Nicoletti Bicycle (Campy-Equipped!)

Nicoletti Bicycle, a set on Flickr.

Photos of a 1960-ish Italian Nicoletti bicycle that I acquired over the weekend at a bike swap in Sacramento. These photos show the benefits of a few hours of cleaning and polishing. The bike will look even better when I have a little more time to spend on it.

I took some photos of a few of the details on the frame that show the care that went into this bike, reportedly made to order at the shop in Verona for an American student who was studying in Italy. (In fact, according to the seller, who got this bike in the early 1990s, the original owner ordered *two* of these--the first was stolen; this is the second). From the beautiful cutout lugs to the internal brake cable and wiring to the seat cluster, there is a lot of very nice handwork to be seen.

Lots of Nicoletti-branded items: fenders, rear hub, crankset ... even the original leather seat bag (with the original multi-tool and tire levers still inside!).

Shifting is handled by a Campagnolo Velox derailleur, operated by a single-lever shifter on the down tube.

The only non-original parts, according to the seller, are the front wheel (the original had been lost when he got the bike) and the seatpost (and probably the tires). Everything else appears to be as it was when the bike was delivered to the original owner. Update: The pedals are also not original. The second owner (who I purchased the bike from) said the original pedals were falling apart and needed to be replaced. Also, according to the Nicoletti shop, the original rear mech was a Campagnolo Sport; the Velox had to have been added later, since it was introduced in 1971.

The bike rides quite nicely--a fast, regal ride with an upright posture. I'll enjoy riding this around town!