I have just added details of my circa 1962 Coppi to the website. I had not ridden this bike since shortly after I purchased it a couple of years ago. I then took off the “wrong” components – the wheels, bars and stem, brakes – and put the frame up in the attic and put it out of mind.
Then, with this website, I thought I should build it up, photograph it and take it for a spin. I built it up with what I had to hand – all appropriate parts that I had previously mounted on a Legnano frame now sold – and I took it for a ride. CLICK HERE to see it. It really does ride very nicely. Coincidentally I just found a picture of a similar bike – same colour – on flickr with very similar components and with the finish in better condition. That one had a Reynolds 531 sticker, so that is probably what this is.
I think I may need to sell this bike to make a bit of space, but if I were to keep it, I would definitely have it refinished and I have already got new “Coppi” medallions for the fork crown. This bike was clearly meant to flash and gleam in the sunlight which, for me, takes precedence over preserving what is left of the original finish.