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I just picked up this vintage Cinelli steel frameset and I’m trying to figure out exactly what model and era it is. I’d really appreciate any help from the classic Cinelli nerds here.
Known details:
- Brand: Cinelli (embossed logo on the BB shell)
- BB: Campagnolo cups, Italian thread, marked “35 x 1”
- Fork spacing: 100 mm
- Rear dropout spacing: 126 mm
- Dropouts: road style with derailleur hanger (not track ends)
- Brake mounts: standard recessed brakes front and rear
- Shifters: down tube shifter bosses
- Material: steel Columbus
- Paint: red–white–yellow fade with “Cinelli” and “Mavic” decals
The most unusual detail is the seatpost clamp:
Instead of the usual seat tube slot and single binder bolt, there are two horizontal bolts on the back of the seat cluster that pinch the seatpost from the side.
There is quite a bit of surface rust on the paint chips, but no obvious dents or deep pitting. I don’t have the frame in hand yet (it’s already boxed for shipping), so I can’t read the serial number under the BB shell. I’ll add that later if needed.
Questions:
- Does anyone recognize this seatpost clamp design from a particular Cinelli model or builder?
- Based on the 100/126 mm spacing, Italian BB, and road dropouts, would you place this roughly in the late 1970s–1980s road racing era?
- Any guesses whether this could be a Supercorsa variant, a contract/team frame, or something else entirely?
Photos attached of:
- Full frame and fork
- BB shell with Cinelli logo
- Campagnolo BB cups
- Rear dropouts
- Seat cluster and the unusual clamp bolts
Thanks in advance for any pointers or references. I’d love to know what I actually bought before I start cleaning up the rust and deciding how far to restore it.
by Mean_Copy5103
2 Comments
That’s a time trial frame from the later ’80s when small front wheels were in vogue.
Edit: I believe the model name for that style is Caramanti.
Late 80s Early 90s TT bike from the era before Lotus developed that famous carbon bike for Boardman in the 94 Olympics and the UCI got pissy about weird looking bikes.