Anybody know the history of Ross bikes?
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Going to add this information for reference. I don't think I've seen this info posted here (been a while since I read the entire thread).
This is the timeline and the main people involved with the Ross Signature series. Not so much for the more mass produced, imported 29X series "Signature" stuff, but the top of the line, handmade in PA frames/bikes.
This document was given to me by Tom Kellogg when I visited the Spectrum Barn in 2019.
This is the timeline and the main people involved with the Ross Signature series. Not so much for the more mass produced, imported 29X series "Signature" stuff, but the top of the line, handmade in PA frames/bikes.
This document was given to me by Tom Kellogg when I visited the Spectrum Barn in 2019.
Last edited by hazetguy; 01-17-21 at 06:35 PM.
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Here's a full page Ross Signature Bicycles advertisement, talking about Tom Kellogg and the three versions of Signature bikes available. Ad date 1981. Note the price.
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#479
WV is not flat..
I brought this home today. Purchased from the original owners son and it has been garage kept since the late 80's. All original 294S (I'm guessing a 1985 model, but haven't taken off the cable guide to check the serial number). Full Campy Triomphe group and complete with the Campy pedals and straps. A little dirty, but will clean up nicely. A pretty good survivor.
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FYI, I'm giving away a small pile of Ross literature from the early 80s. Stuff saved from the dump. Feel free to check out
Pay it forward
Pay it forward
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Thanks Prowler for the catalogs and other Ross paperwork, they are awesome.
Here is some Signature information and pricing. As the 1982 and 1985 catalogs are online, I did not include that information here.
1983 Catalog pages, with specs:
1986 Catalog. As far as I have been able to determine, The 29X series Signatures are Taiwan imports built to a price point depending on component level. See price sheets below.
Distributor Price lists:
Dec 27, 1982
November 1, 1983
September 1, 1984
October 1, 1984. Notice the price split between the 29X series, and the "Hand Crafted" Signature frames.
March 25, 1985. Again, note the pricing difference between the 29X series and "Hand Crafted" Signature frames.
Here is some Signature information and pricing. As the 1982 and 1985 catalogs are online, I did not include that information here.
1983 Catalog pages, with specs:
1986 Catalog. As far as I have been able to determine, The 29X series Signatures are Taiwan imports built to a price point depending on component level. See price sheets below.
Distributor Price lists:
Dec 27, 1982
November 1, 1983
September 1, 1984
October 1, 1984. Notice the price split between the 29X series, and the "Hand Crafted" Signature frames.
March 25, 1985. Again, note the pricing difference between the 29X series and "Hand Crafted" Signature frames.
Last edited by hazetguy; 07-22-21 at 09:57 AM.
#482
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Thanks Prowler for the catalogs and other Ross paperwork, they are awesome.
snip . . .
As far as I have been able to determine, The 29X series Signatures are Taiwan imports built to a price point depending on component level. See price sheets below.
Distributor Price lists:
Dec 27, 1982
November 1, 1983
September 1, 1984
October 1, 1984. Notice the price split between the 29X series, and the "real" handbuilt Signature frames.
March 25, 1985. Again, note the pricing difference between the 29X series and "real" handbuilt Signature frames.
snip . . .
As far as I have been able to determine, The 29X series Signatures are Taiwan imports built to a price point depending on component level. See price sheets below.
Distributor Price lists:
Dec 27, 1982
November 1, 1983
September 1, 1984
October 1, 1984. Notice the price split between the 29X series, and the "real" handbuilt Signature frames.
March 25, 1985. Again, note the pricing difference between the 29X series and "real" handbuilt Signature frames.
#483
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Ross Track Frame
Builder unknown.
Here are some pics I saved from a CL ad and email correspondence with the seller a couple years ago. At the time, they decided to keep it. Contacted them in Jan 2021, and they said that they had sold it to "a collector in NYC".
Builder unknown.
Here are some pics I saved from a CL ad and email correspondence with the seller a couple years ago. At the time, they decided to keep it. Contacted them in Jan 2021, and they said that they had sold it to "a collector in NYC".
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Ross Triad 508
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I worked in a bike shop at the time that Ross started working with Tom Kellogg. I was impressed with the direction that Ross was moving. Then they got serious with mountain bikes, betting Schwinn to that market at least at that point, but following the leaders.
