Classic & Vintage - Rossin Prestige

There's not much information in the Classic and Vintage forum regarding Rossin bikes. Seems like a good excuse to show off my Rossin.

Its a Rossin Prestige that was probably built around 1990. I put it together with Campy bits and pieces mainly from the C-Record era. I love ITM stems and just happened to have my favourite stem and bar handy - so on it went. Concor Profil saddle too.

The frame seat tube is 59cm c to c and the top tube is 58cm c to c - my perfect size. Tubing is Tange Prestige which has been specially shaped with 6 facets. Every tube, stay and fork blade have 6 facets that blend into a round section - except for the steerer tube which is just a plain old round in section. All tubes end in a lug of some sort or other. I love it - so finicky; so Rossin.

The colour is hard to describe - sort of a metallic pinky, coppery, brown. I think it is a colour you would see on a classic Rolls Royce from the 70's or 80's - or it that just pride talking?

Here's some photos (of course):

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x300/garyf5354/Rossin/DSC02461.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x300/garyf5354/Rossin/DSC02463.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x300/garyf5354/Rossin/DSC02456.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x300/garyf5354/Rossin/DSC02457.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x300/garyf5354/Rossin/DSC02458.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x300/garyf5354/Rossin/DSC02459.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x300/garyf5354/Rossin/DSC02455.jpg

As you can imagine, any bike handbuilt at Rossin (probably under the direct supervision of Mario Rossin) rides really nicely.

Very nice bike. Is the paint original?

Very nice bike. Is the paint original?

Thanks ftwelder and yes, the paint is original. Chrome is in perfect condition as well.

Gary,

Such a beautiful bike.

I'll make sure to show this at the shop today. Big Rossin fans!

Between that Pogliaghi, the post about super corsa's on eBay and this bike it's a very drool-inducing day at BF! I love the colour and yes, some Rolls Royces (as well as Jaguars, Rovers and Daimlers) were painted like that.

Very nice bike. Is the paint original?

+1. Beautiful. I've never seen dropouts like that with the cable stop incorporated.

Those wheels(and the whole group) look right at home on that bicycle.

Real impressive.

yea the rear dropouts look amazing

The fork crown is interesting as well but my photo is unclear. Here's a better view of the crown:

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x300/garyf5354/Rossin/DSC02442.jpg

It 'kicks up' at the back like a spoiler on a car.

Beautiful, functional art! Very cool bike - thanks for the pics!

Ballin Rossin. I dig it. Lots of neat features.

As you can imagine, any bike handbuilt at Rossin (probably under the direct supervision of Mario Rossin) rides really nicely.

I'm glad you told us you ride it, because that bike is unbelievably clean. I couldn't possibly keep one of my bikes that clean for long! Thanks for posting the photos - an unbelievably designed bike.

I love it! the stay caps, the dropouts, lugs and that squared off tubing is fabulous!!

Stunning.

I'm glad you told us you ride it, because that bike is unbelievably clean. I couldn't possibly keep one of my bikes that clean for long! Thanks for posting the photos - an unbelievably designed bike.

Newly built. I cleaned it that day so I thought I would take some photos while it was clean. If you look closely at the components (I know you can't in the photos) you will see that they are getting a bit worn so there is no problem about it being ridden.

I haven't measured the frame angles but perhaps I should. It is quite a responsive and stiff frame and fun to ride.

Thanks everyone for your positive input.

that's a really neat looking bike. I've never seen anything like it!

Now we need a pic of you riding it!

Love this bike. Gary, would you mind if I added some of the photos to my Rossin Blog? http://rossinproject.blogspot.com/
Also wondered if you happened to know the weight of the frame and/or complete bike?
Thanks,
ElPrez

Love this bike. Gary, would you mind if I added some of the photos to my Rossin Blog? http://rossinproject.blogspot.com/
Thanks, James (ElPrez)

Just took a tour of your blog. It was a real treat!! :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

Just took a tour of your blog. It was a real treat!! :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

Thanks!

Love this bike. Gary, would you mind if I added some of the photos to my Rossin Blog? http://rossinproject.blogspot.com/
Also wondered if you happened to know the weight of the frame and/or complete bike?
Thanks,
ElPrez

Hi ElPrez,

Please feel free to use my photos. I must look at your blog - sounds interesting.

The weight of the bike is 23 lb (built-up). I didn't weigh the frame before it was built-up. I think it is a little heavy for a pure racing bike of that era but I feel these frames were designed to showcase the Rossin marque and weight may have been a secondary consideration. The frame size and full lug set as well as the C-record components can combine to build a slightly heavier bike. I would expect a top level racing bike of that era to weigh in the 21 lb to 22 lb range. I'm sure the Rossin Ghibli would weigh lighter.

