Finally finished. Full and lengthy teardown, inspection and rebuild. As example, I spent about 6 hours on wheels alone.
This is my last project for awhile; I'll be riding for the rest of the year.

I bought this bike off local CL in late winter, after following it pretty closely since becoming aware of it a couple years ago.

The fellow from whom I acquired it said he bought it from someone who claimed original ownership and who told a story of
having bought it from a local shop which carried Centurion for a time in the mid 80s.

I have recently talked with the owner of that shop and he has no memory of having sold such a bike. He remembers selling a
few of the more standard iterations - even owning one himself - but he sheds no light on this one.

The original paint and chrome cleaned up nicely and shows no evidence of marks or residue associated with having ever
carried decals or badges. The paint - a beautiful metallic blue - is strong and deep. Judging by some loose chips it's
certain that it has at least a primer, a substantial color coat and a clear coat.

The bike came with most of the catalog components. Missing for sure is the Volare saddle. Maybe the rims - it presently sports Mavic MA 2s.

The factory mix of Italian bits - Campy, Miche, Ofmega, Gipiemme, etc, is present. For various reasons of looks, experimentation, economy
and performance, I've taken liberties by substituting stem, bars, brake pulls, shifters and F/R derailleurs. Even re-used the tires that came
with the bike - Specialized Mondo Pro w/slightly different cosmetics, front to rear.

It'll be a rider. Likely there'll be more changes along the way.

Thanks to RobbieTunes for encouragement, knowledge, pedals and decals. You'll notice I took some liberties with them as well, Robbie.

I hope it's clear to all that this is not an attempt to "fake" a Cinelli. It's simply a fun exercise to reinvent and personalize a cool
bike that by its very nature and history invites such treatment.

I welcome your comments.

2 clicks get big pics.

J

Very pretty, a great job!
That gruppo is such a mixed bag: I really like those brakes, really hate those pedals...everything else falls somewhere in between! I don't have a problem with the Ritchey stem, but if it were mine that's where I'd be experimenting.
Edit: I should have said I hate the look of those Ofmega pedals, but have no experience with them. Obviously a couple people below who have used them really like them...proving once again that beauty can be found below the surface, and you can't judge a book, etc., etc.

Julian, that is really nice.

The matching Ofmega mini-group is a very, very nice change. Add in the bb and headset, and I'm sure that's a light and nimble group, well matched to the light, precise, and agile frame. I don't have to tell you how nice they ride.

I see you went with a different headbadge decal. Nice treatment, and true to the blue models' overall pattern of "subtlety" with decals.

If you change your mind and go with the RobbieTunes headbadge decal, it will look nice, but if not, perhaps the young man who had the recent grey model could use it.

I agree with A.Winthrop on the pedals. Some folks may not like that black composite body, but the chrome clips and spindle set it off. Nice tip on the repacking procedure, if necessary. I have an extra dust cap in a box here. Nicest clip pedals I've ever had, and those came from France via eBay. They are by far the lightest clip-type I've had, and the only ones I've liked better were Campy Record track pedals with clips. (but $100 got them from me, no issues there)

I may have to disagree on the blue paint not being OEM. I've now seen 4 different blue versions of this bike. 3 of them had the internally lugged fork common to the Super Corsa of that era. None had decals. All were the same shade of blue, and all had the same mix of Italian components. I've personally seen one, and I'm convinced it was OEM paint, as is afilado on his.

Though not all the evidence is in, or may ever be, but I'm pretty much convinced a blue model escaped Italy in some configuration, destined for the US with decals to be added at some point. Perhaps, when the decals were unwrapped, sound men of like minds said "no way are those going on that bike." That's what I kind of want to believe, and at my age, that's good enough. There are also the grey models recently discussed on the forum, and valentinodel has a charcoal model, I believe.

If that Ritchey is a 120, or a 130, I've got a 3TTT quill destined for you if needed or desired.

Light, precise, agile, and elegant. Very well done. Thanks for showing us how to do it.

Bike looks great...love the blue. Reminds me of the ice blue Mercedes and Lotus used in the 60's.

Slightly OT... Have you guys seen those same pedals badged Avocet? I saw a pair (but with nylon clips) last night when I was scrounging for temporary pedals for the Pinarello but didn't grab them...are the toe clips readily available?

afilado...Did you use the threadless converter because you had it and the stem or was the look intentional. No offense intended, but a quill stem would really look nice on the bike. I've seen a few black 3TTTs on ebay recently FWIW...or you could clean up a knackered silver one and have it powdercoated.

-Mark in St. Louis

nice. i have a bike with that same blue paint. it looks terrific matched with silver parts.

Mixed bag is right, Unworthy1!

I've no previous experience with the Sintesis, either. I like the varietal look. My favorite is the Shimano track pedal and there's a set in reserve just in case. In short, the Ritchey stem is there because it was the most handy fit and because I'm a contrarian when it comes to cosmetics - I like the black. Maybe I'll go to a quill, later.

