Just picked this one up (longest I've gone for a bike, an hour train ride). It appears to be a Centurion/Cinelli project bike, but not the more typical Equipe. The parts are a jumble but I was after the frame. Hopefully I can sell the 105 STI shifters and the Shimano 600(RSX in front)/Matrix wheelset and offset the price, and find a nice group of some kind. The headset and BB are Campy, so I'll likely keep those. Not sure whether I'll go retro or modern.

Paint is pretty good, the chrome on the chainstay is a bit off but hopefully can do something. Otherwise only the top tube cable guides have a bit of bubbling/spidering.

The details on this seem to be like others posted on the forum. I've read all I could find on the net about these, some say Cyclart decals, some say Euro model. Anyone have any new insights or wild speculation?

Anyway, here are the pics.


IMG_1849 by orrery84, on Flickr

IMG_1859 by orrery84, on Flickr

IMG_1858 by orrery84, on Flickr

IMG_1857 by orrery84, on Flickr

IMG_1856 by orrery84, on Flickr

IMG_1854 by orrery84, on Flickr

IMG_1853 by orrery84, on Flickr

IMG_1852 by orrery84, on Flickr

IMG_1851 by orrery84, on Flickr

IMG_1850 by orrery84, on Flickr

I think it was worth the train time.
It appears like the other Cinelli Centurion Project frames I have seen, note the seat stay top eyes are not Super Corsa style.
I like the color too.
Interesting choice of brakes.

Completely worth it...well done sir! Any thoughts on gruppo? I'm thinking Campy Chorus monoplanars.

Yeah, the build is eclectic at best, mostly a jumble of random parts. The brakes gotta go. It looks like I may need nutted rather than recessed, but I will check once I strip the frame and clean it up.

I think Campy Chorus would be sweet. Love the look of the monoplanars. NR would probably be more period correct, but whatevs.

Excellent score. Congrats! I don't recall seeing one exactly like that before. I'd love to pick one up some day.

- PS: An hour on the train is nuttin! As your sickness progresses, you'll consider that a drop in the hat. I've driven 4 hrs. (each way) for a score, and I'm others here put me to shame!

Those were the decals that came on the prototypes, which were flat black.
At one time, I'd say they were repro's, but so many surprises come from this bike's background...
Mr. Cunningham has re-done some nice Equipes.

Same SC fork (internal lugs) as used on the blue Equipe models out there, same panto on the seat stays.
I don't recall if the blue models, or that version, anyway, had a pump peg or not.

Highly likely from the same Chirico shop that produced the other Equipes and many North American market SC's.
The older Chirico was not far in age from the elder Cinelli, and one of his sons apprenticed at Cinelli for 13 years.
That is the son who likely produced this frame, along with the ordered production run.

I believe Chirico pioneered a way to produce forks more efficiently. The shop was in Bussero, near Milan.

Seems like someone else got that frame and built it, and whatever you put on it would be cool with me.
Look under the BB shell for a stamp-no serial number, but probably a frame size.

You will enjoy that ride, especially if you like a sense of urgency. The frame really likes to open up under power.

Great score, OP. Beautiful lugs.

BTW, my blue has a pump peg. And the seat stay caps are twice the length of yours, with the Cinelli "C" rotated 90 degree forward. These things are a mystery.

J

Great find! The lug points have a really nice shape to them. Looking forward to seeing the build progress.

I'd consider dropping the chainstay portion of the frame into an oxalic acid bath. Check for rust spider lines to be sure the rust isn't creeping along under the paint further.

These bikes came out in 1985, IIRC. Thus, I'd go with a Super Record group over Nouvo Record if you want to shoot for period correct build. (Campagnolo C-record was introduced in 1985 as well, but you'd have to have deep pockets to cobble a 1st gen C-record group.)

A "correct" build would be the well-known mix of NR derailleurs and the other non-Campy Italian bits - Miche, Universal, Ofmega.......

J

Nice find! You can view pics of my Centurion Equipe HERE. Also, check the Cinelli Only page HERE for more info. It might be a repaint done by CycleArt in SoCal. Jim C. did a fine job recreating the decals, and putting his own spin on the paint scheme.

Don't forget the Gipiemme seat post.....and Fiamme Hard Silver tubulars...

Can't wait to see what you come up with. Man, I'd love to get my mitts on it.

I've seen them with NR, 7-sp Syncro 2, and Ergo shifting. A certain BF member has either finished or is about to finish one with a multi-stage paint job that looks beautiful, but I've not seen it on this forum. Yet.

That is a pretty special frame. That fork is strikingly slim in the crown, very sleek. Hard to go wrong with the understated silver paint and red decals. I know nothing about these bikes, so that's all from me !

NICE. Was this on the local CL? How did I miss it! I actually have stopped checking since I've filled my fleet and have a negative bike fund... so even if I spotted it I would likely have passed (or emailed a link to Robbie).

Keep us updated on the build. Let me know if you're interested in some 9s Athena with Chorus wheels...

Thanks everyone. Also nice to see some beautiful Equipes from you guys. Not sure if I'll go for a period correct build or something more modern. I love Campy Ergos and might try for something more modern. This is my first Made in Italy bike, so I'm pretty excited, plus it's nice to simultaneously join the Centurion club.

Thanks for your insights, Robbie. I know you've spent lots of time researching these bikes, to everyone's benefit. I did indeed find a '54' stamped on the BB shell. Directly underneath was a 1 (or L or I, I suppose). I took of the fork to take a look at the headset and there was a small piece of tape with the markings '54' and 'Plombo' or 'Piombo' - piombo apparently translates to 'lead'.

Thanks, I've put on some oxalic acid on a towel, we'll see if that works or if I need a bigger submersion. There are a few spider lines on the top tube near the cable guides -- any tips on what to do? I'd rather not refinish it if possible.

Thanks. It was indeed - it was up for a few minutes and I called right away. Just got lucky this time. May be interested in the Campy stuff. I'll PM ya.

I've sent you a PM after looking at your post on the sale thread.
We've got to get Cinelli steering back on that, or it will run you into a tree, just out of spite......

On those decals. If they're under clear coat, I'd guess CycleArt.

Another vicarous Equipe build. I'm lovin' this.

Just for the record, I did a 2 1/2 hour ride from Baltimore City to New York City for a bike.

Congrats on your find!

Beautiful. I vote for 11 speed Silver Athena group.

The decals appear to be raised and there is a clear boundary, but I wasn't able to pick off the corner of one, so I'm not sure if its under the clear coat or not. I rather like this decal.

Thanks! Now that is quite a dedication to a score.

That would be perfect... for now my budget is probably limited to something like Veloce/Daytona/Centaur.