New member CSI

[Ct03911]

Hello all. My first Serotta. Not sure of the year looking at the serial number so hoping for help there. 97, 98?

It’s 56x57cc. Serial # CC 56 1572

Bike has been in storage for about 20yrs.
Was purchased seller recalls around 97-98 from a dealer in Westfield, MA that was holding a Serotta Day.
Bike was built up with 105 and the buyer wanted it even though a nicer groupset would be better.
I felt the same. In fact I did not make an offer on the bike until I happened to find out the one owner story and low usage.
The seller believes if I put a battery in the computer it will show about 125mi.
Rode it yesterday, great feel but I’m always worried about older tires.
The seller put these tires on five years ago so not original like the rest of it but still old tires. He doesn’t like his bike sitting on flats he said.

I’m not in a rush to change an almost new bike. The triple crank is nice actually.
I’m getting new tires and tubes and a light cleanup/wax.
The adhesive is still where the price tag was actually.

Help dating the bike and the serial number info would be appreciated.

[sw3759]

welcome to the club and congrats and nice score..pretty much new looks like..hope you can keep it and ride it and not just flip it if it fits you,if not,someone here will pick it.bonus points for the steel fork.fantastic bikes!

[Ct03911]

Wondering where to find a CSI serial number database if it exists to date the frame.

[mhespenheide]

Wondering where to find a CSI serial number database if it exists to date the frame.

I don't know that there's an official database, but some users here have chipped in on this thread about serial numbers, so you can try to start there: Catalogs > Serial Numbers Decoded (https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=99078).

[zmudshark]

Check on The Paceline:
https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=99078

:banana::banana::banana::banana:

[dave thompson]

Serotta's later serial numbers such as yours didn't have a date code but the anniversary decal dates it as a 1997.

The decal was only used for a year. The serial number translates: CC= custom CSi, 56=frame size, 1572=production number.

Your CSi was a state of the art bike in its day and is still held in high regard.

[Ct03911]

Thanks guys. Working my way thru the “serial numbers decoded” thread.
Up to page 19 when I posted this so I had not figured it out yet.

The one year 1997 decal is helpful.

Was Serotta really making 1572 bikes in 1997 tho?
Seems ambitious.

CC 56 1572

[dave thompson]

The production number was a continuous number that was used from the start of the model series throughout its run. It didn't change over at the end of the year.

[colker]

This one begs for an all and everything black rebuild. Black only. Did i mention black parts? Yeah: black and yellow. Black.
.... black.

[fijichf]

The eyelets are interesting on the rear dropouts.

[nighthawk]

The shop in Westfield would have been New Horizon. I use to go in there to ogle Serottas and chat with the friendly and knowledgable owner whose name eacapes me. Great shop.

[ThomasAylesbury]

Don Podolski... spelled something close and his daughter.

[Saxon]

As I recall, they didn't introduce the head tube cable guides like your bike has until 1999. I could be mistaken.

[parris]

Pretty CSI. Heres something nice to be aware of. The steel fork will very likely have room for 28 tires and depending on how tight the back end is it could fit up to a 28 although a 25 will be safe. My Club Special fits 28f 25r but my Colorado fits 28's front and back. Just passing this along if youre looking at different tire options. Best pf luck with it.

[Spinner]

I have two CIIIs, yet I would love a CSI.

[Ct03911]

New Horizon was the shop it came out of in the late 90’s.
It had rear dropout eyes and seat stay rack braze-on’s.
Those two things coupled with the triple 105 setup makes it appear someone wanted a spirited long day tourer, I’m guessing.
Polished and waxed it’s really in amazing shape, the paint is like new.
The 25th decal is messed up, bet there was a pump there for a bit.
I know nothing of the history before the guy I got it from.
He seemed to think it was basically new at a new Horizon shop day where he snagged it.

[Black Dog]

Thanks guys. Working my way thru the “serial numbers decoded” thread.
Up to page 19 when I posted this so I had not figured it out yet.

The one year 1997 decal is helpful.

Was Serotta really making 1572 bikes in 1997 tho?
Seems ambitious.

CC 56 1572

The serial number tells you that your bike was the 1572nd CSI made since they started making CSI's. Serotta was making a lot of different models and had a lot of staff. They made a lot of bikes and the quality of each of them was very high. The CSI is one of the best steel bikes ever made.

Also, your bike is set up for a rear rack is very unusual for a CSI, especially with stock geometry. Serotta was making a a bike just for spirited touring called the CRT (Colorado Rapid Tour) starting in 97 through to 99 or 2000.


You can also search the serial numbers thread to find just the posts that mention CSI.