Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - 1989 De Rosa; would like information and appraisal, plz

I've been trying to find a bike for my girlfriend for a while. I've been watching ebay, craigslist, bikeforums marketplace, etc like a hawk for months now. I'd been hoping to find a good deal on vintage Italian steel with a sub-$700 De Rosa being a sort of 'holy grail.' On Friday, I saw this ad about 20 minutes after it was posted and replied immediately via email. A few minutes later, I realized that I'd better call if I stood a chance


De Rosa 23" Racing/Touring Bike - $600 (Rabun County)

Date: 2010-02-19, 12:55PM EST
Reply to: sale-6b8vr-1608222178@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

De Rosa 23" 14 speed racing/touring bike in men's style, but ridden by ladies. Has small coggs. Comes complete with women shoes in a size 7 and a helmet. $600.00 If interested, please call (864) XXX-XXXX



It was a good thing that I did, because the woman did not have a computer; her friend had posted the ad for her. She told me over the phone that the bike was aluminum with shimano components. This was quite disheartening since I'd really had my heart set on Columbus steel and Campy components and I know nothing of the Shimano hierarchy. I eventually decided that I had nothing to lose other than time and gas money and decided to make the 2 hour drive up to see the bike.

2.5 hours later, I arrive at her house. It was on a dirt road that was several turns and 7+ miles away from any google maps directions or cell phone service.

The woman selling the bike told me that she bought the bike new in 1989 for $3000 and raced it for 5 years before breaking her back and storing it indoors for 16 years. Other than a few paint chips and needing new tires and bar tape, the bike was in perfect condition.

Contrary to her claims, the bike was made of Columbus SLX tubing. And while the brakes/brake levers, derailleurs, and hubs were in fact Shimano (RX100, 600, and 105 respectively), the stem and handlebars are Cinelli and the seatpost, headset, cranks, and chainrings are all Campagnolo.
I decided to offer her $500 which she accepted and she also included shoes, a helmet, a little bike computer, allen wrenches, and tri bars.

So I have two inquiries here:
1) Could someone please help me identify these Campagnolo components? (Other than 170 Strada and an 11 inside a square, there doesn't seem to be much writing other than Campagnolo Breve Inter)
2) Did I get as good of a deal as I think I did (a very good one), or has my newbie status and brand name fetishism blinded me to the true (and lower) value?

Below are pictures. Thanks for all help; this is my first large post to the forums!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4380414620_77d6729f8d_o.jpg
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I'd say you did well. I think there's a heirarchy of De Rosa frames, but I'm not sure what it is. However, no De Rosa is cheap, and SLX was topshelf tubing at one time, so you've got that going for you. That crankset is Super Record, as is the seatpost. Probably close to $200 of value right there. Makes sense the owner 'upgraded' to SIS as a racer. The RX100 was an affordable upgrade. The SLR levers and dual pivot calipers were also an inexpensive upgrade, but something a racer would do. That headset looks it might be a replacement too? I can't really tell from the pics, but it looks like a later C-Record or Chorus or Athena.

See where that grime is on the inside where the crank arm connects to the spider? Clean it to check for cracks. You can search the forum for the issues with Campagnolo crank cracks.

I'd like to see pics of frame/fork identifiers such as chain stay caps, BB cut out, fork crown etc. Kind of an odd paint scheme for a De Rosa. Bars are bent.

+1 Bent bars, I would inspect closely for other possible damage. The white fork is pretty odd as are the white painted areas on the stays.

Otherwise, since you are $200 under your target price, sounds like you did well. Replacement bars are cheap.

