Patelli Titanium

A top-tier Italian build whose title pays homage to its groupset

Cicli Patelli of Bologna was formed in 1948 by three brothers: Umberto, Luigi and Sergio Patelli. Sergio was a keen amateur cyclist and won 49 races through his eight-year career, including an Italian National Team Time Trial Championship in 1953. He retired in 1954 to concentrate on the family business and in 1964 the brothers moved to new premises on Via Matteotti in Bologna.

This ‘Titanium’ model dates from the second half of the 1970s, and would have been top of the range. Interestingly, Luigi Patelli, who built the frames, used Columbus SL steel tubing with Nervex and Georg Fisher lugs. So why call it Titanium if you’ve used steel tubing? Titanium actually refers to Campagnolo’s then top-of-the-range Super Record groupset, which used titanium screws and pins.

The yellow paint used for the detailing in the lug cutouts and around rear wheel dropouts contrasts nicely with the light turquoise/blue paint. The fork crown tops feature the letter ‘P’ surrounded by a winner’s wreath, again picked out in yellow. Another nice touch.

The Super Record components that give the bike its name are no longer on this bike that we photographed at Golden Age Cycles, but an earlier-era Record rear derailleur is mated to later-era C-record down-tube shifters. The six-speed closeratio rear freewheel has a range of 13-20t, fairly typical of gear ratios of that time.

A Selle SMP Extra saddle is a later addition. While the yellow matches the detailing, a black Selle San Marco Rolls saddle might be more in keeping with the era. Even so, it remains a great example of a 1970s Italian, artisan-built racing bike.

Patelli frames became coveted for their lightness, quality and finishing details in the region and throughout Italy. The brothers retired in 1998 but the name lives on, and there is still a Patelli bike shop on Via Matteotti today.