1974 Cinelli Super Corsa

[QuantumRider]

One of my uncles (both my parents come from families of 7 kids) called me out of the blue yesterday afternoon, and told me to come over to his house.

I got there, and he said,
"You're a cyclist, right? I bought a bike 30 years ago, rode it three times, and it's been sitting in my shed since then. Take it off my hands, willya?"

I was going to refuse, by telling him that the frame size would be too small for me and probably too big for my wife, but the bike that he pulled out of his shed was a Cinelli Super Corsa.



The frame looked brand new, once I wiped 30 years worth of dust off of it.

There's a 10 speed Campagnolo Nuovo Record gruppo on the bike and "1974" is stamped on the rear derailleur, so I'm assuming that that's the year the bike was manufactured as well. Even the wheels have Campanoglo Record hubs.

So I figured I'd take it home, restore it as best as I can, and sell it to a collector. So I spent this afternoon with some 2000grit sandpaper and some metal polish.

Before:


After:


Anyone know any classic racing bike collectors that live in Japan?

[thurston]

Re: 1974 Cinelli Super Corsa

Damn, it's in japan.
I'd love a frame like that. Some people might call me a philistine, but I'd pull all of the campy stuff off of that, and run a fixed rear wheel and a front brake, and call it good.

[Chasbo]

Re: 1974 Cinelli Super Corsa

That is an awesome bike! I have been a rider for 20 years and remember lusting for one of those. I ended up with an old bianchi with the same gruppo on it. BTW, definitely service the hubs, bottom bracket and headset. After 30 years, the old grease needs to go.

Chuck

[zeegler]

Re: 1974 Cinelli Super Corsa

Makes me miss my old Benotto. Ah well, I'm too out of shape to be riding a bike like that anymore. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[hammer84]

Re: 1974 Cinelli Super Corsa

someone will pay big bucks for that bike. Old Campy is like gold to collectors !!!

[QuantumRider]

Re: 1974 Cinelli Super Corsa

Thurston-

Actually, a fixed gear wheel would go into this bike without any problems, because the rear dropouts have the length adjusting screws.



Chasbo-

I am an amateur racer, and there is a shop that sponsors my team. After I get the cosmetic appearance a little cleaned up, I am going to bring it in to have the hubs/BB/headset greased up.

Zeegler-

It's never too late to get back into shape, and riding is an excellent way to do it [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

hammer-

That's what I'm hoping [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] My uncle said he's too old to ride road bikes, so I might buy him a motor scooter for him to get around on with some of the money from the sale (if it happens).

[thurston]

Re: 1974 Cinelli Super Corsa

Those dropouts are why I want a frame like that. I've been looking for a 58-59cm frame locally without luck. I may just order a White ENO eccentric hub and slap it on an old cannondale frame I have in the basement.

[txcharvel]

Re: 1974 Cinelli Super Corsa

That will be neat bike for some lucky buyer.

You might want to try 0000 grade steel wool instead of the 2000 grit sandpaper.

Good luck
[img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

[QuantumRider]

Re: 1974 Cinelli Speciale Corsa

The title of this thread is wrong... It should actually read "1974 Cinelli SPECIALE Corsa".

thurston-

This is a 54cm frame, which is actually my size (I'm 5'10").

txcharvel-

Thanks for the tip! I only want to work on the bike in daylight, so I will go to the hardware store before I do any more rust removal this coming Saturday.

[quadperson]

Re: 1974 Cinelli Speciale Corsa

Very nice, I have a vintage Raleigh, and two 1950's Scwhinns.

[QuantumRider]

Re: 1974 Cinelli Speciale Corsa

quadperson-

Are they all road bikes? Do you still ride them?

I've got an aluminum Klein Quantum (hence my handle) and a titanium Airborne Zeppelin.

BTW, I called the shop where I plan to have this bike overhauled, and told the owner about the 1974 bike I scored, with the 10-speed Campy gruppo. He said,

"Wow, someone must have spread the seat and chain stays to accomodate a rear wheel with a 10-speed cassete."

I had to tell him,

"Umm, no. I meant 10-speed, as in two chainrings up front and 5 gears in the back..."

[jimbilly]

Re: 1974 Cinelli Speciale Corsa

"No, a REAL 10 speed" -lol! That's cool! There's a bike shop near me with a museum in the upper floor, all sorts of great stuff like that, and much-much older bikes w/ racing histories. Keep it, and on display if possible.
I used to be a pretty decent ameteur racer about 15 years ago (mtn, road, 'cross). That was a fun time, but hard too, -I'll never be fit like that again... What category are you racing?
You should be doing all that maintenance yourself, maybe the shop can show you?, it's not any harder than working on guitars. Wheels are easy too, once you know the basics.