That is a good buy. I am pretty sure that the seatpost is a fluted Super Record (and that is an item with about $75-100 marker value on the big auction site.) The cranks are also Super Record Strada (and if you care the market value of those is about the same as the seatpost, go figure :) )

De Rosa had some funky paintjobs (so this could be the original, but it's missing some decals... Btw, can you take a close picture of the ST cluster, where the seat stays meat the seat tube?) and very easy straightforward model names. Yours would be Professional SLX (the older SL Super Record bike would have been just "Strada [ = road] Super Record")

http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/de_rosa-86/3.jpg

Edit: the "11" is a Campy Date code (there are conflicting trains of thought on that). I think that it corresponds to 1981, which might help date your bike. The above picture is from the '86 catalog, btw.

+ 1 More pics please.

This looks like a one off color, no doubt. or a repaint! This one off scheme happened with a local racing team, and we have two of these. The original factory/distributor invoice just said De Rosa "racing" bike. In parentheses it said "Primato" colors. They originally shipped nine to a local shop in this scheme, and the surviving frames are all Columbus SLX. We have found four of these in Minnesota.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3332/3431003255_e5ef938c30_o.jpg

Here is an old pic of my SLX for the op to compare.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3429823349_7c157c47fd_o.jpg

If all checks out, you have a wonderful start to a worthwhile bike project. As the gents said sir, more pics please! :)

Well, at least the fork crown looks right. And it looks like the paint damage on the driveside chainstay might be revealing chrome underneath? I saw the bend in the bars, too, but thought it might be an optical illusion. If you unwrap the bars, you might be able to see major road rash if they were crashed. With any bike that's been raced for 5 seasons, you do have to be wary of crash damage, as previous posters have mentioned.

OK, I better be a bit more direct now, because I was kinda wishy washy about it on my previous comment (asking for a picture of the seat cluster.) If that bike does not have De Rosa signed seat stays, the likelihood of it being a De Rosa is small...

The short point lugs at the head tube are right though, aren't they? And judging by bottom bracket shell, even if it's not a De Rosa, it's a very nice frame.

The short point lugs at the head tube are right though, aren't they? And judging by bottom bracket shell, even if it's not a De Rosa, it's a very nice frame.

totally agree about the nice frame and the nice parts to boot. Those look like Cinelli lugs to me, which are correct with De Rosa. The OP can take the headset apart (Super Record also, btw, I did not mention that earlier) and look for ridges to confirm the SLX material. I just have not seen a De Rosa yet (of that era) without signed seat stays and the lack of a few decals kinda bothers me about this bike...

De Rosa seat stays are only one of items on my check off list. Brake bridge, BB, fork crowns, lugs, drop outs, steering tube, SLX spiralling inside tubes, usw.

Paint, I have learned, doesn't "always" mean that much. For sure in a cost analysis, but if it is a legit "clean" no ding frame, a repaint or at least a new sticker set is certainly possible for the op. That's all down the road though.

Here's another example of an unusual De Rosa scheme.

http://newyork.en.craigslist.org/brk/bik/1610916629.html

I'll just wait for more pics.

De Rosa seat stays are only one of items on my check off list. Brake bridge, BB, fork crowns, lugs, drop outs, steering tube, SLX spiralling inside tubes, usw.

Paint, I have learned, doesn't "always" mean that much. For sure in a cost analysis, but if it is a legit "clean" no ding frame, a repaint or at least a new sticker set is certainly possible for the op. That's all down the road though.

Here's another example of an unusual De Rosa scheme.

http://newyork.en.craigslist.org/brk/bik/1610916629.html

I'll just wait for more pics.

that guy wants way too much for that bike :)

That said, you are a De Rosa freak :) , doesn't the lack of decals bother you just a tad?

The short point lugs at the head tube are right though, aren't they? And judging by bottom bracket shell, even if it's not a De Rosa, it's a very nice frame.

I just looked at my SLX, and the short point lugs are identical on the op's bike. A buddy has three SLX's in Montana, and I just texed him to take a look. He raced these in the late eighties and early nineties. He's got a fairly good set of eyes for an old codger. I'll let you know. :)

Sorry Tommy.

that guy wants way too much for that bike :)

That said, you are a De Rosa freak :) , doesn't the lack of decals bother you just a tad?

