Cicli Berlinetta

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1977 De Rosa 56cm Professional road racing bike

Forty years ago, the road racing bikes ridden by the professional peloton were considerably more elegant than the computer designed machines of the present day. The subtle differences between a hand built machine constructed by a frame builder of the stature of De Rosa, and mass produced look-a-likes, are perhaps not immediately obvious to the untrained eye. This unassuming bike is a great example of understated refinement. This is a particularly well preserved example of the breed, displaying very few scratches or scrapes for its age. The metallic black paintwork and decals show barely any blemishes. The brake levers have miraculously avoided scratches for four decades, and are newly sheathed in fresh black rubber hoods.

The discerning collector will delight in the period correct Super/Nuovo gruppo, with its straight quick release levers, later curved at the behest of the American CPSC (the Consumer Product Safety Commission). Also of note are the delicate drilled and slotted front derailleur cage and clamp, and the pantographed outer chainring. The wheel set comprises Ambrosio Montreal anodised tubular rims laced to Record hubs, and are virtually unridden.

We topped the two bolt fluted Campagnolo seat post with a 3ttt saddle in black suede, and wound the padded black cloth tape around the 3ttt Superleggero Gimondi bend drop bars. New cables, a fresh Regina chain and new 27mm Challenge Paris-Roubaix Pro tubulars were all the extra garnish this bike build needed.

Currently offered for sale, please feel free to give us a call at the shop, or send a quick email at dustin@cicli-berlinetta.de!

22 Jul

Cicli Berlinetta Custom Frame – ‘Americano’

A custom-built frame is the best way to get a bike that fits you perfectly!

It’s always a pleasure to fit a customer to a frame, but even more so when they get to pick the colour, chrome, and anything they like.

All we need is a couple of measurements from you, and our experienced framebuilder can create just about anything.

In this case, a visitor to the city wanted a fast racing bike, to replace his aging commuter. Our builder took inspiration from the classic ‘triple triangle’ design to create a large yet stiff frame that rides as well as it looks. The lowered top tube and seat lug is especially cool, to give the impression of a sleeker ride while keeping the necessary height. After a test ride, it’s certainly a lot faster than the commuter too!

With a complete 9 speed Campagnolo Chorus groupset finished in aluminium and a pair of high flange wheels, this bike is ready to go.

We can build you a custom road frameset from Columbus or Dedacciai tubing, painted in any two colours for around 1099 Euros, just send us an email at dustin@cicli-berlinetta.de and we can work out the details.

20 May

Coppi Crono

Something a little different for this week – a one-of-a-kind Coppi Crono bike. Never seen another one like it, and we’ve seen a lot of Coppis! From around 1987, the frame shows off a curved Oria tubeset, finished in gold paint with fine airbrushed black crosshatching. The seatpost angle is something to behold – close to 90 degrees to really get you on top of the crank.

Comes decked out with a complete Campagnolo C-Record groupset in impeccable condition, with custom pantographed and anodised cranks and seatpost. High flange, polished FIR rims, laced with a handful of flat aero spokes to low-flange hubs – 700c rear, and 650c front. A pair of Delta brakes feature, in pristine condition. The build is topped off with a vintage black Selle Flite saddle, and high gloss synthetic bar tape for that profi sheen.

It’s available now here on eBay, but of course you can send us an email at the shop and we’ll give you a deal!

06 May

Cicli Berlinetta ‘Pista’

After three years of faultless service, this custom-made Cicli Berlinetta Pista bike took an unfortunate tumble. The front wheel was tacoed, the downtube crumpled, and the fork blades dented.

No problem though, as one of the best things about having a skilled steel frame-builder on speed dial is that virtually anything can be repaired or replaced.

While the frame was back at the secret HQ, our customer took the opportunity to replace the threadless fork shaft with a threaded one, giving the ability to use any of our Cinelli and 3ttt quill stems. He also opted for a new pair of wheels, Campagnolo Pista hubs laced to Ambrosio DP 18 rims.

Here’s to another three (at least) years!

20 Apr

Paletti EL Custom Build – Campagnolo C-Record

Californian Eddie stumbled across our last NOS Paletti frame online, shortly after completing another custom build for himself.

