Clayton_notyalC

Thanks for letting me know about your recent experience with Tommasini. I am in Brisbane, Australia. I have had a recent bike fitting (they use Retul fitting system). Had a fit for my track bicycle at the same time, and that is really dialled in now It's a long way from Italy to Australia (or any maker in Europe/North America), so i figure it's good for me to hear about other folks' purchases.

vespasianus

That is far! Not sure who the distributor is in Australia but I see lots of web sites in Indonesia pushing Tommasini's. Barbara Tommasini is wonderful and she will answer any question she can. I absolutely love my X-Fire.

Tiger1

Hi everyone. I am negotiating to buy a red-white Tommasini Prestige from the late 80ies. The frame is bright red at the front fading to pink for a little part in the middle and eventually white at the rear. There is no mesh in the paint, the colors are plain. Unfortunately I cannot post pictures as I need to complete 10 posts first.

As the only pics I have are bad ones from the seller's shed, does anyone have some nice ones from this model? And, does anyone know the model year?

Sorry I can't be more specific, hopefully I'll be able to post pics soon.

vespasianus

Honestly, ask for the serial number and email Barbara Tommasini and she will give you all the information on the frame as it left the factory.

Tiger1

Good idea, thanks. I'll do that.

I am also hoping to see some pics of this particular frame built up with nice components, to get an idea of how it may look and what way I can go with the configuration. I only managed to find some poor pics online, and I was wondering if any member here has it.

Tiger1

My red-white Tommasini Prestige is on its way and I am over the moon! No pics yet I'm afraid, need to get to 10 posts first...

This is my second classic bike and, epitomising the flashier aesthetics of the 80ies, it will sit very nicely next to my 1970 Pinarello which is a full Nuovo Record beauty down to the last bolt. The Tommasini also looks like my next choice for the 2023 L'Eroica, after two amazing previous events on my Pinarello.

The bike is apparently a 1987-88 model, to be confirmed when I check the S/N with Tommasini. Some of the components are OK and will stay for now while others will be replaced the moment it steps foot in its new home. The "acceptable" components are a decent set of wheels (Mavic MA2 rims - Campagnolo hubs) and a Shimano 600 Tricolor groupset. The lady saddle will be replaced with a beautiful white perforated Cinelli Volare, matched by a white Deda perforated tape on the bars to replace the hideous yellow one. The bike will be L'Eroica-ready from day one as I'm not sure if I'll be able to swap to a Super Record groupset before next October. Therefore a set of non-aero Tricolor brake levers were also purchased (harder to find and more expensive than their aero counterparts). Finally the out-of-place black tyres will be replaced by a set of matching two-tone Vittoria Rubino Pros (black-tan).

And now to the philosophical million-dollar question: How socially acceptable (lol!) is it to start mixing Campagnolo parts with the existing Shimano 600 Tricolor groupset? Reason I'm asking is that the bike comes with probably its most hideous part, a Deore crankset (!!!!!). The obvious choice was a matching Tricolor crankset, but a) it sports these controversial oval rings which I've heard/read that are not that knee-friendly, and b) the Campagnolo Athena crankset is a lot prettier and in my eyes classier. So, is this an acceptable marriage? What do you think?

leon6782

Tiger1 If you're looking for another red/white Tommasini, look no further.

https://www.bikeforums.net/sale/1259396-1989-tommasini-diamante-exc-campy-record-12-campy-zonda-etc-6-495-a.html

Just finished this rebuild in the spring. Decided to sell to help fund more projects like this.

Tiger1

While on the subject of groupsets, my personal thoughts:

Back in the 70ies there were no high and low tiers, if you had Campagnolo it was a Nuovo Record and later a Super Record and you had the top, most beautiful and prestigious groupset on your beauty. In the 80ies this premium positioning of Campagnolo was diluted by the swarm of the lower-tier groupsets like the Chorus, Athena, and others. Of course they always look classy, but by that time Shimano had caught up and even overtaken Campagnolo in technology and hence functionality.

To cut a (very) long story short, I don't believe it's worthwhile swapping the great Shimano 600 Tricolor on my bike with a complete Athena or Chorus (or Croque D'Aune) groupset as this is hardly an upgrade. If, lured by the Campagnolo prestige and looks I was to press the button, it would have to be one of the following:

1. C-Record, the period-correct top Campagnolo groupset. However, crankset looks fine, but the derailleur looks downright awful and I detest the look of the delta brakes, or
2. The holy grail of groupsets, the great Super Record. Functionality will likely be worse than the 600 with its indexed downtube shifting and it's not period-correct either, but who cares? Only real drawback here is, erm, the steep price tag. Nowadays everyone lists Super Record parts like they own jewelry, all I can do is hope to stump on the odd philanthropist or simply too drunk when posting for sale... Never despair.

Then again, what got me this bike cheaper than the other Tommasinis selling for a kidney and a half was exactly that, the 600 groupset it had on instead of a C or Super Record. So maybe I should just shut up and take it like a man and build the bike up to its best like it deserves.

