Here is the link to the thread on this bike, so you'll get a trip.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=338983

I didn't pay for it. I didn't pay for it. I didn't pay for it.

Keep it coming! I'll make it through the rest of that link when I get to work. I'm guessing this is a franken-bike. I forgot to mention the shifter bosses were removed.

Home Brazing 101, maybe?

Interesting bike, and looks like a good frame, but not a Cinelli and I don't think a Centurion/Cinelli either (but that was a good guess). Your best clue is that L'equipe Delta on the chainstay cause it's likely the model name, and the serial numbers will help somebody...the holes in the seatstays are just for gas to escape during brazing. There are some details that are more "British" or "USA" than Continental....but I sure don't recognize enough to ID it. How about a close-up of the head lugs? Is the BB shell 68mm wide and British threading? Is the brake bridge for a nutted brake?

Could this be one of the infamous Italian Nishikis?

Shmaybe...

I just googled L'equipe Delta and it seems to be a NorCal based racing team. Various members ride various bikes but one guy rides a Romic (custom builder in Texas)...seems like a possibility to me, I'd check with them regarding the serial numbers.

Hmm....before finding me this frame resided in Texas.

I'll try and get some details of the head lugs up tonight.

v nice. Could be a romic, it is very well built. Looks like Chrome seatstays and chainstays under all of that paint. The painter didn't bother to remove the stickies before applying the paint...that rectangle under the seat cluster on the seat tube will tell you what the frame material is, I'd bet. If they painted over that, they probably painted over the decals (usually on the downtube). You could try to lift that lovely green paint gently with a scraper and see what you see...

...unless, that is, unless you really like that color...

Thanks to Luker I have another clue. I took up some of that green with the fastening end of an x-acto blade and we're looking at Reynolds 531. Under the green is primer and under the primer is what looks to be the factory paint in metallic black. I was tentative with the scraping but at first glance the chain and seat stays aren't entirely chromed.

I'll look in to the serial numbers re. Romic. It ends in 88. Looks like a year mark to me.

531 tubes and a Cinelli BB shell, with Shimano vertical dropouts....this definitely seems an eccentric bike, but those features wouldn't necessarily be out of place on a Romic. It may turn out to be somebody else's, but I'm sure inclined to say "US custom builder" at this point.

When did vertical drop outs become prominent?

Hmm - guess it's not really worth pumping 200 into it to have the seat tube replaced then, huh. Ah well.

It might be. Will it fit?

um, I missed something. Why do you have to have the seat tube replaced?

and I think you could find someone to do that cheaper than 200 bucks.

Oh, yeah, I see it in your original post...but I don't see it in the pics. Wuz broke?

I saw what looks like a crimped/bent chainstay on the drive side, and maybe some ripples on the seat tube right above the BB. I guess this frame got crunched and it's probably not worth pouring money into if you want a rideable bike real soon...but I wouldn't throw it away yet either. You might chance upon some friendly frame builder someday, or need something to practice on yourself.

The seat tube is completely broken right before it enters the BB cluster. I haven't looked around for too many quotes on fixing it, but I got a good recommendation from Harris Cyclery for a shop in Providence that said $150. I said 200 when you figure shipping to and fro added up. If anyone knows a place that would replace one tube for significantly less, throw it my way.

It would fit me (I ride 60 and up), and maybe I'll feel like paying to have it fixed up, but the other day I found a painted-over Pinarello frame that despite being a bit too small for me (58 but I FOUND it...a Pinarello!), deserves my hard earned cash for restoration more than this broken weirdo frame. Gotta prioritize. And yes, I wake up every day hoping that today is the day I meet a dude who is a custom frame builder. As for brazing at home...that'll have to wait till I've moved on from my Brooklyn-one-bedroom lifestyle. Garage...someday...and even more bikes - mwahahahahah.