Oldguyonoldbike

Okay, 2002 isn't vintage, but it is steel and it has a horizontal top tube and a quill stem. I figure there's likely to be more appreciation here than on other sub-forums.

I've been daydreaming about this frame for almost five years now, since I first saw it on the RA Cycles Outlet page. The information in the description was all wrong - they had it listed as having an aluminum frame, even though the model name is Laser Acciaio ("acciaio" is Italian for "steel"). It also was not clear whether or not it came with a matching fork. On the other hand, the price was a fraction of the original price and much lower than a comparable new steel frame, less, for example, than my Black Mountain Cycles road bike. Anyhow, a quick phone call to RA confirmed that it did come with a fork.

Since I've been lucky enough to keep my job in all this recent mess, when my stimulus check came I decided to do my duty and put that money right back into the economy: I bought the frameset. Since then I've been in touch with the very friendly folks at Casati who confirmed that it is a 2002 model, made from Deda EOM 16.5 steel. It's fillet brazed, has an Italian bb, takes a 27.0 seatpost and a 32mm front derailleur clamp. I built it up with what the budget would allow: Potenza groupset from Ebay, Fulcrum 5's, and the rest from the parts pile in the shed.

The Public Service Announcement? RA Cycles has another one, size 58.

Dean51 

Oooooh! Very interested in the top of that seat tube. How does that bad boy clamp the seat post?

Gorgeous bike!

Dean

merziac

Oldguyonoldbike

Wow!

Normally not my thing but that is smokin hot, beautiful, lugless, fillet, unicrown and all.

SurferRosa

Hey, Norman! You got the roads for that machine on 23mm tires? Hope so, 'cause it looks like it could really carve it up.

I have one bike left with 23mm tires. Glad they haven't worn out. There are some wonderful windy roads around here that warrant them.

Like the potenza choice, too.

Russ Roth

Nice, I nearly sprang for this or a DeRosa from their outlet site till I bought the Museeuw frame from planetcyclery; still think maybe I should have done the DeRosa but I'm happy with what I have. Looks like you put a very respectable build on that and something worthy of the frame.

Lascauxcaveman 

That thing look like it goes like hot stink. Nice frame details and ooh-la-la filet brazing. That frame could not have been cheap when it was new. I'm glad you are stimulating the economy; it could use some about now. On that front, I am a believer in putting the money onto the hands people who will spend it. Trickle up, FTW.

I too am curious about the seat post fixing. Just a basic quill, like those old Peugeots? The shape of the seat tube seems to complicate that theory.

Chr0m0ly 

Right?!
Same here, Normally a bike that can’t carry a snack and a sweater won’t turn my head, and I’ll take luggs over fillets too, but wowzer! That think looks fast just sittin’ there. And the detail work...

...NICE bike!

nomadmax 

I'd say there's an expander built into the frame, other side of the seat tube or top tube.

Oldguyonoldbike

There's an internal clamp with access to the tightening mechanism on the other side of the top tube. I'm a little paranoid about this. I made a vow to only ever use a torque wrench on it.

Oldguyonoldbike

This one will only go on smooth roads!
I took it out this morning and it is a very lively ride, very stiff for steal, lots of, um, "feedback," and quick handling. And wonderfully stable at speed.
To be honest I'm not crazy about the aesthetics of four-arm cranks, but the shifting is pretty great and it let's me run an 11-32 cassette.

nomadmax 

Here's to hoping to aesthetically grows on you because it's a beaut.