As I said I intend this bike to be heavily used so I'll have little hesitation making wholesale changes
to make it a comfortable and optimal performer. I just wanted to get it finished ASAP and in service.

Thanks.

J

Thanks for the tips, Mr Winthrop. Yeah, I discovered the smart and nifty grease cap design when I repacked the pedal bearings.

Until definite proof appears to the contrary I'll have to stick with my judgement about the paint. Especially given Robbie's testimony about the other "blues" he's laid eyes on. There is still a big mystery hole in the base of information about this subcategory of Equipes. I was hoping to get more from the LBS owner who supposedly sold this particular one.

I really look forward to getting a few serious miles on it.......starting this afternoon.

BTW, I have read all I can find on the Equipe. Kudos for your research and documentation on it and Centurion generally. It's a real pleasure to walk in your footsteps. I send sincere appreciation to you for that.

Cheers.

J


[QUOTE=A.Winthrop;10810378].
.
+1 on great job, but I disagree about those nice composit
Ofmega Sintesi peds. They are light as a feather and the
easiest pedals I own to get into and out of. Mine have
black-enamel clips, not those much nicer chrome ones though.

................
.............

Buldogge, that's the original Ofmega threaded headset with a simple convertor post to accommodate the Ritchey. And a nice one it is - the headset, I mean. The reason I used the Ritchey is because it was the sole fit among all my spare stems (including several Cinelli) for the bars I wanted to use. And, I do like the black.

The overall slightly quirky, minimalist, "bruised" look of the bike is growing on me. If it performs well as is I'll ride it as is. If change comes, performance - not cosmetics - will drive it.

I confess I am influenced by tradition and have the inclination toward honoring originality but not at the expense of a comfortable, troublefree ride. For instance, I would have little hesitation moving to a Suntour Superbe drivetrain. I know it works.

Thanks.

J

Julian-

Well done, beautiful bike! I'm intrigued by these, as my first road bike was a Centurion Ironman Master and I have another Ironman Master I've owned for 20 years. Can you post a ride report after you've dialed it in? I'd be curious about the ride characteristics.

Thanks!

Yes, the pedals were also sold as Avocets. My first set was the black, and they reside with A.Winthrop. I believe. My chrome set came from France so drenched in kerosene it leaked through the box, and the post office was NOT amused. I had to toss the red straps. It's cool to have my pedals out there with 2 guys like afilado and A.Winthrop.

Campagnolo did have a set of pedals that used the same clip, and it's a nicely adjustable clip. The part that bolts to the pedal body is long and thin. I've seen them on eBay.

Um, I've ridden a few Ironman bikes, and have an Equipe, all the same size. The Equipe is a little more precise. If an Ironman has 90% of what I want in several ride and handling categories, the Equipe has 95% of a couple and 100% of others. I now fit my bikes from the Equipe's setup, hoping to catch that mojo.

Robbie and A. Winthrop - thanks for the info as always. Robbie, I recall asking you about the difference b/w the Equipe and Ironman Master previously and your description has further fueled my interest. I'm very intrigued by the Equipe. As luck would have it, there is one on ebay now in a size close to mine; it's item # 160434532351. The paint has its fair share of nicks, but it looks like it's chrome underneath the paint. Some day . . .

I wonder, now, who got my first set of Sintesi pedals? That'll bug me for a while, until I forget the question...

Regarding the Equipe on ebay now, the chrome looks nice under the paint. Have you ever seen one stripped of the paint? I like the look of chrome bikes (like some of the Paramouns I've seen on the forum) and would be curious as to how it looks.

Chrome will show all the imperfections of the metal underneath; the underlying metal has to be polished and smooth if the plating is to look the same. Most chrome that wasn't intended to be seen (and is covered with paint) is never going to look as good as plating that was intended to be seen. Of course, you can't tell unless you remove the paint... I don't believe there are differences in thickness -- I'm pretty sure that can't be differentially treated during plating of an entire frame part.

Great Equipe OP. I love your component choices, I rebopped a "Centurionelli" a couple of years back with advice and assistance from R Tunes and A Winthrop myself, and I also used the matching Premier rear D. It shifts very well, and I really liked the full rebuildability with the mini c-clips on the pins. Congrats on a very nice build.

Link to my pics on Flickr:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/7663691...7608905397925/

Yes. All the tubing is plated and able to be cleaned and treated with metal polish. Note I said "tubing." That leaves the seat lugs and the BB shell, neither of which were plated as if to be presented "bare." The earlier posts are 100% correct. The plating is nice, and most of the tube surfaces look great.

Was it polished before plating? I doubt it. Would it look amazing? Yes.

If I do another one, it'll be in chrome. It will not have the mirror finish of a "meant to be seen bare" Paramount or the bumper of my '68 Caprice Classic. I can live with that.

Just returned from what was to be a 20 mile shakedown ride. I finished about half that and
just barely beat a rainstorm home.

