Cicli Meacci

It has been quite a while since Ive pulled the trigger on adding another bike to the stable but that all changed on this beautiful Friday afternoon. Hard to believe that I managed to not add another one since 2022. The Wilmington market isn't the greatest for vintage italian steel frame bikes and I really didn't look hard in Charlotte either. Occasionally one comes up for sale that's really nice and really expensive, so it's rare to get too excited about the possibility of adding something interesting to the collection. However, today was a bit of a jackpot. A nice gentleman from Wilmington listed two steel beauties for sale on FB marketplace for only $1200! The first is a 2000 Colnago Tennos, The second is a Casati Gold Line (more on that later).  The Colnago has all the detailing that makes those frames sublime. The frame is 56cm, Columbus Nivacrom Tecnos tubing(which is shaped and fluted), Campagnolo Chorus Racing Triple 9 Speed Groupset, Campagnolo Headset (Ugly) Sa...

  Its been a while since I came across the inspiration for another project. Oddly enough I found a beach cruiser in the trash to fix up now that Im in Wilmington, but that just started a notion.Lets build a "vintage" roadie with the biggest tires I can squeeze on the frame and that calls for a touring or cross frame.All my other frames, save the Axis, can handle a maximum of a 28mm tire. Most only 25's.    Luckily, I found a craigslist ad for a 55cm 1988 Bianchi Volpe frame. Made from Bianchi Superset steel and tig welded, this touring frame was the perfect canvas so to speak. Ive always been fond of Bianchi frames and this would make it #6. From what I understand the Volpe was a late model derivative of the Axis and since I love the Axis in its current state, why not try its little sibling.  It had an electric conversion kit on it and the nice guy who had it listed was really only interested in the kit. He purchased it from the original owner, wh...

Well I decided to downsize and sold the Olmo today. It went to a nice guy who appreciates steel frame bikes from Philly via the low country of SC. He made a trip to Charlotte just to pick it up, so it was nice to talk about bikes and look at what I have left.  --- I found a great looking OLMO Sintex frame, evidently from the early 90's. I haven't found any catalogue cuts but narrowed down the pantographed signatures on the seat stays, BB and fork lugs to the early 90's. Regardless, its a wonderful iridescent turquoise with a pearl sheen to the point. This 56cm frame is made from Columbus SLX steel. Ive built it up with the random parts from the Tommasini America and went with white tires and bar tape(which I quickly changed from the blue in these pics.   A few pics from when I unbolted it. The wheels were an extra set I had laying around. Looks like the BB has the frame size stamped as well as what must be a serial number 61C? The previous owner replac...

Not that I needed another bike, but old habits die hard and this 1989 Bottecchia Special frame was on eBay. I got it for a great price, even without the original fork, so another project is in the works. Its first build will be similar to others, starting life in the stable as a single speed townie. This Columbus Aelle Tretubi steel frame is 55cm, is Bottecchia Blue and has a great head badge. A few surface rust spots but in decent shape with no dings or dents!  Currently built with a set of Campagnolo Record hubs laced to Mavic Open 4CD rims, Shimano BB and 600 Crankset, Modolo Equipe Brakset, 3ttt quill stem, FSA headset, random seatpost, Tange Champion CrMo forks and VO Milan bars, flipped to ride more like a cafe racer style bike.   Love the head badge!

Update: I used a few of the old parts hanging around to rebuild the frame into an  8 speed. Used some navy blue Cinelli tape on Cinelli bars and a polished 3ttt Mutant threadless stem. Not that keen on the stem look compared to the quill, so I may change it back at some point. It is outfitted with an old set of Campagnolo 8 speed, pre-1998, Ergopower shifters and a Veloce 9 speed rear derailleur. Its rolling on the Campagnolo Sirocco G3 Wheels, which are a little beat up but serviceable for around town. Topping it off, is a natural Brooks Cadmium saddle. Not sold on the look of the wheels on this bike, so I may be in search of something more traditional looking.  Picked up this understated navy blue and gold frame from a bike forum member this week. A few nicks and scratches but overall in solid condition. It unusual to see a simple paint scheme on 90's italian bikes, which is why this is so interesting to me. The frame is 55cm an...