Pros
- No compromises
- Great ride
Cons
- Colour may limit appeal
- Saddle alignment a bit fiddly
Price as reviewed:
£6,000
The Cinelli Best Of is just what its name suggests — a bike using Cinelli’s best technologies and construction techniques. Cinelli has chosen to use Columbus tubes wrapped at the tube junctions for stiffness and light weight.
There is an integrated seatpost with an expansion wedge similar to an old-style quill system, to secure the saddle. This is fine but if there is no cut-out in your saddle, aligning the post is a palaver, as the bolt is tricky to access with the saddle mounted.
The Columbus tube profiling has done a lot for the ride quality of the Cinelli. Out of the saddle the bike feels light and nimble, giving an inspiring ride.
Cinelli claims the frame has been made for endurance races and the ride quality emphasises this.
Curved seatstays and the top tube help to give a ride that is comfortable but also transmits plenty of road feel.
The Cinelli Best Of makes an excellent race machine but its design does not limit it just to racing.
Descending through tight turns, the steering is direct with the well-built front end matched to Columbus Carve forks — as you would expect from a bike of this high pedigree.
Cinelli Best Of: info
Distributor RJ Chicken www.chickencycles.co.uk
Price £5,999.99
Frame Columbus Carbon XLR8R Plus
Fork Columbus Carve Mega Monocoque 1-1/8in
Size range XS, S, M, L, XL
Weight 15.5lb (7.04kg)
Groupset Campagnolo Super Record 11-speed
Wheels Mavic Aksium
Size tested M
Verdict
The Rossa Team colour may not appeal to everybody but the Cinelli Best Of has plenty of Italian flair, as does the excellent ride which is a testament to peerless Italian design principles.
