Broximo Prestige Steeds proudly stocks this Cinelli Superstar Carbon Road Bike

Italian firm Cinelli provides the frameset for a build that’s as Mediterranean as olive oil. So often, bike firms slap an Italian flag on something and double the price, hoping people will see the red, green and white stripes as a mark of quality.  Billed as an all-rounder with the capacity to race, and a penchant for climbing, it also undercuts most of its direct rivals by as much as a kilo.

The distinctive kink in the top tube is the first thing to catch the eye in terms of the frame. Cinelli says this ‘horizontal curve’ is to prevent deformation at the wheelbase under heavy acceleration, by keeping the angle of the head tube constant.  Also with the intention of keeping the frame stiff in key areas, plastic moulds are used in manufacturing inside the bott om bracket shell and head tube to compress the layers of carbon while they cure.

Campagnolo’s 11-speed Potenza groupset is on a par with Shimano Ultegra. A 52/36 chainset combines with a Campag 11-27 cassette and Campag chain to provide the drive, while Potenza shifters take care of the ratio changes and braking.  If you’ve never ridden a Campag-equipped bike, you’ll be amazed by how much more ergonomically correct the brake hoods are compared to Shimano systems!

The bike rolls on a pair of Zonda wheels. The wheelset’s C17 rim features a 22.5mm diameter, allowing wider tyres than before.  Asymmetric lacing of the rear spokes, with twice as many on the right as on the non-drive side is intended to increase lateral rigidity. Continental GP5000 tyres are belters, promising long life with little given away in terms of grip.  Finally, although it’s a marketing ploy, the tan walls of Conti rubber ensure this bike gets more than the odd admiring glance from fellow riders.

The Cinelli really is a dark horse, possessed with a love of climbing, an eagerness on flat and rolling roads, and a direct response to input that shames some high-end racing bikes.