Grail bike found!!
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10-23-23, 04:49 PM
#27
Steel is real
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Fantastic bike 
10-23-23, 04:54 PM
#28
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That will make a beautiful bike.
10-23-23, 06:01 PM
#29
weapons-grade bolognium
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How much McIntosh was involved?
10-23-23, 06:41 PM
#30
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A couple of quick observations:
The graphics shown above from the De Rosa guide are out of date. I have a copy of Andrea Bonfanti’s book and there are a number of refinements in the guide graphics which provide a more or less clear progression, especially during the 1970s.
The bikes overlap to a small degree year-to-year, and there were different seatstay engravings / treatments as well as heart cutouts used more sparingly on certain frames and in particular Bb shells - but the timeline is as clear as any small Italian marque.. Remember that De Rosa was a small shop, though, and money was tight - not a lot of spare parts were likely to be on have and not consumed in building frames. Custom builds seem be relate to rider’s measurements, thought there are enough exceptions to cloud the water a little.
My De Rosa was purchased 1979 from Roberto Poggiali’s shop in Florence, and fits the guide for a 1978 build. I’ve been a cyclist and enthusiast since my teen years and spent many hours researching their (De Rosa) history.
My point - you have a great bike- great color, and it’s a 1970s De Rosa in your size - there’s no where near as much mystery as good fortune. Great score.. have fun building, riding and maintaining!
The graphics shown above from the De Rosa guide are out of date. I have a copy of Andrea Bonfanti’s book and there are a number of refinements in the guide graphics which provide a more or less clear progression, especially during the 1970s.
The bikes overlap to a small degree year-to-year, and there were different seatstay engravings / treatments as well as heart cutouts used more sparingly on certain frames and in particular Bb shells - but the timeline is as clear as any small Italian marque.. Remember that De Rosa was a small shop, though, and money was tight - not a lot of spare parts were likely to be on have and not consumed in building frames. Custom builds seem be relate to rider’s measurements, thought there are enough exceptions to cloud the water a little.
My De Rosa was purchased 1979 from Roberto Poggiali’s shop in Florence, and fits the guide for a 1978 build. I’ve been a cyclist and enthusiast since my teen years and spent many hours researching their (De Rosa) history.
My point - you have a great bike- great color, and it’s a 1970s De Rosa in your size - there’s no where near as much mystery as good fortune. Great score.. have fun building, riding and maintaining!
10-23-23, 06:43 PM
#31
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I'll just say "early 70s" to protect myself from litigation.
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10-23-23, 06:51 PM
#33
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Can't wait to see this one built up! Nice find!!!
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Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.
10-23-23, 07:36 PM
#34
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Warning: audio geek-out post.
a MR-71 (FM receiver for those who don’t speak Mac).
it pulls like crazy. I can hear my old station in Eugene from Portland as if it were a block away.
After buying it, cleaning it, replacing bulbs, etc, I found a 78 which is the finest Gordon Gow ever made, plus it has the Richard Modifini mods. Banana sticker!!
Bike content: I would be more appropriate for the era? Grey cable housing or had colored (yellow) been introduced yet?
it pulls like crazy. I can hear my old station in Eugene from Portland as if it were a block away.
After buying it, cleaning it, replacing bulbs, etc, I found a 78 which is the finest Gordon Gow ever made, plus it has the Richard Modifini mods. Banana sticker!!
Bike content: I would be more appropriate for the era? Grey cable housing or had colored (yellow) been introduced yet?
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10-23-23, 07:52 PM
#35
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Campagnolo Grey.
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10-23-23, 07:54 PM
#36
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10-23-23, 07:57 PM
#37
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How confident are you in this being a '71? I'm no expert, but a couple of features on this one say '73-'76 if I'm reading the Classic De Rosa guide correctly -- namely, the hearts on the fork crown and the circled heart on the seat stay cap. Both of those match mine, which I've been told is a '73. I like that the seat stay pantograph is off-center -- gives it more of a "hand made" feel. I've also got the protruding bottle cage bosses, which I think are very cool.
Your bottom bracket cutout is different than mine. I've got a cutout heart there. I don't think that tells us much as this feature seems to have been quite variable in those years.
Congrats on a very nice find!
Your bottom bracket cutout is different than mine. I've got a cutout heart there. I don't think that tells us much as this feature seems to have been quite variable in those years.
Congrats on a very nice find!
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10-24-23, 07:12 AM
#38
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Please don't put yellow cable housing on it. If you do, you might as well just finish it off and put yellow tires on it, too.
