Cinelli Unicanitor Suede
#1
Thread Starter
Biking Viking.
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 358
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From: Camp Hill, PA
Bikes: '01 Lemond Buenos Aires, '11 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, 70s Austro Daimler Inter 10, 80s Motobecane Mirage 10 Fixed Gear
Cinelli Unicanitor Suede
I recently got an old Cinelli Unicanitor saddle with what appears to be the suede covering. Wondering what products I should use to clean it up. Just trying to get off any dirt and grease without damaging the material.
Also, I've done some internet research, but if anyone has info/pithy anecdotes on what exactly I have, I'd be interested.

Also, I've done some internet research, but if anyone has info/pithy anecdotes on what exactly I have, I'd be interested.
#2
multimodal commuter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,810
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From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Well, back in the days when all the pros rode leather saddles, there were people who would modify factory made saddles. One such person --perhaps the most famous-- was an old racer named Giuseppe Ottusi of Milan, Italy. You can find some photos of his work on the internet. He would take something like a Brooks B17 and give it a subtly different shape. The Unica Nitor saddles were modeled on his saddles. They are light, and highly regarded in some circles.
#4
Senior Member


Joined: Jun 2006
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I like Cinelli saddles, but the #2 in suede no matter the color is silly in my mind, any amount of riding mats down the suede, and until it all gets matted down especially in black it looks terrible.
The suede does keep on "planted" on the saddle at least with wool shorts butI shift my weight around from time to time, descending etc.
The suede does keep on "planted" on the saddle at least with wool shorts butI shift my weight around from time to time, descending etc.
#5
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
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From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Yeah, suede makes too much friction. I like to slide around on my saddle, regardless of how mischievous that sounds.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#6
I much preferred the old buffalo hide model. Those suede ones never do look good for long. That's a nice looking one, however, OP.
If you intend to ride it, anything you put on it will destroy the look of the original suede.
If you intend to ride it, anything you put on it will destroy the look of the original suede.