The seat tube angle is 74 degrees while the head tube angle is 76 degrees. I think these angles are indicative of bikes of that era and built with criterium's in mind. That said, it doesn't seem to ride 'twitchy'. I find the bike to be wonderful to ride - very 'neutral' in its handling characteristics and the extra pound in weight is negligible - If i wanted to save weight I could easily shed a few pounds myself.

I have the US distributor price lists for 1990 and 1991, and there is no model with a Tange Prestige tubeset. The Prestige model does appear in 1991, but spec'd with a Columbus SLX tubeset. I don't know if this indicates that the OP's frame is newer than suspected or if it simply reflects differences in the models between the Australian and USA distributors. Regardless, I thought I'd post the info.

BTW, I particulary like the BB shell and the chroming on the back of the dropouts. The latter reminds me of my 1974 Scapin.

Truly a great bike.

Yeah thats a nice looking bike. I like everything about it.

:thumb:

There isn't a single thing I would change about that bike. Those are my favorite cranks besides the new Ultra-Torque of any crankset made ever. Then those wheels...I would love to have a set of those beauts. Are they tubulars also? The only thing that's debatable is the saddle but that's just a preference thing. I have one but my butt bones just don't give with them after ten miles or so. They are nicely sculpted pieces...are like a scalpel...an ass scalpel. lol. Beautiful nevertheless.

Thanks guys for your positive comments. Its a lovely day here and I'm going to take it for a spin soon. I just love it.

Henry III, I agree, there's nothing that can spoil a ride quicker than a saddle that really doesn't suit your butt. Yes, the Shamals are tubular - 94 models I think.

T-Mar, thanks for your input (as usual) - it is always informative. I don't know the build date of the frame but I am leaning towards the early 90's. I have only ever come across the Prestige model frames built with a specially shaped Tange Prestige tubeset. It was really interesting to read that the 1991 brochure had them specked with Columbus SLX - my favourite tubeset. I wonder if Rossin eventually used the Tange Prestige tubeset to complement their Prestige frames? Might be a good indication of the frames build date as you suggest.

My frame is built with a Columbus head tube - I can see the Columbus stamp under the paint - which is interesting.

Since the photos were taken I have reverted back to using the 'correct' Delta brake blocks.

The presence of a Columbus head tube is interesting. While it's possible that this is an error due to factory stocking practice, I would not rule out the possibility that the tubing decal is in error, given that this model was also known to be built with a Columbus tubeset. I'd be doing at least one more cursory check.

Remove the front wheel and count the number of helical reinforcement ridges inside the bottom of the fork's steerer. Columbus used five ridges, while Tange used six. If it turns out to be a Columbus steerer, I'd be pulling the bottom bracket and checking the inside the tubes.

The presence of a Columbus head tube is interesting. While it's possible that this is an error due to factory stocking practice, I would not rule out the possibility that the tubing decal is in error, given that this model was also known to be built with a Columbus tubeset. I'd be doing at least one more cursory check.

Remove the front wheel and count the number of helical reinforcement ridges inside the bottom of the fork's steerer. Columbus used five ridges, while Tange used six. If it turns out to be a Columbus steerer, I'd be pulling the bottom bracket and checking the inside the tubes.

Great advice - I will do that. A simple check which could reveal an interesting result. This frame was sourced in Germany and had the headset in place. It had been packed with Campagnolo grease so I didn't dis-assemble the front fork and I didn't get to look at the fork's steerer tube.

Over the past year I have located six Rossin Prestige bikes on the web. All but one have had the Tange Prestige tubing decal on the frame's seat tube. The other frame didn't have any frame tubing decal but it wasn't in a very good cosmetic condition.

I was very surprised to see the head tube with the un-mistakable Columbus 'bird logo' under the paint. I, like you, think it was probably a factory stocking issue - but it is also interesting that the head tube is the only tube without a hexagonal cross-section at some point along the tube.

Thanks so much T-Mar for your interest and advice.

The presence of a Columbus head tube is interesting. While it's possible that this is an error due to factory stocking practice, I would not rule out the possibility that the tubing decal is in error, given that this model was also known to be built with a Columbus tubeset. I'd be doing at least one more cursory check.

Remove the front wheel and count the number of helical reinforcement ridges inside the bottom of the fork's steerer. Columbus used five ridges, while Tange used six. If it turns out to be a Columbus steerer, I'd be pulling the bottom bracket and checking the inside the tubes.

Hi all,
Having recently purchased a Rossin Prestige I ended up like the OP trying to find some more info on them. I've come to the conclusion that a: there are very few of them about, and b:there is quite a lot of variation between them.