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10-24-23, 09:25 AM
#39
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Love the story details. The exact age doesn't matter when you're out riding and enjoying it. I should invite people over more often to look through my garage because I'm having trouble downsizing. Was the famous athlete a former NFL QB?
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10-24-23, 09:38 AM
#40
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It's likely that I'm trying to draw too much precision from the Andrea's Classic De Rosa guide than the guide intends. I don't have the book, but the bottom bracket here doesn't match anything in the latest version of the guide I was able to find online: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...sic-guide.html
Mine also has the protruding bottle bosses, and I agree it feels like an "older" feature -- not to mention extremely cool.
As has been observed here, whatever the precise year, it's definitely an outstanding frame.
Mine also has the protruding bottle bosses, and I agree it feels like an "older" feature -- not to mention extremely cool.
As has been observed here, whatever the precise year, it's definitely an outstanding frame.
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10-24-23, 09:46 AM
#41
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So those are the proper nuts. So far my ALE cage will not fit. I'll try the TA.
Now to find some tall 5mm nuts.
I totally see you point, older BB, newer seat stay eyes, who really knows. And Ugo isn't talking.
I'd love a pic of your crown if you got one.
Robert
Now to find some tall 5mm nuts.
I totally see you point, older BB, newer seat stay eyes, who really knows. And Ugo isn't talking.
I'd love a pic of your crown if you got one.
Robert
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10-24-23, 11:35 AM
#42
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build continues:
I had misplaced this. It was behind a case of wine.
I’ll polish it and fill in with BullShot paint.
I think this saddle will do. It came on a BMX bike at the co-op. Saved it for a special project.
I had misplaced this. It was behind a case of wine.
I’ll polish it and fill in with BullShot paint.
I think this saddle will do. It came on a BMX bike at the co-op. Saved it for a special project.
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"Leave the gun. Take the Colnagos."
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10-24-23, 11:43 AM
#43
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It's likely that I'm trying to draw too much precision from the Andrea's Classic De Rosa guide than the guide intends. I don't have the book, but the bottom bracket here doesn't match anything in the latest version of the guide I was able to find online: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...sic-guide.html
Mine also has the protruding bottle bosses, and I agree it feels like an "older" feature -- not to mention extremely cool.
As has been observed here, whatever the precise year, it's definitely an outstanding frame.
Mine also has the protruding bottle bosses, and I agree it feels like an "older" feature -- not to mention extremely cool.
As has been observed here, whatever the precise year, it's definitely an outstanding frame.
10-24-23, 12:57 PM
#44
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10-24-23, 12:59 PM
#45
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Oh, is that an inverted heart? I thought it was just a triangle or something.
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10-24-23, 01:30 PM
#46
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It's likely that I'm trying to draw too much precision from the Andrea's Classic De Rosa guide than the guide intends. I don't have the book, but the bottom bracket here doesn't match anything in the latest version of the guide I was able to find online: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...sic-guide.html
Mine also has the protruding bottle bosses, and I agree it feels like an "older" feature -- not to mention extremely cool.
As has been observed here, whatever the precise year, it's definitely an outstanding frame.
Mine also has the protruding bottle bosses, and I agree it feels like an "older" feature -- not to mention extremely cool.
As has been observed here, whatever the precise year, it's definitely an outstanding frame.
10-24-23, 10:30 PM
#47
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Man, that's a nice score! We even talked about early'70s De Rosas being our missing grail bikes over lunch when you were down here in Sacramento for the monthly ride....
Congrats!!!
Congrats!!!
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10-24-23, 11:15 PM
#48
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Thanks to the advice here, and the myriad of cup and spindle combos, I was able to get that done.
plus found lil 5 40 bolts for the cable guide clips.
cleaned up the 71 RD. Still need to swap pulley wheels.
headset is proper and set.
<c> !!!
plus found lil 5 40 bolts for the cable guide clips.
cleaned up the 71 RD. Still need to swap pulley wheels.
headset is proper and set.
<c> !!!
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"Leave the gun. Take the Colnagos."
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10-24-23, 11:41 PM
#49
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Tomorrow brakes n cables.
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"Leave the gun. Take the Colnagos."
"Leave the gun. Take the Colnagos."
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10-25-23, 11:49 AM
#50
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What is an American screwdriver doing anywhere near that bike?
Great bike by the way and I like the way it is coming together.
Cheers.
Brad
Great bike by the way and I like the way it is coming together.
Cheers.
Brad
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Better bike .. Better life!
Better bike .. Better life!