This sweet little Marinoni is Brenna’s “vintage bebe” and might very well be responsible for her future in the bike industry (and by “future” we mean “now”, but now wasn’t now then, it was the future! see?) Many sunny summers ago she brought the bike into Sellwood, and one of our mechanics at the time Jere took one look at the clunky double-ring black crankset that used to be on it and demanded she lend it to him for a few minutes. When he brought it back he had installed a much more appropriate crankset on it and even gifted a new seatpost. Years later Brenna has found herself in the midst of a successful racing and coaching career, and working at the very same shop that set her straight on the whole crankset debacle.

Obviously the “wrong color” cranksets don’t matter all that much. But what is important is that Brenna has built up a bit of a soulful ride with this Marinoni. The right mix of a Columbus steel tubing vintage frame, VERY smooth rolling 105 hubs, drillium levers, and a ride feel that most modern bikes just don’t have.

The skinny Paselas and tight wheelbase give the bike a very lively feel that begs for you to spin it up and go fast, but the smooth hubs and “compliant” frame don’t mind if you take it slow and just enjoy pedaling around. Though if the saddle to bar drop is any indication Brenna probably doesn’t bother with the “take your time” approach so much.

The frame itself has a pretty great backstory: It had originally been built up for a tour across Death Valley by its original owner, and then many years later was gifted to Brenna during her poorer college years when she was in dire need of a bike. Not too long thereafter she won her very first road race on this bike (NBD).

All the other parts on the bike are a smorgasbord of “what you need” and what you’ve got”. A true mechanic’s build, with the goal of always continuing to improve the build, and dang fun to ride. A keen eye will spot the fastback stays (shoutout Ira), the Campy/Shimano drivetrain combos, and the matching blue fade on the spoke nipples. We’re glad Brenna is still riding it into the the shop so we can enjoy it vicariously.