Cicli Vecchi, Roma, Italia

[Freqman1]

I personally like the bikes equipped with either the Cambio Corsa or Paris Roubaix shifters. I just bought the Baldini bike off eBay and it should be leaving Italy at the first of the week. It definitely takes a lot of practice to master these and from what I read even the pros like Bartali and Coppi tried to limit changing gears. A lot of these Italian manufacturers are fairly obscure. I can find nothing on the Baldini bike except that Nicola Baldini was the uncle of Ercole Baldini who was an Olympic gold medalist and champion pro rider. As far as I know he’s still alive. V/r Shawn

 

[dnc1]

I personally like the bikes equipped with either the Cambio Corsa or Paris Roubaix shifters. I just bought the Baldini bike off eBay and it should be leaving Italy at the first of the week. It definitely takes a lot of practice to master these and from what I read even the pros like Bartali and Coppi tried to limit changing gears. A lot of these Italian manufacturers are fairly obscure. I can find nothing on the Baldini bike except that Nicola Baldini was the uncle of Ercole Baldini who was an Olympic gold medalist and champion pro rider. As far as I know he’s still alive. V/r Shawn

I guess I just need more practice, I'm sure I'll come to enjoy the experience.
One thing I've noticed in period photos of Bartali is how low he has the seat height set in order to be able to reach the shifter levers.
I think getting this right is key to comfortable, effortless shifting; or growing longer arms! Lol!
Ercole Baldini is quite a character apparently. Sadly he is embroiled in a family dispute that is a little undignified for such a champion.

 

[Jesper]

I should have clarified that it is only in the function of the Cambio Corsa that I am not pleased. I do like the way they look. I enjoy rods and levers all over the place, the more the better; kind of 'steam-punkish'.
@dnc1 , I would publish that list as is (even with the multitude of errors and omissions), except that I would be breaking a bunch if copyright laws. I have been copying, pasting, amending, appending, etc. the list for years. I added your comments to the new Vecchi entry so try not to sue me for plagiarism. I need to take what I have compiled and reorganize and/or reword it, as well as add credits for the information where possible. Even though it's pretty much a list of builders and marketing brands (with guesses for location and principal person) for bike frames; I have slowly (very slowly) started to add producers of components (and frame accessories; no personal gear or clothing [although I think shoes need to be added]), and frame parts (lugs, braze-ons, etc.) in the last year. I need to produce a bare bones list with only the hrand name so that others may vetify, dispute, correct, and/or add to it. My hope is to organize and document a fairly basic "Italia Bicyclopedia" for the public so that others won't have to needlessly search through the maze of information that I and many others before me have had to do.others. I am still sending out emails and real mail to old names on the list to see if some relative is still alive with knowledge of the marque's history before all with that knowledge are in the grave. Enough documented and anecdotal history has been lost already.

 

[dnc1]

I should have clarified that it is only in the function of the Cambio Corsa that I am not pleased. I do like the way they look. I enjoy rods and levers all over the place, the more the better; kind of 'steam-punkish'.
@dnc1 , I would publish that list as is (even with the multitude of errors and omissions), except that I would be breaking a bunch if copyright laws. I have been copying, pasting, amending, appending, etc. the list for years. I added your comments to the new Vecchi entry so try not to sue me for plagiarism. I need to take what I have compiled and reorganize and/or reword it, as well as add credits for the information where possible. Even though it's pretty much a list of builders and marketing brands (with guesses for location and principal person) for bike frames; I have slowly (very slowly!) started to add producers of components (and frame accessories; no personal gear or clothing [although I think shoes should be added]), and frame parts (lugs, braze-ons, etc.) in the last year. I need to produce a bare bones list the is name only so that others could at least verify, dispute, and/or add to it. Just seeing the post of that bike you showed offered to you makes me wonder if I just found another new entry. I already have "Fior" and "Fiore" on the list. I could not make out if that badge was "Cicli G. Fiore, Fiori, or Fior". Also could not make out the city. If can enlighten me on that I would be most appreciative. My hope is to organize a fairly basic "Italia Bicyclopedia" for public use so others don't have to needlessly search through the maze of information as I and many others before me have. I am still sending out emails and real mails to old names on the list to see if some relative is still alive with knowledge of the marque's history. The sad thing is that there is contradicting information about some companies/brands that they themselves have perpetuated (i.e. Colnago) instead of setting the facts straight before another personality of cycling history is in the grave. Enough of it is already lost both documented and anecdotally.
Note: Baldini is on the list already, but no more info than the name, as it is with many of my entries. I have some frames that are very much a mystery except best guesses by myself and others as to history and lineage.