He mentioned that he’d been looking for another late-’80s Paletti frame in his size for some time, after thoroughly enjoying the one he used to ride one years ago. This one was a rather special frame made of lightweight Columbus EL steel tubing, featuring an ovalised aero seat tube, Luciano Paletti’s signature cast lugs, and a funky carbon-look paint job.

Our customer had begun to collect components for the build, but since we had a Campagnolo C-Record groupset in great condition in the shop, it made sense for us to build it up and send to him as a complete bike. We decided to stick with a friction-only shifting set up for elegance and to save a bit of weight. A dark-anodised Campagnolo Omega V wheelset in almost-new condition topped off the build, making it as good as new.

Lovely bike, and happy riding Eddie!

17 Mar

Berliner Fahrradschau 2017

2017 was another successful year for the Cicli Berlinetta team at the Berliner Fahrradschau.

In lieu of a conventional stand this year, we decided to focus around our very own ‘team car’ – the 1992 Mercedes T124.

Loading up the roof rack with a selection of our hottest steel bikes, disc wheels, and a few of our own classic cycling caps, we took up a prime spot at the entrance to the show. We weren’t looking to push any new products or seal any big deals, but instead were content to enjoy the atmosphere over the weekend and catch up with some old friends.

Following are a few snaps of the event taken by our friend and photographer Madlen Krippendorf. You can check out more of her work here: instagram.com/madlen_krippendorf/

08 Feb

CBT Italia ‘Amadeus’ 24 Carat Custom Build

An interesting request from a customer gave rise to this exciting build.

While visiting us in the shop to seek some modifications to his mountain bike, somehow we ended up forming the basis for a new custom project – funny how that happens!

After a bit of thought, we took a CBT Italia ‘Amadeus’ frame from our collection. A top-of-the-line steel frame from the end of the 1980s, it features an externally rifled tubeset from Oria, tightly-routed internal cabling, and an novel expander bolt in the seatpost to give a seamless appearance.

Shortly after, we collected a full Campagnolo Record 10 speed groupset. So far, so good. A full set of custom 24-carat gold-plated Sapim spokes and nipples laced to blue Ambrosio Excellence rims rounded out the bike, and complemented the existing colour palette of the frame very well indeed.

This is not the first time we’ve used custom gold-plated components on a bike (also on our Colnago Master Pista Futura build from 2016), and it won’t be the last…

18 Jan

F. Moser Time Trial ’84

Happy 2017 from us at Cicli Berlinetta!

From a trusted contact comes this exceptional bike – a well-preserved Francesco Moser time trial machine decked out with a complete and period-correct Campagnolo Super Record groupset and Ambrosio-branded disc wheelset. It’s in terrific condition with original paint, and no dents. Pantographed chainring, and authentic 3ttt timetrial handlebars. As you can see in the final photo, it’s a bike with some history behind it, and is highly collectable.

Currently for sale. Please email or call for more information. See our eBay page. Shipping worldwide. We hope it goes to a good home.

10 Dec

Masi Prestige 70th Anniversary Edition

Faliero and Alberto Masi’s names have long been associated with the best talent in framebuilding, crafting frames for the pros since the start of the golden days. Here we have a rare sight: a 58cm Masi Prestige 70th Anniversary frame, presented in excellent almost-new condition. Finished in gunmetal grey with yellow accents, the bike sports a Campagnolo Record groupset, Campagnolo Omega rims, and Masi signature pantographed stem and seatpost.

Riding a steel-frame Masi is a unique experience, that must be tried at least once!

Check it out on our webshop here.

03 Dec

Paletti ‘Prestige’ Custom Build

A returning customer recently came to us with a special request. Having sourced a classic Paletti frame for himself, he wanted it built up with a Campagnolo Chorus 10 speed groupset to bring it into the 21st century. No problem; Paletti is one of our favourite framebuilders here at Cicli Berlinetta, always showing off top-quality workmanship and paint. This particular frame is made of high-end Columbus SPX tubing.

We collected the frame, and set about assembling the components. The frame needed little cleaning because of the remarkable condition it came to us in, it appeared to have been built up but virtually unridden. A quick polish, and a few details filled in, and the bike is ready to go.