Hi guys,
I need some expert help
I picked up what i thought was a Pinarello a few months back, after getting some inspiration on a holiday to Italy, when i picked it up it was in a bit of a sorry state, but i was really keen to get an Italian bike and wanted to learn abit more about them (my main ride is a Fuji Roubaix with Shimano so Italian frames and equipment were unknown to me). After a few days work cleaning and fixing some problems/replacing parts i got it back it a fit state, the problem is i'm almost sure its now not a Pinarello!
When i first got it i had no reason to doubt its provenance, the bike has Campagnolo Super Record rear mech and front dérailleur, Campagnolo cranks, Campagnolo seat post, and Campagnolo dropouts all round, the calipers are Shimano 600 as is the headset, but i'm aware you could get Pinarellos with Shimano 600 and Shimano offered the headset in Italian thread so this didn't particularly set alarm bells ringing.
However once i started trying to work out which Pinarello model it was i came across a few interesting findings, for a start there isn't one engraving or panto stating Pinarello anywhere on the bike, also the bottom bracket appears to be 68mm wide, not 70mm as per most Italian bikes, to add to that the BB has the following markings underneath;
Nearest to the chainside - 531 TR (Reynolds 531 touring perhaps?)
Opposite this is serial no. AP8510 and the name 'A. HAYES'
Anyone heard of A Hayes?? Or serial numbers beginning AP?
As i inspected the frame closer i found the mod. Gipemme marking with the bird on the rear brake bridge, this has made me 99% sure whatever i have is not a Pinarello as i understand Gipemme is French and haven't seen their frame parts on Italian bikes. The seatpost is also 27.2, which i believe isn't a size the Italians liked to use.
So the question is, what is it?! Despite its condition when i bought it, the bike seems largely original, both chainrings and jockey wheels are Campag and i assume original, the brakes also had the correct grey coloured Shimano pads (not fitted at the moment) which again may well be the originals. Paint wise i'm not fully convinced it's ever been redone, the paint job is of good quality and the condition is about what i'd expect given the condition of the other components and i can't see any sign of any other colours where the paint is chipped, there are no runs or flaky bits etc, and its also got two stickers stating 'Vincitrice -Vuelta D' Espana 81 Giro d'Italia 81', one between the shifters and one at the bottom of the seat tube, all stickers are underneath lacquer, i do wonder if it's had this scheme from day one.
I'm dating the bike around 1984, based on the patent 83 rear mech and the markings on the crank arms - a circle and a 4, which i believe denotes 1984, and the stickers on the frame. This would also tie in with the Shimano 600 tricolore calipers and the Mavic grey anodised wheels, the stem is Cinelli 1R stem and the shifters are Simplex incase it helps.
Heres some pics, excuse the poor quality, the bike is actually a really bright red but you'd never know! I look forward to hearing your thoughts! Obviously i've no intention of stripping it back to bare metal, so if i can't find out from the info we have then its most likely to be forever a mystery! I plan to fit a Cinelli saddle next along with Cinelli Giro d'Italia bars and proper brake levers!
I need some expert help
I picked up what i thought was a Pinarello a few months back, after getting some inspiration on a holiday to Italy, when i picked it up it was in a bit of a sorry state, but i was really keen to get an Italian bike and wanted to learn abit more about them (my main ride is a Fuji Roubaix with Shimano so Italian frames and equipment were unknown to me). After a few days work cleaning and fixing some problems/replacing parts i got it back it a fit state, the problem is i'm almost sure its now not a Pinarello!When i first got it i had no reason to doubt its provenance, the bike has Campagnolo Super Record rear mech and front dérailleur, Campagnolo cranks, Campagnolo seat post, and Campagnolo dropouts all round, the calipers are Shimano 600 as is the headset, but i'm aware you could get Pinarellos with Shimano 600 and Shimano offered the headset in Italian thread so this didn't particularly set alarm bells ringing.
However once i started trying to work out which Pinarello model it was i came across a few interesting findings, for a start there isn't one engraving or panto stating Pinarello anywhere on the bike, also the bottom bracket appears to be 68mm wide, not 70mm as per most Italian bikes, to add to that the BB has the following markings underneath;
Nearest to the chainside - 531 TR (Reynolds 531 touring perhaps?)
Opposite this is serial no. AP8510 and the name 'A. HAYES'
Anyone heard of A Hayes?? Or serial numbers beginning AP?
As i inspected the frame closer i found the mod. Gipemme marking with the bird on the rear brake bridge, this has made me 99% sure whatever i have is not a Pinarello as i understand Gipemme is French and haven't seen their frame parts on Italian bikes. The seatpost is also 27.2, which i believe isn't a size the Italians liked to use.
So the question is, what is it?! Despite its condition when i bought it, the bike seems largely original, both chainrings and jockey wheels are Campag and i assume original, the brakes also had the correct grey coloured Shimano pads (not fitted at the moment) which again may well be the originals. Paint wise i'm not fully convinced it's ever been redone, the paint job is of good quality and the condition is about what i'd expect given the condition of the other components and i can't see any sign of any other colours where the paint is chipped, there are no runs or flaky bits etc, and its also got two stickers stating 'Vincitrice -Vuelta D' Espana 81 Giro d'Italia 81', one between the shifters and one at the bottom of the seat tube, all stickers are underneath lacquer, i do wonder if it's had this scheme from day one.
I'm dating the bike around 1984, based on the patent 83 rear mech and the markings on the crank arms - a circle and a 4, which i believe denotes 1984, and the stickers on the frame. This would also tie in with the Shimano 600 tricolore calipers and the Mavic grey anodised wheels, the stem is Cinelli 1R stem and the shifters are Simplex incase it helps.
Heres some pics, excuse the poor quality, the bike is actually a really bright red but you'd never know! I look forward to hearing your thoughts! Obviously i've no intention of stripping it back to bare metal, so if i can't find out from the info we have then its most likely to be forever a mystery! I plan to fit a Cinelli saddle next along with Cinelli Giro d'Italia bars and proper brake levers!
