Gartenmeister

Hi all,

I'm a newbie- just two months cycling now and very new here (I signed up just so I could make this post). I've read up a bit so I'm not completely in the dark but I might not know everything you all take for granted....so give me a little slack if I have "stupid" questions....

Anyhow, my post concerns a vintage De Rosa bicycle. This was an impulse buy. It is a beautiful bike, it rides wonderfully and there are just not that many nice classic bikes in my area. So I purchased it, for a sizable sum, before really thinking it through. I've now realized that it is too large for me and I am trying to decide what to do with it. As such, I am interested in its details and its value.

So, the details that I think that I know: vintage early 1980's, Columbus steel frame, 22.5" C-C (58cm size?). Has the Eddy Merckx Super Prestige logo. Paint is in good condition, with significant wear marks on the inside of the seat stays, and just a few other minor marks and dings here and there. Top tube decals should be removable with no problem. Cinelli bars and stem. Campy parts include shift levers, derailleurs, brakes, seat post, pedals & straps, cranks, chainrings, dropouts and headset. The brake levers are 105, chain and gear cluster are some kind of Shimano, the hubs are Tiagra, wheels are Mavic CSP22 w/ cyclocross tires and obviously the Crosstop levers have been added. Saddle is just something I threw on.

I purchased the bike from the original owner, who had the cyclocross modifications made a few years ago to make the bike more comfortable for him. He rode it only a handful of times since. I have confirmed with him that sadly the changed out parts (wheelset, brake levers) were not kept and are not available.

So here are my questions:
1. what model of De Rosa is this and when exactly was it made? Answered: De Rosa Professional
2. what is its official size?
3. which Campy groupset does it have? Answered: C Record
4. What kind of steel is the frame, SL or SLX or other? The Columbus decal is pretty much worn off. Answered: SLX
5. I understand that De Rosas are collectable bikes. Relatively speaking, how much interest would there be in this particular one if I tried to sell it?
6. If I decide to keep it and try to ride it, how hard is it to change the stem? Do I have to take the handlebars completely apart? Answered: yes
7. Of course, what's it worth???

Happy to provide more photos and details as necessary.....thanks very much for all help and comments....

-mike

digger531

First of all, thats a beautiful bike. I can not answer all your questions but may be able to offer a little help. The frame size can be measured in cm from the center of the crank to the center of the top tube. This may or may not be how it was sized originally but will allow you to compare to modern frames and sizing. Also measure the top tube from center to center since that seems to be where your fit problem is. In the pics I noticed the seat all the way forward and the hoods up pretty high leading me to believe that you will need more then a stem correction. You could try a straight seat post and a shorter stem but it may have you putting to much weight on your hands. Replacing the stem is an easy job but yes you do have to take the tape and brakes off the bars

gaucho777 

You certainly started with a very nice bike, from one of the most sought-after Italian builders. The Campagnolo parts look to be C-record, their top of the line group from the mid-80s. Those tires on that bike are a major faux pas! I'd guess the bike is more likely late 80s, probably 1987ish.

1. Not sure if there is a model for this. Hand-crafted bikes did not always have model designations. Other De Rosa experts would know better than I.
2. Measure from the center of the bottom bracket/cranks to the center of the lug at the seat tube. Looks to be about 58cm.
3. C-record.
4. It's hard to tell since the Columbus sticker has come apart. Probably either SLX or SL, but that's just a guess.
5. A lot of interest.
6. Yes, you can change the stem, but you;ll have to remove everything that's on the bars. Not too hard. Just be careful not to scratch up the logo area of the bars if you do.
7. My guess is in the $1200-$1400 range on ebay for a complete bike. The saddle, brake levers, and wheels are all wrong, but it looks to be in very good condition.

Bianchigirll 

Very Nice DeRosa. Hello Mike, Welcome to the forums. Where do you live? there may be a C&Ver close by willing to help you make some of the nessacary adjustments to try and make it fit or help you sell it properly.



I do agree the wheels, especially the tires are not right on this bike.



Most likely the parts were kept or rather "forgotten by the customer" at the LBS

gomango

Nice De Rosa Professional.

Ferrari red De Rosas deserve lots of interest and this one looks like it is in very nice condition.

Stem swaps take me about an hour including rewrapping the bars, so if you have the right tools, it shouldn't be a problem. Before you start cooking on this project though, do you know your exact size requirements?

If you aren't sure, find a shop you can trust to get this matter resolved.

If this fits, I'd sink some bucks into her.

The wheels are fine, but not on this particular bicycle.

I'd ditch them pronto.

Along with the cross levers.

A nice set of Mavic, Ambrosio, or Campy tubular rims along with Record hubs would be my direction.

Find some nice white C-Record brake levers instead of the Shimanos.

I probably have some around if you want go in that direction.

Don't scrimp on the tires either. These bicycles deserve top quality.

Good luck with this project and if you need any help, just ask.

Lots of folks to help you here.

teetime

It is a De Rosa Professional, most likely SL tubing, a close up of the decal could tell for sure, even fragments. Paint looks chipped, any dings and dents greatly reduce the value. It is worth more as parts than as a whole bike.

The stem appears to be a Cinelli 1R. If you are not familiar with it, and your local bike shop isn't, ask here how to loosen it. It has an internal wedge, and it can bind/break fairly easily.

