As this seems to be Atala week, I thought I'd put in a couple of questions. Some of you may already know this bike as my Clunker 100 contender, or "the bike formerly known as Sandra". It wears Atala decals, but I'm having serious doubts as to whether it really is an Atala. I've searched the web for confimation, but to no avail. As I've come to really like this bike, I'd like to know what it is, and maybe even restore it to its former glory.

• is it an Atala? If so, what model? Year?
• if not, what is it? Any ideas?

I've not yet been able to find a serial number. It doesn't have one or it is well-hidden. The seat post is 26.6 mm. The BB shell measures 68 mm, the dropouts are from Gipiemme. The parts are from all over the place, the only stuff that I think might be original are the BB and crank set; both are made by Thun. There's a code on the adjustable cup: 34 8 (I think).

I'd really appreciate your insights.

Here are some detailed pics, taken just after taking delivery:











This is the way it looks now:

Anyone? Need more pictures / information?

she looks like ~1977 to my eye nonfixie.

have not before seen a Rizzato with this lug cutout but am more familiar with the slightly earlier models.

a 68mm shell on an Italian machine is a bit odd. it could always be that someone has faced it down that far, but rather unlikely. is the shell Italian threaded? you mention a code on the adjustable cup of 34 8. BSC threading comes out to 34.85mm pitch diameter.

evidently she bears no tubing sticker? the combination of dropouts and pillar size tend to suggest a quality plain gauge tube set.

shell width and (apparent) threading would certainly tend to corroborate your suspicions...

Whatever it is, if you like the way it rides, and it fits, then it's worth refurbing/restoring.

+1 the 26.6mm seat post likely points to a Cro-moly plain gauge seat tube. But weigh the frame, perhaps only the seat tube is plain gauge due the tall size. Tall frames tend to use a thicker seat tube for stiffness. If the frame is light, the rest of the main tubes may be DB.
Also, make sure it's 26.6mm, and not pinched down to that size. 26.8mm has been sizing for some Columbus SP and Tange Champion #2 seat tubed frames.

Are the Exage Motion components original to the bike? That would make it around 1988-1990 production. By that time, did Atala farm out production to Asia like Bianchi?
But the dropouts tend to make this a European production. A Raleigh?

I say 'unclunker' it with a new finish, and nicer components, and slap Non-Fixie decals on it. Looks to have fast geometry.

Sorry, there is a tubing sticker. Should have posted it:



Because of the 68mm BB shell width I'd assumed it to be BSC, but maybe I should take it apart.

I will definitely refurb/restore, because it's one of the nices rides I have. It's more a question of: to what? I'd like it to be an Atala, as it's a great name, with great brand colors. But if it's something else I'd rather not brand it Atala, but ... well, Cycles Enne-Effe is not a bad idea.
I'm pretty sure it's not a Raleigh.

the mystery deepens...

thanks for the additional information and photo non-fixie.

the metal of the frameset is quite consistent with being a midliner: falck quality plain gauge tubing, gipiemme forged dropouts without adjusters, spot welded instead of brazed brake cable guides.

i know that france and spain converted from metric to iso threading ~1984. wonder if any italian manufacturers have done so as well. in addition to the threading the one non-italian looking thing about the frame is the seat stay tops.

WNG tells us that the exage components date from 1988-90. find it a bit hard to believe that frame is quite that recent. maybe the exage are not original to the bicycle. the thun chainset looks a bit low end to mount to a frame built with falck. perhaps a previous owner got it as a frame or partial bike and proceeded to build it up as we find it.

i wonder if there are any rizzato catalogues posted online which might be of aid in identification.

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side question - btw does anyone know if rizzato has continued to keep the lygie badge going?

Actually Legnano did just that in the late seventies. It's the reason I suspect the cranks may be original. Another oddity is that there are no eyelets on the dropouts, which is unusual for a lower-end model. Except with the aforementioned Legnano.

This is mine. Same Falck sticker, no eyelets. I'm pretty sure it originally came with Balilla brakes and Valentino derailers:

thanks non-fixie. the contradictions abound. emilio looks to be wearing the economy balilla brake levers. it appears his head may be bulge-formed but i cannot tell for sure - not quite enough res.

had not before seen a leggy like this. forum participation always broadens one's knowledge.

I took that snapshot when I'd bought the bike. It's currently in storage, awaiting my time and inspiration. For a better look, here's someone else's:

Legnano Photos by Telsun | Photobucket

thanks again non-fixie.

wrt Telsun gallery:

not bulge-formed, a true three-piece head.

odd combination of fratelli pietra calipers with gino galli levers.

have that same model of ofmega chainset here on a 1978 chiorda-built bianchi lady's bike.

tullio & co. improved the valentino levers from their boom era progenitors.

Telsun certainly did a fine job with the pictures; everything shown most clearly.

thank you again.

upon reflection -

in thinking about how the white Rizzato and red Bozzi were kitted it occurred to me that they can be seen to represent an evolution of the entry level road racing bicycle from the Peugeot PA-10 and Gitane Interclub type models of the bike boom years. an inexpensive alloy cotterless chainset helps reduce weight and simplify ease of maintenance without adding a great deal of cost.

even Arregui got into this process with their New Racer road ensemble and Victoria bicycle.

it makes a kind of sense when seen in the perspective of an historical arc.

have you learned any additional information about your machine since last post?

Not much, but I did find this thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...tala-find.html, which shows an Atala very similar, albeit a slightly higher-up model. Even the crooked decal on the back of the seat tube is there.

thanks very much non-fixie for sharing this find.

excellent post there is the fascinating exposition by T-Mar on Atala/Rizzato history. not to be missed by Atala fans.

as yet, no one has responded to my query as to whether or not Rizzato has kept the Lygie badge going. does anyone know of its status?