The special model Cinelli XCr 75th in the test
If there was such a thing as a hall of fame for legendary racing bikes, at least one Cinelli would certainly be in it. Founded in 1948 near Milan, the company was one of the most influential brands in racing for decades with its racing bike frames and components; an early Supercorsa or the futuristic-looking Laser from the 1980s are now sought-after and expensive collector's items.
The brand's importance in professional sport has steadily declined in recent decades; in the age of aluminium and carbon, Cinelli was no longer able to build on its former successes. However, the bikes and components still enjoy cult status among fans to this day.
This year, the brand is celebrating its 75th anniversary and is marking the occasion with a special model that is something special in many respects. This is signalled by the shiny stainless steel frame, the geometry and the extravagant equipment - but more on that later. The centrepiece is a frame made of XCr steel from Columbus. The tube supplier in the immediate neighbourhood has been closely associated with Cinelli since the early days, and today both brands operate physically and economically under one roof.
Compared to classic steel frames, the diameters of the tubes are generous, but the wall thicknesses are exceptionally thin - a patent recipe for combining high rigidity and low weight. The welded frame weighs just under 1,800 grams and is the lightest steel frame in the TOUR test since the advent of disc brakes. It is not stingy with pretty details: the cables are routed internally, while the inputs and outputs are neatly soldered in.
The forged dropouts feature the Cinelli logo, while a titanium badge on the headset rounds off the elegant appearance. The seat post clamp integrated into the seat stays is also unmistakable, reminiscent of the legendary Supercorsa. As stainless steel does not rust, there is no need to paint it. Instead, the frame is polished by hand to a mirror finish and decorated with various company logos from the company's history.
Cinelli XCr 75th - tradition and modernity
According to the manufacturer, the geometry is influenced by the Supercorsa models of the 1950s, which became famous among riders such as Fausto Coppi. The angles are somewhat flatter, the wheelbase longer and the tyre clearance greater than on modern racing bikes - but this is back in fashion on current all-road bikes trimmed for versatility.
At the same time, the bike is by no means unsportsmanlike; the riding position in particular is significantly stretched compared to bikes of a similar design. On the road, the racing tradition is noticeable despite the modifications: the bike rolls with good directional stability and predictability, but is by no means boring; only the high weight compared to modern carbon bikes puts a slight damper on sporting ambitions.
The design of the special model is original, and the drivetrain is particularly eye-catching. The Italians combine an electronic SRAM Red drivetrain with a two-speed hub from Classified in the rear wheel, which replaces the front derailleur. Striking, milled aluminium cranks from the Italian custom forge Ingrid transmit the pedal power. The ensemble works flawlessly; only the position of the shifter for the hub in the handlebar arch is debatable, but it could be positioned anywhere.
The bike is completed with parts that are as classy as they are classic: The fork rotates in a Chris King headset, the delicate tyres from René Herse roll particularly smoothly and offer plenty of comfort with a width of 32 millimetres, the colour-matching Brooks saddle with carbon frame is an exclusive design for the anniversary bike. The handlebars, stem and seat post are supplied by Cinelli itself.
>> The bike has been available since 12 June via the Cinelli website or from selected dealers for 14,900 euros. On the face of it, that's an incredible amount of money for a racing bike weighing almost nine kilos. But how could you look at such a bike soberly - after all, a good part of the weight is pure cycling history.
Cinelli XCr 75th in detail
- Price14,900 Euro
- Weight frame/fork/steering bearing* 1795/498/109 grammes
- Frame sizes** XS, S, M, L, XL
- Seat/top tube/head tube 485/550/138 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR*** 556/366 millimetres/1.52
- Wheelbase/caster 990/59 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/gearshift/brakes SRAM Red AXS/Classified (2x12, 46, 11-34 t.)
- Wheels/tyres (weights)**** Classified CF G30/René Herse Stampede Pass 32 millimetres (1352/2090 grams)
Measured values & individual notes*****
- Weight of complete wheel 8.9 kilos Grade: 4,0
- Steering head stiffness 81 Nm/° Grade: 2,7
- Lateral stiffness fork 39 N/mm Grade: 3,3
- Bottom bracket stiffness 56 N/mm Grade: 1,7
- Seatpost spring stiffness 101 N/mm Grade: 1,7
- Spring rate fork 92 N/mm Grade: 4,3
>> The Cinelli XCr 75th gets an overall TOUR score of 2.3
*Weighed weights.
**Manufacturer information Test size bold.
***Stack/Reach Projected vertical/horizontal dimension from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube;
STR (Stack to Reach) 1.36 means a very stretched sitting position, 1.60 means an upright sitting position.
****Impeller weights including tyres, cassette, quick release/threaded axles and brake discs if necessary.
*****Single notes, which are weighted differently in the overall grade, are only partially printed for reasons of space. The grades are calculated with all decimal places up to the final grade; however, for the sake of clarity, all grades are shown with rounded decimal places.
Jens Klötzer
Editor
