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@kal_yxo
(gotta warn you, this is a long post)
Greetings,
I've been longing for quality Italian Track frame for sometime now but never able to afford it. Colnago, De Rosa, or the Cinelli SuperPista (really like this one) are all above my budget sadly. Knowing this I learn to love my current bike and even bought Cinelli book just to fulfil my craving.
Upon turning the pages I found this Benotto track bike that was used by Ole Ritter to break the hour record back in 1968. Cinelli designed the curved fork, hence the Benotto is discussed in the book. I never really have any interests on Benotto due to its known failure, so I moved on. However I kept thinking about the bike and kept coming back to that page. I admit I'm slightly biased because Benotto is like my middle name only with one "T", thought it'd be cool to have a bike with my name on it. Here's Ole Ritter's' featherlight Benotto that he rode on the impossible hour. Tried the pinky thing and almost broke my finger
Then I did another research and found that these failures are associated with Mexican-made Benottos, not Italian. Gave me warm feeling knowing this! Plus, Redeemer's Benotto is soo purdy I can't take my eyes off her (Pic 1, Pic 2). So I thought why not, this is after all an Italian frame and it's a track bike! Should fill the void in my heart. To the net we go.
I've encountered the first problem, the frame unfortunately is rather rare to find, bummer! Last time listed on eBay.it ended on 13 Aug. I didn't even know whether it's sold or not, so I contacted the seller. Two days passed and received no reply, was ready to give up hope and then I got an email from the seller. He said it didn't sell and still available! I couldn't stop smiling.. So I asked the regular questions, dents, bents, dings, etc etc, where it's made and what tubing. There's no problem with the frame, straight and true. He said it's made in Italy with Columbus tubing (don't know how he knows it). So I made an offer but he's quite persistent and gave me no discount at all, well no biggie. The frame was on its way last friday. Here's a pic from the listing: Seeing this pic and above I notice the fork is almost the same! Smooth curved fork. Getting more excited now!
While waiting I was deciding on how it should get built. I know that it has to have full Campagnolo Pista groupset but which one? C-Record, Super Record, or Record? I was weighing towards C-Record because I have most of the groupset already but then it'd look too flashy on the frame. Then saw the pic above and it hit me, there's no other way than to build it exactly like that. Back to the drawing board!
I began another research on Ole's bike and its components but found nothing on the net. That picture and the time of the event was the only clues I have. So I checked all Campagnolo catalogues prior the event in 1968, that includes 1967, 1969 but I extended the search until 1971, and 1973. After several hours mismatching parts I found that 1973 is the best match. Now to figure out which track groupset: Record or Super Record. Both group are identical except SR has Ti axles and bolts. Then I saw his seatpost was fluted, which is a major tell, so there's only one possible answer and that's the Super Record track group 4100.
.
But then it doesn't make sense because according to the book that bike was from 1968, which let him broke the hour record. However fluted seatpost, according to the catalogues, did not exist until 1973. So there're two possible explanations: Cinelli has got their fact wrong or Campangolo made that prototype seatpost for him. Heck, either way I'm building it with SR groupset.
Now I'm a man on mission, and impossible one I'd say because it turned out that finding Super Record Track parts are rather difficult and almost impossible. Reasons:
Then I told myself that I have to stop being so anal about it. So that's it, my mission to build it period-correct was over, that was quick. But I still will build it with full SR track groupset and try to be as period-correct as possible. In my defence, Ti axles snap anyway ; ) Saved me a lot of money there.
That's it for now, will continue later. I do apologise for the long post.