Tiger1

Beautiful bike! I'm not into neo-retro I'm afraid so not my cup of tea, but great looking nevertheless. Good luck with the sale!

leon6782

It really is a satisfying feeling to get all that new bike porn all dialed in on an older frame. A lot of fun, just expensive.

Tiger1

Bike received and I'm mesmerized... Hope to reach 10 posts soon to post pictures.

Tiger1

Bike is now complete, only pedals are still on their way.

One thing I found out that may be useful to others: If you are after a Tommasini pantographed stem, your best choice if you are in Europe is to buy directly from their website, tommasini.it. They sell a brand new pantographed Cinelli 1A stem for €96 plus shipping. A lot better than what you find online on ebay etc where people are trying to charge a lot more for used panto stems.

Tiger1

I did that and Barbara was indeed very quick and helpful. Frame came out of the factory in April 1987. Thanks for the tip.

vespasianus

She is a gem. Post some pics when you hit 10!

Tiger1

Pedals arrived and fitted. Bike is ready to ride, pics taken and ready to post. One more post to go, lol!!!

T-Mar

Campagnolo started the dilution in the mid-1970s, with the introduction of the mid-range (Nuovo) Gran Sport gruppo. Even prior to that there were several low end components, such as the Sport rear derailleur variants with their single pulley and the Valentino rear derailleur variants, Other 1970s low end derailleurs included the Velox and the Gran Turismo. Campagnolo was definitely not averse to manufacturing products aimed at the entry level market, prior to the 1980s

T-Mar

Photo assist...

smd4

For the love of God, please get different brake levers.

Tiger1

Thanks for clarifying this, to be honest I didn't know. However the low-range groups of the era were never as popular as the top-end, like Nuovo Record and later Super Record. I doubt if many bikes are left from this era with the low-end groupsets.

The late 80ies and 90ies was a different story, Campagnolo went big with the low-to-mid level groupsets.

Tiger1

This is the bike I bought. Where did you get these? Only the last pic was on the ebay ad, the rest were also sent to me by the seller.

Next post shows how the bike looks today. I am over 10 posts now, yeeeeah!!!

Tiger1

All taken care the minute I got the bike, lol!!!! Check out my next post.

Tiger1

Bike rebuild is complete for now. In summary:
- Tommasini Prestige, no 53, April 1987 model (checked with factory)
- Shimano 600 Tricolor groupset (brakes, derailleurs, index shifters). Most parts came on the bike. Horrendous dual-levers were swapped for proper 600 levers, non-aero.
- Wheelset: Mavic MA2 rims, Campagnolo hubs. Came on the bike. Tyres swapped to black-tan Vittoria Rubino Pros
- Crankset: bike came with a Deore with 48 teeth ring. Decided against a 600 as it had the Biopace oval rings and I was told they could stress your knees. So I opted for a Campagnolo Athena which I found in great condition. I know it breaks the Shimano pattern but that's what p[eople were often doing at the time, mixing different parts as long as they worked and they looked nice.
- Saddle: Cinelli Volare, matching the bar tape
- Bar tape: white Deda perforated
- Bars: Cinelli
- Stem: Cinelli 1A with Tommasini pantographs
- Seatpost: Campagnolo
- Pedals: Campagnolo Record with Christophe toe clips and straps.

I hope you like the pics, next will be the riding impressions when the weather dries a bit here in south England. A small ride the day I got it round the block gave a very quick and springy feeling but I need to ride it properly now. Stay tuned!

[img]https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_8584_fe380be3594e410b59567a2800755884b344ef1a.jpeg


Next to my Pinarello 1970 Acciaio

smd4

Now THAT's a nice-looking bike! Very nicely done. Feel like I've been transported back to the late 1980s. The thing looks fast even standing still.

I'm a white tape/saddle/cable housing guy myself.

But be careful with that seat post--it's a bit too high.

T-Mar

The Valentino variants were very popular in the 1970s, though primarily on Italian marques. Due to it's low price point, it was typically hanging on the hi-tensile frame of an upper entry level model from a mass volume manufacturer. I've seen them on Atala, Benotto, Bianchi, Bottecchia, Chiorda, Fiorelli, Garlatti, Legnano and Torpado. Non-Italian brands that spec'd them included Crescent and Falcon.

The (Nuovo Gran Sport) was quite popular on mid-range models, though again primarily Italian brands. Many of the mass volume manufacturers offered models with it and so too did some of the more exclusive, smaller manufacturers, usually on a tretubi or Falck frameset. Once Columbus introduced Aelle in the very late 1970's, it was probably the most popular group pairing for that tubeset

The Gran Turismo and Velox were fairly rare compared to the Valentino and (Nuovo) Gran Sport and I don't think that I've seen seen any Sport equipped models outside the Italian market.

T-Mar

All photos upload to a gallery album, regardless of the number of posts. The 10 post minimum is reportedly to discourage spammers. However, members can still view and export photos from the gallery albums to aid new members with a photo assist.