When I was in college for Engineering, I was working on Hydrogen Fuel Cells for my senior project. There was a company near by that my professor told me to call them up, see if I can talk to them and find out if they could help me. They were an engineering company that was researching and looking to build fuel cell components and fuel cell powered devices. I talked to them, arranged a visit and as I'm on at their facility I see a bicycle frame shaped object. So I asked about it. The president of the company said that they were working with Ross to develop a molded bicycle frame. The frame itself was made of a high fiber engineering plastic that was injection molded. The color was a matte black. The frame was made in two halves. A left and a right that fit together like a model airplane. Epoxy was use to bond the halves halves together. I don't know if there was any reinforcing along the parting line because I only saw the frame in the un-assembled form.
At the time I though this was pretty "out there" to think that a plastic molded frame could support the loads of a rider on a bicycle. They may have intended to cover the molded frame with a reinforcing material. I don't know if this ever made it beyond prototyping.
By the way, I am not trying to be mysterious about the engineering company that was doing this work, they had me sign an Non-Disclosure Agreement that as far as I know, would still be in effect now. I may be revealing more than I should have already about the details and about who the was the bike company behind this project.
If anyone knows anything more about this, please post.
Edit: I know, since you are all know your stuff and you are going to ask about the rear triangle. I don't remember it vividly, however, I thought that they molded an insert to fill in the inside halves of the four members of the rear triangle. Dropouts? I don't remember at all.
When I was in college for Engineering, I was working on Hydrogen Fuel Cells for my senior project. There was a company near by that my professor told me to call them up, see if I can talk to them and find out if they could help me. They were an engineering company that was researching and looking to build fuel cell components and fuel cell powered devices. I talked to them, arranged a visit and as I'm on at their facility I see a bicycle frame shaped object. So I asked about it. The president of the company said that they were working with Ross to develop a molded bicycle frame. The frame itself was made of a high fiber engineering plastic that was injection molded. The color was a matte black. The frame was made in two halves. A left and a right that fit together like a model airplane. Epoxy was use to bond the halves halves together. I don't know if there was any reinforcing along the parting line because I only saw the frame in the un-assembled form.
At the time I though this was pretty "out there" to think that a plastic molded frame could support the loads of a rider on a bicycle. They may have intended to cover the molded frame with a reinforcing material. I don't know if this ever made it beyond prototyping.
By the way, I am not trying to be mysterious about the engineering company that was doing this work, they had me sign an Non-Disclosure Agreement that as far as I know, would still be in effect now. I may be revealing more than I should have already about the details and about who the was the bike company behind this project.
If anyone knows anything more about this, please post.
Edit: I know, since you are all know your stuff and you are going to ask about the rear triangle. I don't remember it vividly, however, I thought that they molded an insert to fill in the inside halves of the four members of the rear triangle. Dropouts? I don't remember at all.
Last edited by Velo Mule; 07-23-21 at 12:57 PM.
#488
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One of Those Bikes
You know how some bikes just "feel right" the first time you ride them? Even in the first pedal stroke? I bought a 1985 Ross Signature 292s frame and fork last week, so I built it up without ever having ridden it. I had a Shimano 600 Tricolor group that seemed appropriate for the frame (except for the rear brake being a MM or 2 short). It is one of those bikes.
#489
Death fork? Naaaah!!
FWIW, I had a lowly 290s, bottom of the Signature series, and it was a great ride. Had it been 54cm rather than 52 it would still be hanging out in the barn.
Top
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You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
#490
WV is not flat..
I posted this 1985 Signature 294S back in Feb. when I first got it. Finished it up this week and it is pretty much a brand new bike. Came out pretty well.
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1983 Paragon
Catalog pages and specs:
Catalog pages and specs:
Last edited by hazetguy; 08-26-21 at 03:41 PM.
#492
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That Paragon is a beauty.
I find it amusing that the dealer sheets you posted at #482 list the frames as “boys” or “girls”, although these are clearly adult bikes.
I find it amusing that the dealer sheets you posted at #482 list the frames as “boys” or “girls”, although these are clearly adult bikes.
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Thanks on the Paragon. That is an "as purchased" pic.*
It is really clean, and looks to have had a relatively easy life. Aside from brake hoods, handlebar wrap, tires, and rear rack, everything is original oe spec.
I am really happy to have purchased it, and the seller was a nice guy to chat with.
*I removed the kickstand before I took the pic. Kickstands weird me out, and don't belong on this bike.
I have to think that "girls" on adult frames means it is a step-through frame?
It is really clean, and looks to have had a relatively easy life. Aside from brake hoods, handlebar wrap, tires, and rear rack, everything is original oe spec.
I am really happy to have purchased it, and the seller was a nice guy to chat with.
*I removed the kickstand before I took the pic. Kickstands weird me out, and don't belong on this bike.
