Patelli Champion Special Road Bike 1979

Based in Bologna, Patelli is a bespoke frame manufacturer, who in the 1940s started specialising in high end road bicycles and cycling tools. This manufacturing background led to precision that was second to none. The attention is evident in the refined lugs and intricate engravings throughout their machines.

Since Patelli was such a small manufacturer, and worked so meticulously on every frame, it lacked the resources to equip a professional team. However, this did not stop many from recognising the craftsmanship of their work, and it was adopted by cyclists in the highest ranks of Italian racing. In the 1980s, for example, several Italian amateur championships - a prestigious title, indeed - were won a Patelli.

If we take a closer look at the frame presented here, we find what we would expect from an absolute top class artisan. The clean lugs and the typicaL cutouts represent a frame that was made with pride. On the technical side, the Columbus tubing was the preferred base of the great Italian 1970s road bikes. The butted sections of the Cyclex steel tubes, contributed to their lightness and stiffness. Key advantages and an obvious choice for amateurs and professionals alike.

The groupset we've included is not to be ignored either. A top class Campagnolo Nuovo Record series group gives this red racer just the necessary edges. The Cinelli bar and stem also pair up handsomely with the Columbus steel. But there are even more highlights: The excellent wheelset with silky smooth Omas hubs and Assos rims..

The bike has been fully checked in our workshop and is ready to ride. Though due to the delicate finesse of the pantographs and milling, we tend to rather recommend the bike for a concours d'elegance than a hard ride.