The Chainlink

Rare Collectible Vintage (Italian?) Mystery Bike for Sale!

This was flagged and removed from CL, no doubt out of jealousy.  Twice.  Some people really need to get out more.

So I'll repost here ON THIS PARTICULAR DATE, for the enjoyment of Chainlinkers.

Rare Collector's Dream: Mystery (Italian?) Vintage Racing Bike!  $2000 (Lincoln Square)


Date: 2012-04-01, 1:28PM CDT
Reply to: fvkbm-2934443628@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]



[Attn flaggers: though you perform a valuable (?) service to CL, please note the date of this listing as well as its high literary quality. Do you really think you are 'protecting' anyone by flagging this?]

It's time for me to start to whittle down my extensive collection of valuables.

So for (almost) the first time, I am willing to sell this rare and desirable vintage (possibly) Italian racing bike!   I am open to reasonable offers but expect them to start at $2000.

Photo 1:
Vintage Italian Mystery Bike 1

Look at the racing physique of this bike, the swooping rake of the fork, the insouciant tilt of the handlebars. Eat your heart out, Ugo!

Photo 2:
Vintage Italian Mystery Bike 2

Closeup reveals the gorgeous patina of years of loving use...perhaps sweat from the immortal Merckxx or Hinault dripped and caused it. (Really, 'The Badger' had notoriously acidic perspiration.) Cables are secured with the traditional 'bande d'electricien.' Note how the shifters are cleverly placed on the *top tube* rather than the traditional downtube, the work of an innovative, visionary fabricator. All the more reason to think that this is a true thoroughbred. And the lack of a headbadge only heightens the mystery!

Photo 3:
Vintage Italian Mystery Bike 3

The rear dropouts are clearly works of art...note how carefully they are jammed into the stays and secured with a neat little dimple. The 'pie plate' of chromed steel prevents a careless shift from sending the chain into the spokes on a rapid descent--even the best riders can have a bad shift! (Right, Andy?) The maker of the rear derailleur is unknown, but the initials 'SIS' doubtless stand for 'Sylvestro I Stallone' or something equally Italian.

Photo 4:
Vintage Italian Mystery Bike 4

The detail shot here shows the high-tech braking system of the bike, along with the uniquely textured tire, and a glimpse of the front wheel. These wheels are of chromed steel and weigh at least FIVE POUNDS EACH. It's a complete myth that you want a racing bike to be lightweight. Because this bike can go so fast, it needs these massive wheels to keep it tethered to the ground! And that super-smooth surface really aids in braking--on a wet day you can easily stop within a city block. (Braking performance not guaranteed.)

Photo 5:
Vintage Italian Mystery Bike 5

The rear cluster shows the placement of the seatstays, which are held in place by what appears to be a dab of a high tech cement, possibly JB Weld (or its Italian equivalent). Note that though this bike precedes the era of TIG welding, yet there appear to be NO LUGS! In fact it's a complete mystery what is holding the tubing together. What an exciting bike to ride!

'BMA/6' was evidently a racing association, devoted to new bike technology.

Photo 6:
Vintage Italian Mystery Bike 6

And here we have the ultimate mystery of the bike, the seat tube decal obscured by the mists of time. You have to admit that the paint color and 'harlequin' graphic leave no doubt about the bike's Italian heritage. Traces of letters remain: an E and A are fairly certain, followed by an R and possibly a final S. Is it fair to point out that ALL THOSE LETTERS ARE CONTAINED IN THE NAME 'DE ROSA'???

But despite that tantalizing hint, we can't be sure of this bike's origin. All we can do is marvel at the survival of this priceless relic of a bygone age in cycling.

Not quite priceless though. I will take $2000.00. Maybe.

  • Location: Lincoln Square
  • it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 2934443628


Views: 1432

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Replies to This Discussion

Now that's funny.  The dry rotted tires are a nice touch.  ;)

Al, I'm gathering the funds as we speak.  What are the appropriate account numbers associated with this transaction?  

The ITEM is still being available.   Please to send funds from bank of your choosing and will ship by best appropriate method.

;-)

I think the fork-tube mounted reflector, high up near the crown, is actually kind of special.  I don't recall ever seeing such a reflector mounted with bolts directly to the fork tubes like that.  I'm sure that lugs were placed into the forks and not simply driven in with self-tapping screws.  Such an abomination would not be the Italian way.  There is plenty of strength in that part of the fork because it hardly carries any weight...

It's a 1979 de Huffio. Believe me, I know my Italian Bikes.

I'm disappointed that I cannot flag this on Chainlink so I went to craigslist and just started flagging random stuff to get it out of my system.

Why are there no listings under For Sale/Bicycles on Craigslist?  Someone has flagged THEM ALL!

OMG AYHSMB!

To the seller of this bicycle:

Thanks for your listing,i am buying the item for my cousin who school in
oversea.i will add $150 for shipping,i will have do it local
transaction but i am out of town presently...so you can get me back
with your paypal email account so i can pay now.hope to hear from you
i will want the item to be ship with Express mail fedex OR USPS
Express mail
ASAP please. if you don't have paypal all you need to do is this
log in to WWW.PayPal.com and create your
account there immediately you are true with that kindly get back to me
with your paypal email address for me to made the payment nice doing
business with you.

Dear h':

Ha!  Think you can fool me with your spam-scam?  No way.   You made an obvious mistake by referring to 'the bicycle.'   I only deal with people who email me about 'the item.'  So long, sucker!

or maybe piso shito, lesser known greek brand, almost italian.

Kevin T. said:

I beg to differ amico mio , I believe the decal on the seat tube belongs to the massive Italian retailer Searso Roebuckio.

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