Yep, that is why I'm not saying much of anything till I get more pics! I'm not that good at ID work you former Minnesotan. I screw these up all the time, but I can still read the words De Rosa when they are imprinted in SLX.

Probably way to much for that De Rosa when I just saw one last month languish in San Antonio for three weeks for $500.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's a De Rosa. I'm guessing the OP probably saw De Rosa engraved somewhere on the frame. The fork crown looks right, the seat lug looks right. Of course, gomango is the go to guy here, he's already done this before: http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?p=1069976

As for me, I often don't know my ax from a hole in the ground...:D

Yep, that is why I'm not saying much of anything till I get more pics! I'm not that good at ID work you former Minnesotan. I screw these up all the time, but I can still read the words De Rosa when they are imprinted in SLX

let me tell ya... this winter around here has been a Minny-like snow winter (Uffda) and the only bike I am using is a Minny-bought brand new at Alt (is that place still there, btw?) Uni hybrid. Thinking about coming back for the Tour of the Lakes this year and maybe a couple of Target Field games


Of course, gomango is the go to guy here, he's already done this before

As for me, I often don't know my ax from a hole in the ground...:D

I hear you about Axes and holes in the ground, but I am sure that gomango has made an ice fishing rig out of a De Rosa frame or put skates or X-country skis on his De Rosas at some point :)

Sorry it took me so long to reply. The fork seemed a little off when I was first looking at the bike, so I asked the woman point blank if it had ever been crashed and she assured me that it never had been. Unfortunately, I unwrapped the bar tape and found what looks like pretty bad road rash. The only thing that confuses me is that the scrapings wrap the handlebars completely and are in places that would not be able to scrape the ground. Anyhow, I included pictures of the ST cluster, the fork crown, the fork dropouts (which all say De Rosa), and the campagnolo dropouts. I also attempted a more 'straight-on' photo for people wishing to rule out trick photography in the bar and fork bent/not bent discussion. I also included pictures of the worn 'columbus SLX' tubing decals which makes it seem less likely that the bike was repainted (wishful thinking?). I did not have time to take apart the headset to examine for ridges, but I may have time this evening. Btw, it is missing the head badge/decal (I don't know if that was clear in the photos).
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4381353187_25294938af_o.jpg
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Congratulations! Looks like you are ready to open a bike shop judging by the impressive collection behind your De Rosa. :)

Time to show this bike some love. You have acquired a really interesting De Rosa, at least to me.

One of your shots is broken. Would it happen to look like this by any chance?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3384/3430635962_24f8e58c51_o.jpg

Your bike looks quite similar to my SLX. If the original owner said she purchased it in 1989, that helps.

The reason I say that is I have had three different date id's on my SLX, including one by the De Rosa factory.

So what are you going to do with her? Clean her up, relube everything, and ride the her way she is, or purchase and build with appropriate Campy parts? You are part of the way already with Campy if that's your choice.

Mine was purchased as a frame set, and was built with 7400 Dura Ace for a captain of a local racing team. He told me everyone on the team that year used Dura Ace, and I can see why.

Regardless, I would ditch those bars and start fresh. The spiraling is from insertion in the stem, but I hardly ever use old bars. If you need a new set of Cinellis, let me know. There is a local shop with 10+ pairs of NOS Cinellis. Is the stem 26.0 or 26.4 ? Check the stem and steerer closely as well. It is well worth your time.

Nice find. Let me know if you need any help setting her straight.

Finally, here are a couple of my favorite blogs to get you up to speed:

http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/ All wonderful things Italian including bikes, culture, travel, and a classy presentation.

http://bikeadelic.blogspot.com/ All wonderful things De Rosa. Superb work on this blog along with countless interesting De Rosa links.