Hopefully, one day we will be able to see it, and enjoy it, and use it.
Good luck with the endeavour, it is something many would appreciate.
As to your question, I believe that bicycle is by Cicli G. Fior, of Forli, Emilia-Romagna.

 

[Jesper]

Hopefully, one day we will br able to see it, and enjoy it, and use it.
Good luck with the endeavour, it is something many would appreciate.
As to your question, I believe that bicycle is by Cicli G. Fior, of Forli, Emilia-Romagna.

Thank you. Not sure why my post is 'lined out'; I'll try to fix it. Retyped it and still same problem; ?.

Fixed!

 

[Jesper]

Here is the 'Disraeli Gears' version of how to operate the Cambio Corsa:

• "First you drop out of the peleton so that you do not cause a catastrophic pile-up.
• Then you twist the top lever. This slakens off your rear quick release.
• Then you fiddle around with the lower lever while back pedalling in a hopeful attempt to force the chain onto the other of two sprockets that you have on your hub.
• Then you pedal gently forward to 'position' the rear wheel.
• Then you twist the top lever back to its original position to relock the quick release.
• Then you sprint like crazy to try to get back onto the rear-most wheel of the peleton."

That is similar I believe to the early Vittoria Margherita system with the striker fork located above the cogs requiring reverse pedalling to properly engage the gear. There was an odd Vittoria model requiring rear wheel positioning to tension the chain, but I have no idea how it worked. My Simplex has the same design, but striker fork is low on the freewheel allowing continued forward pedalling.

What must have been a bit of a pain for frame builders was the fact that they had to build specifically for those drop-outs. Personally, I see more of those "Cambio Corsa" frames (and drop-outs) for sale than I ever see of the actual shifting systems themselves. It really was an obsolete design before it ever hit the market, but branding (and sponsorship) is everything..

 

[dnc1]

Here is the 'Disraeli Gears' version of how to operate the Cambio Corsa:

• "First you drop out of the peleton so that you do not cause a catastrophic pile-up.
• Then you twist the top lever. This slakens off your rear quick release.
• Then you fiddle around with the lower lever while back pedalling in a hopeful attempt to force the chain onto the other of two sprockets that you have on your hub.
• Then you pedal gently forward to 'position' the rear wheel.
• Then you twist the top lever back to its original position to relock the quick release.
• Then you sprint like crazy to try to get back onto the rear-most wheel of the peleton."

That is similar I believe to the early Vittoria Margherita system with the striker fork located above the cogs requiring reverse pedalling to properly engage the gear. There was an odd Vittoria model requiring rear wheel positioning to tension the chain, but I have no idea how it worked. My Simplex has the same design, but striker fork is low on the freewheel allowing continued forward pedalling.

What must have been a bit of a pain for frame builders was the fact that they had to build specifically for those drop-outs. Personally, I see more of those "Cambio Corsa" frames (and drop-outs) for sale than I ever see of the actual shifting systems themselves. It really was an obsolete design before it ever hit the market, but branding (and sponsorship) is everything..

I always think that this is the most apt description.
I haven't crashed into any other riders yet, but when I look up after my clumsy fumbling with the levers I find I am often on the wrong side of the road!

 

[Freqman1]

I always think that this is the most apt description.
I haven't crashed into any other riders yet, but when I look up after my clumsy fumbling with the levers I find I am often on the wrong side of the road!

I’ve almost lost fingers trying to do this! For the most part I try to find a gear I like and stay there. I ride solo almost all the time but have to be careful not to wander in front of traffic! V/r Shawn

 

[Jesper]

I still manually shift (finger lift chain going from small to large; shoe strike going from large to small) my front rings since I removed or never installed the front mech on a few frames (really don't use small ring that often in Florida). It's probably just as dangerous having to look down in order to avoid finger damage; full finger gloves help though.

 

[Jesper]

I had noted on Disreali Gears that the patent applications for the Cambio Corsa design were filed (per official documents) in April 1943 for Italian patents and November 1943 for French patents (France patents issued in August 1944 & published in May 1945).