To confuse matters further, mine has the Tange Prestige hex profile tubing just like all the others - seat tube, top tube, stays and fork blades, along with the beautiful cast lugs, bb etc. However, unlike all the others mine doesn't have a hex profile downtube. I have checked and it is definitely Columbus SLX. The steerer tube also has a Columbus stamp but the head tube itself has no internal rifling so my assumption is it's probably SL, but really it could be anything!

I'm assuming that the variation in tubes was deliberate by the builder who selected different tubes for the ride characteristics suitable for the person and purpose it was being built for. At least that's what we all know a good custom steel builder would do. Mine is a 59cm frame so perhaps the heat-treated Tange tube, whatever its profile, was considered too harsh? It also has a top tube boss for a racing number. Could this be an ex team frame perhaps or just a custom build? I doubt I will ever know.

What I do know is that it's a beautiful frame, a fine example of the best Italian artisan's skill. I will post some pics when it comes back from the painters in a few months.

...The steerer tube also has a Columbus stamp but the head tube itself has no internal rifling so my assumption is it's probably SL, but really it could be anything!...

SLX does not use a head tube with internal ridges. The only ridges in SLX are at the bottom bracket end of the seat tube, down tube and chainstays. I'm not aware of any Columbus head tubes with internal ridges, regardless of the tubeset.

Hi all,
Having recently purchased a Rossin Prestige I ended up like the OP trying to find some more info on them. I've come to the conclusion that a: there are very few of them about, and b:there is quite a lot of variation between them.

To confuse matters further, mine has the Tange Prestige hex profile tubing just like all the others - seat tube, top tube, stays and fork blades, along with the beautiful cast lugs, bb etc. However, unlike all the others mine doesn't have a hex profile downtube. I have checked and it is definitely Columbus SLX. The steerer tube also has a Columbus stamp but the head tube itself has no internal rifling so my assumption is it's probably SL, but really it could be anything!

I'm assuming that the variation in tubes was deliberate by the builder who selected different tubes for the ride characteristics suitable for the person and purpose it was being built for. At least that's what we all know a good custom steel builder would do. Mine is a 59cm frame so perhaps the heat-treated Tange tube, whatever its profile, was considered too harsh? It also has a top tube boss for a racing number. Could this be an ex team frame perhaps or just a custom build? I doubt I will ever know.

What I do know is that it's a beautiful frame, a fine example of the best Italian artisan's skill. I will post some pics when it comes back from the painters in a few months.

just curious....was that the nice one on la craigslist with the mavic group? I was interested in that but it looked too big and there was no way i was going to drive 600 miles to find out the size since the owner knew nothing what so ever about bikes and didnt seem anxious to take the touble to find out about shipping and boxing it.

SLX does not use a head tube with internal ridges. The only ridges in SLX are at the bottom bracket end of the seat tube, down tube and chainstays. I'm not aware of any Columbus head tubes with internal ridges, regardless of the tubeset.

Thanks for the info T-Mar. I'm new to Columbus steel having always been a Reynolds man so I have a lot to learn.


just curious....was that the nice one on la craigslist with the mavic group? I was interested in that but it looked too big and there was no way i was going to drive 600 miles to find out the size since the owner knew nothing what so ever about bikes and didnt seem anxious to take the touble to find out about shipping and boxing it.

I'm in the UK Joe so it's certainly not the one you've recently seen advertised in LA. I'm always suspicious of sellers who appear to know little nor have any interest in the bikes they're selling.
The frame I have was bought through http://www.retrobike.co.uk (http://www.retrobike.co.uk/) as a frameset only. It's in solid condition but needs new paint - hoping to send it off next week and I have a nice set of Dura Ace 7402 ready to build it up with.

When it's back from the painters and built up I'll post some pics if people are interested?

Here is a few up-dated photo's of my Rossin. New (to the bike) 3ttt stem, 3ttt bars and Brooks Pro seat.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x300/garyf5354/Rossin/DSC02877.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x300/garyf5354/Rossin/DSC02879.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x300/garyf5354/Rossin/DSC02882.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x300/garyf5354/Rossin/DSC02880.jpg

Very nice Gary!

Thanks holiday76 - I did like the white bar tape and concor saddle but I came across the stem and leather bound bars and had to fit them to the bike.

beautiful!

Not a Prestige, but a nice Rossin anyway and worth showing.
Columbus SLX with DA & 600 Mix.

Almost unused:

http://fstatic1.rennrad-news.de/img/photos/3/5/9/2/7/_/large/IMG_8696.JPG?0 (http://fotos.rennrad-news.de/p/170506)