Jesper
Wore out three sets of tires already!
I am getting one (due in this week) of these bikes (less wheels, pedals, and saddle), but I was unaware of the mystery/history surrounding them. I think it could be made into a short movie.
I found the reasoning behind the marketing concept to be fairly sound: sell a higher end Italian bike made by a well established builder, imported, "rebranded", and sold through a well established bike dealer/distributor (in this case Western States Imports (WSI)/Centurion, and Bikeology) to the well-heeled Americans wanting a high end Italian racer without the high cost. Supposedly, the design concept to use a bunch of different companies for the components came about from seeing average Italians riding race bikes built up with a melange of manufacturers' parts being used. The Italians did this out of economical necessity, but wealthy Americans didn't want a brand new bike that had a hodge-podge of parts; especially from companies they most likely weren't familiar with except maybe Campagnolo and Cinelli (bike's parts manufacturers: Cinelli, Campagnolo, OFMEGA, Fiamme, Miche, Universal, Gipiemme, Vittorio, Regina). I think that is what did it in, along with some poor parts selection, and lack of marketing. I am not sure if I could name another stock racing bike that used that many different suppliers. Technically, Cinelli was controlled by Columbus at that time, but you could add Columbus as another supplier that helped outfit the bike.
The first version was the "Cinelli Project" Centurion which anecdotal evidence has it being available in 1983 and shown in a Bikeology catalog (circa '83-'84). These were very limited and I believe were full Campagnolo bikes (Nuovo Record?). Their fork crown (more Cinelli SC style) was different than the "Equipe" of 1985 and the frame had no chrome on the lugs. Some folks call them "Equipe" prototypes, but you don't send prototypes out into the general public. I look at them more as marketing bikes since only a few were distributed and apparently only one was given to any specific shop. It may have been the thought that "Joe" buys this cool bike that nobody else has, but now others want one and cannot get one creating the demand for the bikes you plan on selling in volume the folliwing year. Unfortunately, even though the Centurion "Cinelli Equipe"" looked cool it got "cheapened" by its parts, their quality, and some compatibility issues between them.
I do not know how many "Project" or "Equipe" bikes were made and imported. I assume the "Project" bikes were about 10 (?), and have heard the "Equipe" bikes only had 50 , 100, 150, or one shipping container full. Also, the possibility exists where Cinelli marketed surplus frames in Europe after the deal ended.
I would like to know how many of these were made. It would help me in deciding whether to rebuild as a stock bike and preserve or just build to ride and/or sell without concern towards accuracy.
The bike I am getting is fairly original: Campy N. Record RD/FD/shifters; OFMEGA Mistral crankset/BB; Universal AER brakes. Missing "GPM" seat post, Cinelli "Volare" saddle, Universal AER levers, Miche/Fiamme wheelset, OFMEGA Sintesi pedals, Regina chain amd FW.
I will not worry about 100% rebuild other than to find a Cinelli saddle (I have a new Unicantor), "GPM" seat post ( I have on hand), and Universal LR-1 or 2 levers. Pedals will be period Looks, and wheels will be whatever fits the need.
I found the reasoning behind the marketing concept to be fairly sound: sell a higher end Italian bike made by a well established builder, imported, "rebranded", and sold through a well established bike dealer/distributor (in this case Western States Imports (WSI)/Centurion, and Bikeology) to the well-heeled Americans wanting a high end Italian racer without the high cost. Supposedly, the design concept to use a bunch of different companies for the components came about from seeing average Italians riding race bikes built up with a melange of manufacturers' parts being used. The Italians did this out of economical necessity, but wealthy Americans didn't want a brand new bike that had a hodge-podge of parts; especially from companies they most likely weren't familiar with except maybe Campagnolo and Cinelli (bike's parts manufacturers: Cinelli, Campagnolo, OFMEGA, Fiamme, Miche, Universal, Gipiemme, Vittorio, Regina). I think that is what did it in, along with some poor parts selection, and lack of marketing. I am not sure if I could name another stock racing bike that used that many different suppliers. Technically, Cinelli was controlled by Columbus at that time, but you could add Columbus as another supplier that helped outfit the bike.
The first version was the "Cinelli Project" Centurion which anecdotal evidence has it being available in 1983 and shown in a Bikeology catalog (circa '83-'84). These were very limited and I believe were full Campagnolo bikes (Nuovo Record?). Their fork crown (more Cinelli SC style) was different than the "Equipe" of 1985 and the frame had no chrome on the lugs. Some folks call them "Equipe" prototypes, but you don't send prototypes out into the general public. I look at them more as marketing bikes since only a few were distributed and apparently only one was given to any specific shop. It may have been the thought that "Joe" buys this cool bike that nobody else has, but now others want one and cannot get one creating the demand for the bikes you plan on selling in volume the folliwing year. Unfortunately, even though the Centurion "Cinelli Equipe"" looked cool it got "cheapened" by its parts, their quality, and some compatibility issues between them.
I do not know how many "Project" or "Equipe" bikes were made and imported. I assume the "Project" bikes were about 10 (?), and have heard the "Equipe" bikes only had 50 , 100, 150, or one shipping container full. Also, the possibility exists where Cinelli marketed surplus frames in Europe after the deal ended.
I would like to know how many of these were made. It would help me in deciding whether to rebuild as a stock bike and preserve or just build to ride and/or sell without concern towards accuracy.
The bike I am getting is fairly original: Campy N. Record RD/FD/shifters; OFMEGA Mistral crankset/BB; Universal AER brakes. Missing "GPM" seat post, Cinelli "Volare" saddle, Universal AER levers, Miche/Fiamme wheelset, OFMEGA Sintesi pedals, Regina chain amd FW.
I will not worry about 100% rebuild other than to find a Cinelli saddle (I have a new Unicantor), "GPM" seat post ( I have on hand), and Universal LR-1 or 2 levers. Pedals will be period Looks, and wheels will be whatever fits the need.
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