Thanks to the generosity of one of its Board members, the Washington Area Bicycle Association did a silent auction at its Big Event for an old Cinelli S.C, ca. 1972. It's a great cause, and I have wanted a Cinelli about 1971, when I saw one for the first time. I was fortunate to get to buy it. It may have been a very attractive price, but seemed steep. But that is not the story. The stories are the bike, and riding it. It has been really, really neat.
Somehow, for all the craftsmanship and sheer beauty of bikes like Richard Sachs's pair of 71 Masis, Cinellis have been the definition of goodness in a bike for me, even though I didn't know why. Maybe it seems like an engineer's bike - right in all the right places, even if not as elegantly finished as some. Not that it is poorly done, by any means.
But this one is unusual. It shouldn't fit me, given the 64 cm bb-top-of-seat frame (I usually ride about a 58 cm). But, the BB is very low - 10.5" (27 cm) and the top tube is very short (57 cm, or 22-1/2") so it has the same seating position as my other road bikes. Wonderful, and despite the tall top tube, it is still lightweight. It just plain fits.
The paint is the original silverish "champagne," with silver patches where scratched. With decals and head badge. And almost everything else is original, too.
The ride and handling are nice. As nice as anything I can remember. For climbing out of the saddle, it is stiff to the point of hopping a little on rough pavement. For riding no hands with confidence, and for making quick little pothole-avoidance maneuvers. All subjective, but it's real easy to love. It is a joy to ride.
OK, fly-boys: what except fashion dictated that general road bikes should have less than the 40.5" (103 cm) wheelbase and 17" (43 cm) stays that this jewel has? Except for criteriums, why do we need higher bottom brackets?
And why did I wait 30 years, till there isn't near enough strength to really do what this bike is capable of doing?
Harvey "enough bikes, enough (for now)" Sachs (with thanks to Larry Black for graciously giving good advice, and to Mark Petry for the registry) McLean VA