Sunday, November 12, 2017

Merlin Titanium 3/2.5







More of a "before" show and tell at this point. I plan on outfitting this with black Campagnolo Chorus or Record from the early to mid 90s. I just purchased new decals from Velo-Cals, as well  - soooo... the next post will reveal the "after" pics. This Merlin is not an Extralight - just the 3/2.5 Titanium variety from 1989 or 1990. Feel free to chime in if you have any info to share on Merlin road bikes from this era. Serial # 1894

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Cinelli Equipe - A New Life for my Old Centurion

I purchased this 1985 Centurion "Cinelli" Equipe in 2012 and sold it in 2015. 




The bike fit me fine and rode like a dream, but I needed the money for... another bike, so I sold it. The person I sold it to, in turn, sold it to a fellow Classic and Vintage Bicycle Enthusiast who saw the potential in the Cinelli-built frame and decided to take this bike an entirely different direction. 

He stripped the frame and took it to Evan at The Bicycle Stand in Long Beach to have their painter respray the frame in a brilliant BMW-Mini Color "Electric Blue Metallic."




I found the Centurion again during a random conversation with the current owner who mentioned he had a rare Centurion Equipe. I said, "Oh, I had one of those, but sold it about a year ago." He sent me a couple of photos and I was able to confirm, from touch-up paint and other small details, that it was, indeed, my old bike! 

The owner mentioned his plans to leverage the frame's Cinelli legacy and turn it into a one-of-a-kind Cinelli Equipe frame. He chose the color for the frame after driving by a local BMW dealer and seeing a Mini in the lot.  The precise paint details are: BMW-Mini Color "Electric Blue Metallic", Mini code 870. The Cinelli's paint is Matrix Brand, "Performance Basecoat" code MBP-LV-113822. 

The owner was willing to sell the bike, so we made a deal and I just picked it up this morning. 

I've got the frame hanging for now until I collect all the C-Record-Era parts for it. I have most, but want them to be as minty as possible. 




There is one less stock Centurion Equipe in the world. How many are there out there now? Fifty? One hundred? Either way, I feel good about bringing a truly unique bicycle onto the road and having my old friend back home. 



Sunday, January 1, 2017

Colnago Super 1984









I bought this Colnago mainly for its unusual color. I've never seen one in seafoam green, have you? Campagnolo Super Record components throughout except for the rear derailleur, which is Nuovo Record. 

I think the chain ring is for a 1970s model, but it doesn't have to be era-correct to be cool. :)

The seatpost is not a Colnago, it's a Celo Europa. 

More pics HERE.



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