Classic & Vintage - de Rosa!

As some of you may recall, I spotted an older de Rosa being pedal smashed a few months ago -

I finally tracked it down. The search ended at the City of Refuge Mission - the bike was chained to the rack outside and the guy who owned it was "out of town". Six weeks later, I tracked him down and bought it, "Before" pictures attached. It has been setting in the sun and the rain all of this time.

When I first saw it I was impressed at the good condition that it was in. This is like looking at an acquaintance turned junkie...the bike was only on the street for about 3 months total - and it is a wreck!
The stem was "modified" after the guy broke the original alloy stem bolt. The super record derailleur got caught in the spokes and broke - the guy threw the wheels away when this happened (record hubs, sew-up rims). That there is a perty good "Tectra" derailleur in the back. The super record pedals went in the trash as well. These platform pedals were much more his style. Seat and post, um, he doesn't remember, but this setup is a lot more comfortable.

The guy was 6'2", the bike measures as a 52 cm. The seatpost was jammed all of the way down because he couldn't quite get enough clamp on the 26.2 mm seatpost. The campy bolt was replaced with a stove bolt and nut because he didn't have any allen keys (again, in the trash, I guess).

The bike was almost new when he got it - the Regina CX chain measures as new, the chainrings aren't worn, the super record headset could pass for NOS, the bottom bracket is just like new, and the brake pads are nearly new as well. Ya, that's a nylock holding the front brake together - the spring is between the brake arm and the pivot bolt, and it still sorta worked!

Cranks date at 1983 - I think that the bike is probably correct for that vintage (although I thought the new style brakes were introduced in 1983...)

Can anyone give me a clue as to the model, etc?

I know nothing, but this has to be one of the saddest "pearls before swine" stories I've heard in a while. I guess if he appreciated what he had though, you'd never have gotten it.

...Can anyone give me a clue as to the model, etc?
...LUCKY! Looks like the "Professional":

http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/de_rosa2/2.jpg

As some of you may recall, I spotted an older de Rosa <snip>
- nice grab... I'm jealous...
So, you 'stalked' this bike and gave its owner an offer he 'couldn't refuse'? Excellent work.
I'm sure the bike is going to be very happy with its new caregiver...

The bike has diamond-shaped cross section chainstays, and the windows in the bottom bracket are faced with a thinner inner shell. The fork has a sloping, socketed crown, unlike the one in the picture (a newer one, perhaps? The bike shows no crash damage...) The seat lug, the decals are all ringers for the Professional. The only thing missing on this bike is the world champion stripes on the seat tube. I suppose it could be a repaint...

It all came apart nicely, and cleaned up pretty well. I have the first coat of red on the owies. (Gray primer, white basecoat, and Duplicolor Radiant Fire). The chainstay is the worst of the lot - the paint came off in hundreds of little bullseyes. It'll always be a little rough, but my wife thinks it looks okay...

The bike, unfortunately for me, is a 52. That is, as has been noted very recently, my wife's size. She is sure that I made the story up - that I bought the hearts and roses just for her. How can I argue with that? (But I'm keeping that SR headset...)

(But I'm keeping that SR headset...)

Wow, nice. What does SR stand for? I have an SR stem and always wondered what it meant.

Wow, nice. What does SR stand for? I have an SR stem and always wondered what it meant.
From Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary:

S.R. ®
A slippery abbreviation, with two different meanings:

1. As a trade name, it is an alternate form of Sakae Ringyo, a major Japanese maker of aluminum parts, particularly cranks and seat posts. In the 1990's, they bought what was left of the bankrupt Sun Tour, and are now known as SR-Sun Tour.

2. The abbreviation "S.R." is also commonly used in want ads for older racing bicycles, where it refers to the old top-of-the-line Campagnolo Super Record gruppo.

in this case it stands for Super Record; heartbreakingly pristine, nearly new. And the de Rosa has a NOS stronglight rollerbearing headset in it now. Patti will never notice it y'all don't tell her...

Spouse bikes always take the hit.

At the bike shop decades ago, we would tell tthe soon to be cheapskate husband, that if they wanted to ride TOGETHER, best to get the wife the full bore bike, and for him the Super Course. Sold a number of matching full Campagnolo bikes that way.

Brilliant find, lurker. Hat's off to you.

Nothing wrong with a SL Rollerbearing.

PS keep the pedals; tell folks they're rare record platforms.

Brilliant find, lurker. Hat's off to you.

Nothing wrong with a SL Rollerbearing.

PS keep the pedals; tell folks they're rare record platforms.

Patti won't ride anything but Looks. Maybe some Keo's to match the paint and offend the purists?

Attached are pictures of the restored paint. I ended up filling the divots with primer and base, and then respraying about 15% of the bike. It turned out really well, except for that drive-side chainstay and a few divots that were too close to decals to spray and had to be filled by hand.

I discovered a little trick while doing this - Mothers Mag cleaner is excellent for polishing the new paint (gently). Works way better than swirlcut for polishing out the overspray areas. dunno. maybe everyone else already knows this, but I thought it was cool...

Geez. I wish this bike was a 56.

luker - I didn't. That's a tip I'll file away for near-future reference.