The ride was mostly an urban cruise with moderate ups and downs. Neighborhood sprints
and cornering. Nothing particularly challenging.

My most memorable rides in the past several years have been the Raleigh Team Pro and - believe it or not - the
Schwinn Circuit. I won't directly compare the two, I'll just briefly say that both are quick, confident, comfortable
and utterly predictable rides in the finest sense. Both have great vitality about them.

The Circuit fit beautifully and was well set up for me. A flawless performer, it inspired abandon and risk-taking
and was a sheer blast of fun to ride. If I had to live with one bike, I would not complain about this one.

The Team Pro speaks in more serious tones. It is an intelligent, purposeful performance machine that
immediately declares a capability that is commanding, humbling. Another singularly pleasing bike.

I had both in mind as I mounted the Equipe.

At ~60 cm the Equipe is a near perfect size. From the outset, I can tell that the overall set-up is close to optimal as far as fit is concerned.

My first impressions are of ease, comfort, fine balance, an eagerness to move, to be in strong forward motion. It is wise
and shows no guile. Quick, light, expansive, non-apprehensive, lubricated handling. As I rode, the BB seemed to settle, showing its
stability to me. The ride is bright, smooth, solid and free.

I haven't weighed it but I would guess it to be in lowish 20s, not the lightest, still extremely responsive. It has visible horizontal
movement under power but its translation is cooperative, one of more thrift than waste. Vertically it communicates a message
of control and compliance. It sticks to the road, seeming always to be in touch, in effective contact with road and rider.

I've never been enamoured with the Unicanitor seat before. Yet, on this frame, on this ride my one surprise was the
absence of any strain or discomfort, especially with the saddle. Makes me wonder how is it possible for a frame to
moderate the feel of such a strict, no-nonsense seat.

I was initially wary of the brakes - Universal AER - because of a few written comments critically noting their shortcomings. At this point
I don't share such opinions. As single pivot side-pulls, I found them to be substantial in feel and entirely competent and reliable in
performance. Maybe it's in a synergy with the aero DiaCompe pulls. I didn't try any hard stops but presently I'm not afraid to call on them.


Such a short ride leaves a lot to be learned from such a thoughtful bike. My recurring feeling was of how athletic and
comfortable it is. How easy it is (may be) to ride well and hard. Not at all snippy or argumentative.

I'm happy to have had the experience of rebuilding this bike and now of having the opportunity to learn more of its
story as a rider. Already, there's much to like.

J

+ a bunch. Well put. Just a lot more refined than my other bikes.

you must be a writer, afilado? a skilled one, that is.

considering the relative scarcity of this one year model run, they sure seem to surface with some regularity

Robbie:

Were it not for your enthusiasm for the marque I might never have become
interested in this bike. Also your good humor and generous spirit are a daily
inspiration to many folks here, I'm sure.

Thanks again for all your help in getting this fascinating bike on the road again.

Your insight into my thinking about the use of your decals is right on, as usual. I favor subdued ornamentation, so I cut and trimmed before application. And as you said, I chose not to use the head tube decal
at all. Just too much color for my vision of the new incarnation of the bike.

I still have the decal and will happily return it or pass it along to
someone who can use it. Let me know if you have anyone in mind.

One day I'll get over for a ride with the NC contingent. It'd be cool to have 4 or 5 of these Equipes together in one place.

And, I'll remember the quill stem offer.

Best,

J

You're kind, Jan. Actually you're not so far off; I'm an artist - a visual artist.

I like words, language.......sometimes acting on a petit inspiration I'll generate some of my own. As often as not, on reflection of what I've written, I cringe at the egotism I see. But what's a bit of embarrassment if I can entertain you, huh? ;-)

That's a pretty nice looking Equipe up on Ebay. I can't help but believe the recent flurry of BF attention may have something to do with it's appearance.

I'm looking for an explosion of prices on previously overlooked bikes of quality this season.

Best,

J

Nice looking as always J!

Jake

Jan's bike is for sale elsewhere. I saw it on another listing, not CL, not eBay.
It's a beauty.

Mine is currently at our old home (we are in the process of moving 3 states to the southwest). The Equipe has been in my possession for many years by now, but have seen very few miles. Why I can't really explain (lacking Afilado's mastery of the written language), since I ride bikes all the time, and the Centurionelli is a beauty. Sometimes I threaten to sell it, or Ergo-Power it, or, as was going on before leaving it behind: giving it a complete, period correct Super Record make over.

I have to do something about the Equipe, though. My current focus is riding more than collecting. The new group of riders I hang out with are fit and competitive. Don't want to switch to carbon or alloy, but rather seek the best in steel/ modern Campagnolo, and try to keep up. Maybe I'll put some light wheels and an 11sp Athena group on it??

This must be the pic A. Winthrop refers to:

Yes, this is the same frame I sold at the swap meet. The seller's veiled dishonesty is a bit disconcerting, but, in my experience, it's due course for many ebay listings. Here's a 'warning' thread I've posted: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...Cinelli-Equipe