And finally Ugo De Rosa history: http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2010/02/de-rosa-history-part-i.html

These links will suck up huge amounts of personal time. You have been warned. :)

Unfortunately, I unwrapped the bar tape and found what looks like pretty bad road rash. The only thing that confuses me is that the scrapings wrap the handlebars completely and are in places that would not be able to scrape the ground.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2749/4381354233_ebf6fa3987_o.jpg

to your regard, this is not roadrash! this is just the wiggling back and forth to noodle the bars thru a stubborn stem.

road rash would be a flat spotted grind along the bars (provided it was thin tape)

Yep, as I mentioned earlier spiraling from the stem. Op mentioned bike has been raced and tri bars were included. Racing stress means a fresh set of bars for my bikes. Sometimes stems as well. Overkill, probably, but I can get a fresh set of Cinelli Model 66's locally for about $30 and stems are about the same if you know where to look.

No biggies imho.

Sorry it took me so long to reply. The fork seemed a little off when I was first looking at the bike, so I asked the woman point blank if it had ever been crashed and she assured me that it never had been. Unfortunately, I unwrapped the bar tape and found what looks like pretty bad road rash. The only thing that confuses me is that the scrapings wrap the handlebars completely and are in places that would not be able to scrape the ground. Anyhow, I included pictures of the ST cluster, the fork crown, the fork dropouts (which all say De Rosa), and the campagnolo dropouts. I also attempted a more 'straight-on' photo for people wishing to rule out trick photography in the bar and fork bent/not bent discussion. I also included pictures of the worn 'columbus SLX' tubing decals which makes it seem less likely that the bike was repainted (wishful thinking?). I did not have time to take apart the headset to examine for ridges, but I may have time this evening. Btw, it is missing the head badge/decal (I don't know if that was clear in the photos).

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4382111312_265760cfd0_o.jpg

The top left corner of the Columbus sticker says "Riverniciato" which means "repainted." Here is an example with a full view of left side of the sticker:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2470/3774868953_43a73d2111.jpg

stan

The top left corner of the Columbus sticker says "Riverniciato" which means "repainted." Here is an example with a full view of left side of the sticker:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2470/3774868953_43a73d2111.jpg

stan

Hi Stan,
Yes, I thought so as well. Several people have suggested that my wife's "Primato" frame above was a repaint of a Giro D'Italia. Not likely, as hers and mine are SLX. There were nine in that original shipment that were possibly repainted to a team color spec. The nice folks at De Rosa id'ed the bikes as "Primatos" though, so it is all just details or variations on a theme in our case. For the op, it gives him options if he should choose a different color scheme. Personally I would just set it up the way a person prefers and ride the daylights out of it. Lots of potential.

Hi Stan,
Yes, I thought so as well. Several people have suggested that my wife's "Primato" frame above was a repaint of a Giro D'Italia. Not likely, as hers and mine are SLX. There were nine in that original shipment that were possibly repainted to a team color spec. The nice folks at De Rosa id'ed the bikes as "Primatos" though, so it is all just details or variations on a theme in our case. For the op, it gives him options if he should choose a different color scheme. Personally I would just set it up the way a person prefers and ride the daylights out of it. Lots of potential.

I agree, gomango. There is an opportunity to either restore with a more attractive paint scheme, or to just build up and ride. Either way, the investment in the frameset will be a win.

Stan

The top left corner of the Columbus sticker says "Riverniciato" which means "repainted." Here is an example with a full view of left side of the sticker:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2470/3774868953_43a73d2111.jpg

stan


That is my picture. Although riverniciato does mean repainted , I have had a few bikes with this sticker that were never repainted. I have seen other Battaglins with this paint scheme and the riverniciato decal. I just bought a Marinoni from its original owner with that decal and he swore that the frame had never been repainted.

That is my picture. Although riverniciato does mean repainted , I have had a few bikes with this sticker that were never repainted. I have seen other Battaglins with this paint scheme and the riverniciato decal. I just bought a Marinoni from its original owner with that decal and he swore that the frame had never been repainted.

And the plot thickens! Is that your Battaglin? Some interesting details! Regardless, the op has found a nice bike for his girlfriend.