In a message dated 2/18/04 8:31:20 AM, hersefan@comcast.net writes:
<< I'm thinking perhaps that the Coppi connection stuff was included in the 1985 (1986?) Bicycle Guide article on Cinelli. I'll try to dig up that article but I'm not sure where it is. >>
Mike,
Bicycle Guide, October 1989 discusses the 'Cinelli/Coppi' connection, in that Cinelli lured Bianchi's top builder Luigi Valsasina to join him. Shortly thereafter, Cinelli was asked to design a new frame for Coppi (1947) which Valsasina did not want to build (nor Coppi to ride) because it featured Cinelli's sloping fork crown. Apparently, Coppi thought the design looked too fragile, so Cinelli offered a compromise and had Valsasina build two frames: One with the "standard" design of the day, and the other, with the sloping fork crown and fastback seat cluster.
As the article points out, Cinelli proved his point to both skeptics, and the Supercorsa was born.
Cheers,
Chuck Brooks
Malta, NY