De Rosa Linea Aerodinamica search (help needed)
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De Rosa Linea Aerodinamica search (help needed)
I am researching for a future build (1981 Eddy Merckx Aero) and really need pictures of a De Rosa Linea Aerodinamica. Not the version that can be found - with a grub screw behind the seat cluster and with extremely cut down head lugs or the Pista version - but the one shown in the De Rosa catalogue (pictures below).
I have been searching like a mad man for some time and I have not found even one picture of such a bike. My google-fu is normally strong but this time - no. If you have one of these bikes or pictures of one - please step forward. Pretty please - with a cherry on top!
I have been searching like a mad man for some time and I have not found even one picture of such a bike. My google-fu is normally strong but this time - no. If you have one of these bikes or pictures of one - please step forward. Pretty please - with a cherry on top!
Last edited by styggno1; 04-14-23 at 03:32 PM.
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found one in Japan
BICI AMORE, used bike shop in Tokyo.
They sold last May.
https://biciamore.jp/new_arrival/%E3...3%BC%E3%83%89/
more pix
https://bianchi.ocnk.net/product/4389
They sold last May.
https://biciamore.jp/new_arrival/%E3...3%BC%E3%83%89/
more pix
https://bianchi.ocnk.net/product/4389
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Thank you darkmoon - but that is the aformentioned version with a grub screw and cut down lugs. The one in the catalouge pictures above is totally different.
Here is what I am not looking for:
The closest I have so far is this one:
But it does not have the shifters on top of the downtube. Shifter cables going under the BB instead of on top. Close but no cigar.
Here is what I am not looking for:
The closest I have so far is this one:
But it does not have the shifters on top of the downtube. Shifter cables going under the BB instead of on top. Close but no cigar.
Last edited by styggno1; 04-15-23 at 02:13 AM.
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Check this out:
https://www.pedalroom.com/bike/de-ro...ero-bike-14072
https://www.pedalroom.com/bike/de-ro...ero-bike-14072
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Check this out:
https://www.pedalroom.com/bike/de-ro...ero-bike-14072
https://www.pedalroom.com/bike/de-ro...ero-bike-14072
It is the first one I have seen closely resembling the catalog bike. I will post the pictures here for future reference.
The owner puts it at 1983. Double bottle holders and pump peg are the only and small differences compared to the catalouge pic.
Keep them coming if you have got them - please!
Last edited by styggno1; 04-16-23 at 04:01 AM.
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I guess everybody agrees that the tubes are flattened in the catalog pic which is taken dead from the side. Although I dont trust my eye or my monitors on the terribly high quality pedalroom pics.
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-Gregory
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It's harder to see in most of the other pictures but it becomes apparent with those examples of the OP said are not what he's looking for, with the seatpost clamp that goes directly into the post from the back - on those frames you can see the seat tube extending behind the posts, which is the telltale sign of their oval shape.
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I must have a way better viewer (big screen) as I can see the seat tube being wider at the middle than in the upper end towards the seatlug - in the catalog picture, on the one with a non aero shifter position and on the last one (red). The last one being the difficult one. However - these tubes were ovalized by hand and might differ a lot. The bikes all have their top tubes ovalized and what would the point of doing that if not having the seat tube done?
(Personally I can not see any reason to have the top tube done... at all - as it does not contribute to drag much. But I guess most of it was a gimmick anyway)
(Personally I can not see any reason to have the top tube done... at all - as it does not contribute to drag much. But I guess most of it was a gimmick anyway)
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I must have a way better viewer (big screen) as I can see the seat tube being wider at the middle than in the upper end towards the seatlug - in the catalog picture, on the one with a non aero shifter position and on the last one (red). The last one being the difficult one. However - these tubes were ovalized by hand and might differ a lot. The bikes all have their top tubes ovalized and what would the point of doing that if not having the seat tube done?
(Personally I can not see any reason to have the top tube done... at all - as it does not contribute to drag much. But I guess most of it was a gimmick anyway)
(Personally I can not see any reason to have the top tube done... at all - as it does not contribute to drag much. But I guess most of it was a gimmick anyway)
And really not to advertise my own stuff, but this seat tube doesn't leave place for imagination even if you see it on a Tamagochi. Comparing the red to this, I see it if I want to see it, and its round if I don't want to see. Many EGO frames have the same, I thought these came out of the box like that, but then - hello Giovanni - I met exceptions as well. (sorry for long post and crappy pics, it was after unboxing).
Last edited by Lattz; 04-17-23 at 09:30 AM.
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If I learned something in the past 20 years of staring at bike pictures also in a great deal of time on these pages, that sometimes it's easy to see what you want to see.... therefore I still think, the red posted by me could be one with flattened tubes, but could be one without them as well. It looks like what you are after, but I wouldn't make big conclusions based on those images. Picture quality, lighting conditions, frame shape and frame material or paint color can do a lot to mislead the eye. Also I would not bet against upper-end bike manufacturers ability in the 80's to be able to properly ovalize tubes to be the same, however De Rosa being Italian might not be exception from what I often claim when searching for unicorns (bike or not), that how the end product really looked like was really depending on what kind of day (lets call him) Giovanni had that morning. Quarrel with boss / wife, not enough or too much chianti.... and a unique bike was born, mostly resembling the others, but annoying tiny details don't add up. Jokes aside, these are often ending up labelled as "must be from the transition period where they used up the existing decal/braze-on etc..." might or might not be that way.... one thing is sure, we might never know.
And really not to advertise my own stuff, but this seat tube doesn't leave place for imagination even if you see it on a Tamagochi. Comparing the red to this, I see it if I want to see it, and its round if I don't want to see. Many EGO frames have the same, I thought these came out of the box like that, but then - hello Giovanni - I met exceptions as well. (sorry for long post and crappy pics, it was after unboxing).
And really not to advertise my own stuff, but this seat tube doesn't leave place for imagination even if you see it on a Tamagochi. Comparing the red to this, I see it if I want to see it, and its round if I don't want to see. Many EGO frames have the same, I thought these came out of the box like that, but then - hello Giovanni - I met exceptions as well. (sorry for long post and crappy pics, it was after unboxing).
I often written about the "Giovanni-effect" of producing bikes and the "before lunch and/or after lunch" effect. Knowing a bit of how it works in Italy it is not to be ignored totally. And flukes. And shortage of parts at hand (one do not stop production because you are out of the "catalouge correct" brake bridge), etc. It is just funny that collectors and enthusiasts 30-50 year later trying to figure it all out. And part of the fun.
Edit - for instance the fact that I started this thread reasearching a 1981 Eddy Merckx Aero...
CyclesMakaron
Do you see what I see?
Wait for it...
wait for it...
De Rosa and Merckx had a close relationship the first years of Merckx production. Learning more about the Merckx led me to researching De Rosa Aerodinamica. With this I am not saying De Rosa built the Merckx Aero. I am saying the early Merckx Aero got a De Rosa crown. The rest of the bike frame is still to investigate. There are some things speaking for but as of yet more ones speaking against.
Last edited by styggno1; 04-17-23 at 12:14 PM.