The Cinelli XCR holds a special place in cycling history as one of the first production bicycles to be built entirely from stainless steel, an innovation that challenged assumptions about frame materials. Launched in the early 2000s, the XCR was the result of a collaboration between Cinelli and Columbus, the renowned Italian tubing manufacturer, and it brought together traditional craftsmanship with aerospace-grade engineering.
At the core of the XCR is the Columbus XCR tubeset, a seamless, high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steel alloy that had never before been used in bicycle frame production. Unlike conventional chromoly or carbon fibre, this stainless steel offered exceptional strength and resilience, while being completely resistant to rust. It was originally developed for military and high-pressure hydraulic applications, but Columbus re-engineered it for cycling, drawing the tubes to incredibly thin walls without compromising durability or ride quality.
The result was a frame that delivered the unmistakable feel of steel, but with the strength-to-weight ratio more often associated with carbon fibre. Riders often commented on its stiffness under load. Though many XCR frames are built with polished or brushed stainless tubes left partially exposed, they are also available with distinctive paint finishes.
Every XCR frame is handmade in Italy, with Cinelli’s trademark attention to detail evident in every weld and design line. The geometry is performance-focused, built for road racing but equally at home on long endurance rides or sportives. Over the years, the XCR has evolved to support modern components, offering features such as internal cable routing and oversized bottom brackets, while retaining the soul of a classic road bike.
And in the UK, where wet weather and road salt are constant threats to steel bikes, the XCR’s rust-proof Stainless Steel construction is perfect!
The rust proof qualitiy of Stainless Steel is used in our whole range of products from Stainless Steel Hand Wash Basins to Stainless Steel Shower Trays. We couldn't find our bike the other day... turned out someone had 'steel'ed it' !!
For more cycling stories on our website have a look at these past articles:
Olympic cycling - from Stainless Steel to Carbon Fibre