Update: 1985 Pinarello Record

Freshly restored and showcased in 2012, this 1985 Pinarello was acceptable but it wasn’t perfect. Four years later, upgrades made, it is ready for the second unveiling.

1985 Pinarello Record

This story really isn’t about this Pinarello’s history or restoration. That has already been happily told, 5 years ago. That post is located here. You may want to bring it up for the sake of comparison as this lovely Italian has been altered significantly since then. The list of updates isn’t especially long but to know vintage builds is to know the agony and ecstasy of the hunt. Researching what you want, patiently waiting for the find, purchasing, possibly working on the item to make it just right, then eventually getting the part on the bike and adjusted properly. This all takes time. Especially finding the perfect item. This is a story of patience and a project on the back burner. Not unimportant, mind you. Just slowly plodding along.

• Stem: This is what started it all. The first update made after the initial report in 2012 and something that clearly pained me since the beginning. In the previous post as I describe the former stem, a funky, boxy, terribly welded Profile Design monstrosity that came with the bike as, “godawful”. I still feel that way and in protest, I ended up leaving it in a free pile at my local bicycle co-op, slyly smiling in satisfaction as I turned my back on it forever.
  Seeking a replacement originally led me to a 3TTT Evol 2002. I’ll be honest. I originally purchased this out of laziness. I had planned to keep the original carbon drop bars and this special, uniquely hinged model would allow me to add the new part and not have to unwrap bars, remove a brake lever, retape cables, etc. In the end, the bars went so I decided to go with what makes most sense. A timeless and understated stem that doesn’t detract but also isn’t boring. The Cinelli XA is an ideal choice here.
• Drop Bars: Gone are the ridiculous Easton ergo carbon bars and replaced is a wonderful mate for the stem. The Cinelli Giro D’Italia 64’s match flawlessly with their milky anodization and time-honored style. Their shallow yet wide reach is comfortable in the drops or out. No cable grooves, no carbon fiber and no ergo styling, just the glory of the past. Proof that some things just don’t need improving.
• Saddle: What an incredibly comfortable and necessary update. Originally, a white Fizik Arione awkwardly sat atop the Campagnolo stem. Hard as a garden shovel and looks that were shockingly out of place, it was time to move forward. I now welcome the legendary shape of a Selle San Marco Rolls Forato in crisp, bright white that marries seamlessly with the also perforated Fizik white bar wrap. Both providing solid, slip free comfort.

• Hubs and Rims: The Campagnolo Nucleon wheels previously attached to this build were phenomenally light and surprisingly rigid but the ultra modern look and low spoke count (22!) didn’t fit the aesthetic direction this bicycle is now pointed. Off they came in favor of a new wheel build. First came sourcing and found were a set of Campagnolo Record hubs. Cleaning, greasing and rebuilding meant a fresh new set of Campagnolo bearings to keep them spinning smoothly.
  Rim selection in this territory is limited but still challenging because what products remain all have strong pros and cons. A personal recommendation solidified my first set of H PLUS SON, TB14 rims. Their look is understated with “classic aesthetics of rims from the era when steel frames ruled competitive cycling”, as H PLUS SON states. Strong box rim design, machined sidewalls, a killer looking valve badge—This rim is chock-full of throwback style with contemporary improvements and I am a fan.
• Tires: Another personal recommendation sent me toward the Vittoria Open Pavé CG. Another first and another superb pairing. The Vittoria’s lovely herringbone pattern isn’t purely aesthetic as they grip and stick hard to asphalt. They are also rumored to be marvels on rough terrain and poor weather. Although rain and cobbles aren’t likely in these tires’ future, it’s comforting to know they can handle it.
• Brakes: Like a cherry on the top of an ice cream sundae, fresh new Campagnolo brake pads helped round off this block of updates. And yes, having official Campagnolo pads do make a difference.

Is there more to do? Of course. The entire Campagnolo drivetrain and brake set could be updated to an elevated rung on the hierarchy, say, to Chorus or Record. I could remove the Chris King headset and bring consistency to the frame by again moving to a Chorus or Record option. But, these aren’t necessarily on my short list. The current edits made were fulfilled because of glaring oddities and cringeworthy mismatches. These items stuck out. They detracted and cheapened the frame. Overhauls of drivetrains? Brake set replacements? I’ll save that for another day. Or perhaps, another decade.

Color: Team Red
Frame Size: 57cm (C-T) seat post & 56cm (C-C) top tube
Frame/Drop-outs: Columbus SL/Campagnolo
Fork: Columbus SL
Headset: Chris King
Handlebars: Cinelli Giro D’Italia 64
Bar Wrap: Fizik Superlight; White with black tape
Stem: Cinelli XA
Saddle: Selle San Marco Rolls Forato
Seat Post: Campagnolo C-Record
Crankset: Campagnolo Centaur; 53/39, 170mm
Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Centaur
Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Centaur
Shifting/Brake Levers: Campagnolo Centaur
Brake Calipers: Campagnolo Daytona; Campagnolo pads
Cable Housing: Campagnolo
Cassette: 10-Speed Campagnolo Centaur (13/14/15/16/17/18/19/21/23/26)
Chain: Campagnolo
Hubs: Campagnolo Record; Campagnolo skewers
Wheels: H PLUS SON TB14; 32h
Tires: Vittoria Open Pavé CG; 700x25c
Pedals: Campagnolo Record, Black
Special Features: Pinarello pantographing; Campagnolo dropouts; Chromed rear chain and seat stays; Double bottle mounts; Chain rest

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