Cicli Meacci

I was able to find another one of the five classic Italian rides that I targeted as my base collection. Its straight from Italy. Well, sort of, via carbondale Ill. Evidently a grad student bought the bike in Italy, disassembled it and shipped it back. He never put it together so he shipped it to me! Its got a beautiful airbrushed paint job and chromed lugss, crimped columbus gilco tubing. These are the pics right after I unpacked it. He treated the frame with frame saver in 2010. Other than a few chips its in great shape. The only issue was a small crack in the rear right dropout.I had that welded and other than the paint missing, the repair  looks and functions perfectly

This pink frame was found in Charlotte but originated in Greensboro at Cycles d'Oro at some point in its history. Its a 1985 56cm Ciocc Designer, Vuelta Zerolite Track wheels, Origin8 Stash Bar, FSA Gossamer Cranks with a ceramic MegaExo bottom bracket. I used some of the parts from my Raleigh Fixed gear and a couple other strays to build this fixed gear, which is quite possibly the sharpest I've ever done. Traded it just recently for a Campagnolo Scirocco G3 wheelset. Probably should have kept it. It was hard to let it go but I don't ride fixed gear much anymore. Besides, it gives me that chance to build another!

I love the Nervar lugs on this vintage frame! I think it was a 1972 Raleigh Carlton Super Course from my research on the vestiges of the original color, frame details and serial number. It was a flat black beauty that I tweaked constantly. Finally striped what few parts it had and sold the frame to buy another Ciocc that I'll post later. It was the final casualty in my quest to have an all Italian stable. RPM Cranks, Vuelta Zerolite track wheels, Origin8 Stash bar. The only rub with this bike was the 27 1/4" wheels which required me to fashion a McGyver-like drop to use even a long reach modern brake with 700c wheels. Ended up using a link from a motorcycle chain, which worked swimmingly. I might have a pic that I'll post to show the fix.

I have a tendency to buy bikes for Terri whether she wants them or not. The first was the single speed, the second was a Trek 1200 and then her first modern mountain bike, a 2008 Gary Fisher Advance. She seems to like riding it. Great orange paint job.  Terri's first mountain bike, a CroMo Fuji Thrill. Purchased at Cycle Logic circa 1990 during the "Fuji Years"

 This fun little single speed bike (47cm) I bought from a girl in Chapel Hill who was moving to Germany. Its a 2010 SE Draft Lite. My wife road it for about a year before I bought her a Trek with multiple gears. 

This bike is a wonderful full blooded Italian gem. Made by the little known family company in southern Italy named Biciclette de Rosa in Pozzuoli. Its evidently near Naples. Wonderfully light Columbus SL Steel with pantographed details on the forks and seat stays. It was originally outfitted with a Shimano 600 group but I changed that back to a mix of a Campagnolo Nuovo Record rear derailleur, Campy Gran Sport cranks and brakes and a 3T stem. It has new Mavic CPX 33 rims laced to Shimano 600 hubs with purple Michelin Pro Race 3 tires. Notice the top tube cable routing detail. It rode so smoothly and I regret selling it. This is what it looked like after I was done.  This is the condition when I picked it up. Very oddly configured. The woman, Zonda, yes named just like the campy wheelset,  is one of the Slow Spokes Cycling Group organizers. Signed by Achille DeRosa

This came with the German Pinarello. One heavy piece of American Steel.

A Christmas Eve purchase last year. Couldn't resist an add to buy a vintage Pinarello for $100. Unfortunately it was dark and this gas pipe beauty was actually made in West Germany. I have never been able to find anything about them, but obviously not an Italian made bike but odd nonetheless that knock-offs like these occurred in the 70's. 

My first modern Moutnain Bike since the Fuji years. A cop sold me this.

This bike was pristine. Picked it up in Sanford, NC. It had an internally routed top to tube cable, Nervar Cranks, Mavic Wheels and a Huret front and rear derailleur. If I wasn't in love with Italian bikes this one might have started a French obsession.

 Bought this one in Marion NC. A nice bike with Shimano 600 components. Consequently it came with a bag of other parts that was worth way more than the bike itself.

This Takara was found in North Myrtle Beach just down the street from my folks house. Didn't realize that the top tube was bent. Parted it out and found that it had been originally purchased from Cycle Logic in Raleigh. Not far from where I lived at the time. What are the odds! I sold this and a bunch of parts to Oak City Cycling Project and they donated to the Raleigh Racks competition. So, the short story is that it's a part of a cool bike rack that will be permanently installed in DT Raleigh. Its the frame on the right, next to the Masi.

I bought this bike from the same woman who sold me the Bianchi Axis. it was hanging in the garage along with a couple Treks and a beautiful Ti Serotta (see future posts on this). Evidently her brother in law had passed away and he raced/collected bikes. I feel lucky to own this one.  What more can I add. One of my favorites. Gun Metal Grey, Campagnolo Super Record 58cm Columbus steel frame with Mavic tubular rims, Cinelli bars and stem. I've made a few changes to the seat and swapped some campy aero brake levers, but the originals are back on it now. Love the signature Giovanni Pelizzoli! Vinatge Campy is beautiful