I have to think that "girls" on adult frames means it is a step-through frame?
#494
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I get that. I just think it's kind of funny that the company made a decision to produce a lineup of excellent adult bikes, and it appears someone in sales was still a bit stuck in the 'bikes are department store items for kids' mindset. That's how it strikes me, anyway. Granted, it's just a column heading, but it jumped out at me.
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I was looking for a Paragon a while back and turned up my nose at this one because it was not a Paragon, it was a Signature. I dont feel so good now. I think I will lie down. I didnt know. Now its too late. A once in a lifetime deal passed me by because of my own ignorance and narrow mindedness and tunnel vision for the past good fortunes that I missed the new good fortunes. Well as my dad would say, "I hope they needed it more than me" I hope whoever bought it knows what an incredible find it was, appreciates it, they keep it , ride it, enjoy it and makes them happy with the bike and their good fortune that the Universe smiled on them for a change.
Marketplace - Vintage Ross Bicycle | Facebook
Marketplace - Vintage Ross Bicycle | Facebook
Last edited by BikePower; 01-14-22 at 01:17 AM.
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I was looking for a Paragon a while back and turned up my nose at this one because it was not a Paragon, it was a Signature. I dont feel so good now. I think I will lie down. I didnt know. Now its too late. A once in a lifetime deal passed me by because of my own ignorance and narrow mindedness and tunnel vision for the past good fortunes that I missed the new good fortunes. Well as my dad would say, "I hope they needed it more than me" I hope whoever bought it knows what an incredible find it was, appreciates it, they keep it , ride it, enjoy it and makes them happy with the bike and their good fortune that the Universe smiled on them for a change.
Marketplace - Vintage Ross Bicycle | Facebook
Marketplace - Vintage Ross Bicycle | Facebook
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Don't feel too bad. The Signature series spanned a broad range of models for pro level down to entry level and this appears be a 290s which was the bottom model in the Signature series. It's a much lower grade model than the Paragon. Note the rear axle nuts. To put it into perspective, circa 1985, the 290S had an MSRP of $219 US. About the only advantage it has over the slightly earlier Paragon is that by this time 700C rims and tyres had trickled down the line to the 260s' level. While it appears to be a good deal, it's far from a lost deal of a liftetime.
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Thank you Ross
andyross: THANK YOU SO MUCH, on behalf of your family's history, for the awesome Ross bike I have, a 17 1/2" compact-frame "department store 10-speed". My dad got it for me in 1984 and I've ridden and continue to ride it almost daily, mostly in various urban locations flat to mountains. I don't own a car and it is the best and only bike I've ever needed, it's great. Tight turns, quick stops, stable and reliably solid, for better or worse it's also been up against multiple moving vehicle surprises and remains rock-steady. The frame is like-new. And yes, I've tried many other bikes over the years. GOOD JOB ROSS. Also a side thank-you to Allentown PA steel-works: You knew what you were doing.
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Ross Signature 210.
"As purchased", with some original Dura Ace components.
Ishiwata 022 tubing. January 1982 build date.
Edit: I sent an email to Tom about this specific bike. Here is his reply:
That was the first 210 built. The 210 was effectively the same frame that the original Signature Race bike was that got the Campy Super Record kit, except that we swapped the Campy dropouts for Shimano EF dropouts, used Shimano shifter bosses and used an Everest knockoff crown instead of the Cinelli MC crown. Geometry was the same and the tubing was Ishiwata 022 instead of Columbus SL. The Ishiwata 022 tubing was the same spec as Columbus SL but it had a somewhat nicer finish and was drawn more accurately. Great stuff to work with. After I had built a couple of these, we switched over to a different Everest crown, simply because the new ones had a different look and differentiated the fork from the Campy version better.
"As purchased", with some original Dura Ace components.
Ishiwata 022 tubing. January 1982 build date.
Edit: I sent an email to Tom about this specific bike. Here is his reply:
That was the first 210 built. The 210 was effectively the same frame that the original Signature Race bike was that got the Campy Super Record kit, except that we swapped the Campy dropouts for Shimano EF dropouts, used Shimano shifter bosses and used an Everest knockoff crown instead of the Cinelli MC crown. Geometry was the same and the tubing was Ishiwata 022 instead of Columbus SL. The Ishiwata 022 tubing was the same spec as Columbus SL but it had a somewhat nicer finish and was drawn more accurately. Great stuff to work with. After I had built a couple of these, we switched over to a different Everest crown, simply because the new ones had a different look and differentiated the fork from the Campy version better.
Last edited by hazetguy; 07-31-23 at 12:28 PM.
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