[CR]Wilier Triestina

(Example: Production Builders:Cinelli:Laser)

Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2005 14:03:08 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Jay Van De Velde" <jaysportif@yahoo.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Wilier Triestina

A while back there was some discussion regarding the copper finish on an '80s Wilier Triestina bike. Some suggested the frame was copper plated (ramata), other suggested the finish is a copper lacquer over chrome (cromovellato). Well, I made a deal with the seller, Luigi, and the bike is now safely ensconced within the cozy confines of my garage. I can state with reasonable certainty that the finish is cromovellato, a copper colored lacquer painted over chrome. The bike is nearly flawless, save for a 3mm wide spot where the finish wore away revealing the chrome underneath. The areas under the fork crown and the inside of the seattube also show signs consistant with a sprayed on finish. The only other copper bike I've seen in person was a copper plated Harry Quinn, and that bike's tubes looked just like the copper L pipe used to plumb a house. This Wilier looks completely different. I've posted pictures of it on my website. For those who worry about such things, the bike wont be a garage queen. I bought the bike for my dad when he comes over to visit; he now has something his size to ride around the neighborhood. At 76 he still rides around 10 miles a day, sometimes more ( he still has to hear about his little brother, who at 72 rides 50km each day back in Belgium). So, it's a very nice bike but the search continues for a ramata Wilier. Any leads? http://www.theracingbicycle.com/Wilier_Triestina_1986.html

Jay Van De Velde
Seal Beach,CA