Luciano Paletti is a master framebuilder based in Modena. In the early 1960s he was himself a keen racing cyclist. His distinctive bicycles are veritable works of art, often incorporating subtle details that are not always apparent to the casual observer. Paletti frames are always finished with very high quality paintwork, and it goes without saying that a proper Paletti bicycle would not be complete without pantographed components such as the stem and outer chainring. Paletti learnt the craft of frame building under Orazio Grenzi, the maker of the famed Virginia brand, and later learnt from Ugo DeRosa. It was Grenzi himself who produced the early frames that bore the Paletti name, from 1972 until 1975. Luciano Paletti took over Grenzi’s premises in Viciglio when Grenzi went to work for the component manufacturer 3ttt. Another local Modenese frame builder who learnt from Grenzi was Antonio Mattioli, with whom Patelli would later collaborate on the PMZ project along with Zanasi. It is thought that Mattioli and Zanasi manufactured bikes for Paletti.
Paletti frames incorporate bottom bracket castings, seat stay caps, rear brake bridge, head lugs and fork crown all emblazoned with the LP initials and usually carry the framebuilders signature at the rear of the top tube. Cunningly concealed cable routing for the brakes and gears do away with unsightly clutter and bring the exquisite detailing of the frameset to the fore. The Paletti Logo comprises the initials LP in front of a diamond. The Paletti headbadge incorporates the diamond, clover, heart and spade motifs found on playing cards. Just to make it quite plain that Paletti is reserved for real players!
Paletti has provided many bicycles to top athletes, and has sponsored various teams over the decades, achieving wins on the road and also in cyclocross. In his earlier career the great Marco Pantani raced on a Luciano Paletti road bike in the 1991 Giro d’Italia whilst he rode for the Emilia Romagna team.
Amongst the innovations which were patented by Paletti are the 1978 design of a brazed fitting for the front derailleur, which no longer necessitated an ‘unsightly’ tube clamp. The system featured the Paletti name engraved on the patented derailleur mount. This was followed in 1980 by another patent Paletti innovation, a system which enabled the gear cables to be concealed in the bicycle frame, only emerging immediately adjacent to the derailleurs. Not content with having hidden all the control cables, in the same year Paletti also debuted integrated brakes completely enclosed within the frame and fork. The rear brake was concealed in the lower stays directly behind the bottom bracket, whilst the front brake was entirely enclosed within the fork blades.
Luciano Paletti passed on his passion for racing bicycles to son Michele, who would also be a talented bike racer. In 1991 Michele was a teammate of Marco Pantani when both riders were on the Emilia Romagna team, and later Michele was a member of the Mapei pro team. Today Michele continues to run the family business that was started by his father.
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This particular listing is for Luciano Paletti Pista track bicycle, in excellent original condition.
Nicely chromed & lovely painted Paletti track frame, with yellow/blue/purple airbrushing. Chrome has been left exposed on the front and rear thirds of the frame. The frame is made from rare Columbus TSX tubing. It features Zeus
track ends, high-end lugs and Zeus fork crown. Track ends have been filed down to shave off the last grams.
Campagnolo Record Pista groupset:
32 hole low-flange rare MAVIC Piste hubset laced, tied and soldered to matte dark-anodised Campagnolo Omega tubular rims. New Old Stock Hutchinson Krono tubular tyres. Wheels are in top condition, having seen very little use.
165mm Campagnolo Record Pista crankset and bottom bracket, with 49 tooth Campagnolo chainring.
DID track chain and 16 tooth Campagnolo Aluminium track cog.
The seatpost is a matching piece, a polished up Campagnolo Aero. Selle Italia Turbo saddle with aluminium rails.
Cinelli Pista stem, black anodized. Cinelli Pista 66-40 handlebars with track style bend and
original black Ambrosio bar tape. Aluminium Campagnolo C-Record Pista headset.
Hand Made in Modena, Italy by Luciano Paletti himself.
Bicycle is in great condition, appears to have been barely used. Frame is in top shape with no dents or cracks. Decals are are well-preserved. All components are likewise in great condition and function perfectly. Wheels are true and hubs are very smooth. A real collectors’ item!
Geometry & Specs:
Seat tube c-c: 58cm
Seat tube c-t: 59.5cm
Top tube c-c: 57.5cm
Head tube: 175mm
Rear spacing: 120mm
Seatpost diameter: 27.2mm
Bottom bracket thread: ITA
Headset: 1″ threaded
Handlebars c-c: 40cm
Wheel size: 700c
Wheelbase: around 975mm
Stem length: 130mm
Crank arms: 165mm
Gearing: 49Tx16T
Weight: 7.9kg w/o pedals !
Serial-Number 2356;
stamped with 58 (frame size)