I'm still picturing the 6' 2" joker lurching down the roadway on the 52cm jewel in the rough.Funny!!

I have the first coat of red on the owies. (Gray primer, white basecoat, and Duplicolor Radiant Fire).

Luker: I 'Duplicolored' a badly mistreated Rossin frame half a year ago; I started from bare metal, cleaned with pure alcohol first, sprayed grey primer, wiped with alcohol again, and sprayed several layers (well, one can, which is not quite enough for one frame) of dark blue metallic paint on the frame.
I use the bike as a 'grocery-getter', and have to park the bike against lampposts and railings all the time.
I don't think my DIY paintjob is very scratch resistant, it seems to chip very easily. What is your experience, c.q. expectation?

There are two or three guys in my neighborhood -- in their 50s, down-at-the-heels, alky/doper-looking guys -- who ride these really nice '80s road bikes around. Plainly, they don't have cars, and they don't look at all like anyone who'd have an interest in cycling, (like I should talk; I probably look pretty much like they do :eek: ) or would know a good bike from a Free Spirit. I always have to wonder where they came by those bikes.

"There are two or three guys in my neighborhood -- in their 50s, down-at-the-heels, alky/doper-looking guys -- who ride these really nice '80s road bikes around..." I probably look about the same, but I ride around in full-kit, so I probably look like a homeless guy who thinks he's a super hero (no cape, yet). See if any of 'em will trade for cash and a Free Spirit.

I have the bike together; we took it out for an hour today - Patti can't stand the seat that I put on it (white turbo), but it hasn't been out long enough to say how the chippage is with the paint.

I'll post pic's tomorrow...Anyone got a white women's avocet or something in their junk pile?

patti bi*ched me out for not hanging it properly - must be a hit! Here are the pictures of the assembled bike. It has 24 hole Fiamme Speedy wheels, and patti was unable, out of the saddle, to make the chainrings rub. Must be those shaped seat stays, I guess.

Hung it improperly,eh?You shall heretowith be lashed with a wet noodle.Shame,shame!!The DeRosa is lookin' good....

I too know very little about De Rosa cycles other than they build some of the most gorgeous bikes in the world, and this story almost brings a tear to my eyes. A true shame. :(

Great work. This will provide me with inspiration for my next project, restoring my Ciocc.

... Here are the pictures of the assembled bike.
Bravo!
sooo schweet!

......and they don't look at all like anyone who'd have an interest in cycling, (like I should talk; I probably look pretty much like they do :eek: )


Probably? :D

I just looked at a 59cm De Rosa from 1978 or so and it was almost identical to yours - same color same decals, some minor differences. The one I checked out was in excellent condition full Campy Super Record --- $1700. Bit rich for me though!

There are two or three guys in my neighborhood -- in their 50s, down-at-the-heels, alky/doper-looking guys -- who ride these really nice '80s road bikes around. Plainly, they don't have cars, and they don't look at all like anyone who'd have an interest in cycling, (like I should talk; I probably look pretty much like they do :eek: ) or would know a good bike from a Free Spirit. I always have to wonder where they came by those bikes.

mswantak,
Same here around my neighborhood basically because we live close to down town. About a month ago, I saw two of them riding together, one on a Masi (I'm sure about that) and the other I think on a Fuji Pro because of the headbadge and the frame. Anyways, I tried to get along side of them in my car and say "Hey can I check out your bikes?" They bolted like a stallion. Can't believe the bike these guys ride. Maybe I ought to go undercover and share a bottle with them. :D Anyways Luker Nice De Rosa"

. . . There are two or three guys in my neighborhood -- in their 50s, down-at-the-heels, alky/doper-looking guys -- who ride these really nice '80s road bikes around. . .

I saw this alky/doper old hippie lookin guy toodling along on a late 80's Serotta with
full campy chorus. . .
oh wait, that was me.

nevermind

"There are two or three guys in my neighborhood -- in their 50s, down-at-the-heels, alky/doper-looking guys -- who ride these really nice '80s road bikes around..." I probably look about the same, but I ride around in full-kit, so I probably look like a homeless guy who thinks he's a super hero (no cape, yet). See if any of 'em will trade for cash and a Free Spirit.


ummm, you might need to sweeten the pot a bit. A Free Spirit and a fifth of Jack? Or... maybe you could approach them and say (in your best announcer voice) "I'm Captain Idaho, and I urgently need your bike to save civilization!" (I recommend wearing a cape while doing this to complete the "super-hero" effect).

Patti appreciates all compliments and seems to think that the bike is completely hers...which I suppose it is, and I should take that as a compliment from her. Someday, I'm gonna find a 56 that matches...

If any members are ever in a S. Illinois town that has a Bell Tower and you see some gangly lookin' dude ridin' a vintage Miyata 912,or Gitane Performance(BOTH NICE!!),wearing a Ronnie James DIO shirt,yep....that was me!!

Hey Cyclers!!Don't look now,but your wheels are goin' around.

Funny, I posted in another thread about a vagrant who is riding around on an old Bianchi that is that gorgeous Electric Rose color. Not sure of the parts on it, but that color was reserved for the higher end bikes back in the '80s, so it must be nice. If I ever see him, I will talk to him about trading it.