I think the estimate of $1200-$1400 is optimistic. Maybe half that or a little more with what can be seen. Too many mismatches for a collector. parted out, it may bring close to that, with additional effort. You'd need to be an established seller on eBay to get top dollar.

Gartenmeister

Thank you for the responses, and all the compliments on the bike. It really is pretty cool and actually looks much nicer than the photos convey.

I am well aware that the cyclocross parts are not appropriate to the bike, as I was when I purchased it. I guess I should have made this more clear in my initial post. My priority is not to restore this bike. I am really not interested in throwing a lot of money at it, especially since it is not the right size for me. I am not a collector, and while I will attempt to be a good custodian of the bike, if it is ever going to be fully restored it will be by someone other than me. That said, I am open to suggestions for reasonably priced replacement wheelsets and saddles.

A few updates:

using velobase.com I have confirmed that all the Campy bits are in fact C-Record, which is pretty exciting since the stuff is rather spendy. It generally looks to be earlier C-Record- it has first generation cranks with codes "11" and "21" and an early rear derailleur marked "84." Apparently these codes indicate 1985 and 1984, which would have been the start of C-Record production.

This would be more or less congruent with the original owner's story, which is that he special ordered the bike from a SoCal shop in "the early 1980's" and rode it there until he moved to Idaho around 1987. I don't think it was ever really used much in Idaho. He had the cyclocross mods done around 2005(?) but still never really rode it (like most here, he's a mountain biker).

Also possibly of interest- I looked at the under the BB, and there is a number. Is this a serial number? If so, I guess the bike was pretty early because the number is a single digit.

With regards to the tubing, I took a closer look and I believe it is SLX. Please see attached photo to confirm.

Interested in more opinions on price. From what I have seen the frame alone has got to be worth $600-$700 given its condition (which is very, very good). $500 or so for the components puts it around $1200. Thoughts?

teetime

Yes, it is SLX, which would put the bike no earlier than 1984. The number under the BB is not a serial number. There were no serial numbers on them at that time.

You may be able to get $1200 by selling everything separately, hard to say. I wouldn't say the condition is very, very good, more like fair to good, if there are no dings or dents. It appears to have lots of paint chips on it. De Rosa measured the size by the seat tube, c-c, so 58 would be correct, if you measured it right.

The missing correct components, and the wheels hurt the value. I don't think you could get $600-$700 for the f/f in this economy, but who knows? Only way to find out is put it on eBay, and be prepared to pay the fees. They are nice riding bikes, if it fits you, you should keep it.

Gartenmeister

Well, I guess either my photos are crappy or you have rather high expectations for a 25yr old used bicycle. YES, it is true that the paint is messed up on the inside of the seat stays- appear to be caused by rubbing. I am guessing this was from a rack...? I dunno. If this hurts its value tremendously, than so be it. But otherwise, it paint is in phenomenal condition.
Clearly a long way from the dirty, scratched, crazed paint, and even bubbling and rusty frames that I regularly see collected and restored on these and other forums......I would think those would better meet the definition of "fair" condition.

This is the most recent sale reference I have found. Let me know if it has something going for it that mine does not. Looks similar to mine to my eyes. Be sure to check out the condition of the chain stays.

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...vip=true&rt=nc

jet sanchEz

Put up the frame and fork with a BIN on eBay of $800 and I think it will get some attention. Use those funds to buy a nice frame in the correct size. Or you can try the "The frame doesn't fit pass around game" thread in the main C&V forum, perhaps someone has an equally as nice De Rosa in a size that is too small for them.

Bianchigirll 

I don't like to involved in apraising battles but I must say I kind of agree with Gaucho here and if you take your time and clean this up really nice you could get $1200 or so on ebay for it. May I ask what did you pay? If you got a deal on the bike and got it for say $500 there is nothing wrong with selling it for $700 and moving one it doesn't always have to be about getting the most out of it.

I am not sure I agree with Teetime I am not usually a fan of parting out bikes just to maximize profit. DeRosa's seem to have a huge cult following and despite the wheels and the brake levers I think lots of people would love this bike. I would certainly chanhe the tires even if you have to put something cheap with a tan skinwall atleast the bike will look better. Also selling the parts indivually the cranks, RD and brake calipers as well as the frame may go pretty quick but you may get stuck with the wheels, brakelevers and the bar/stem. Then you have to pack and ship everything...

If you can do the work or have a friend who can help you Jet's idea is a fabulous solution.

I would also remomend taking this to a shop near you and getting fitted. You mention the bike is too big but not really how big. Is the standover height too tall? Or the bike too stretched out from the saddle to the handlebars? I believe DeRosas have a tendancy to be long in the classic racing style which will really stretch a new rider out.

teetime

I have bought and sold at least a half dozen De Rosa's over the past decade. The most I paid was a little over $1k for an immaculate Primato, that had all correct components. For Professionals, I have paid substantially less, and that was in better economic times. For a NOS Primato I paid less than what you think your f/f are worth.

If you can get $1200 for the bike, more power to you. eBay is the only place to get top dollar, and the fees are high, be aware of that when you sell it. As a zero feedback (I'm guessing) seller, your funds will be held, and a lot of buyers will be hesitant.

Good luck, in any case. They are nice bikes.

Gartenmeister

Yeah, I can just clear the standover, but the reach is too long. Its like 25.5" from seat post to handlebars, measured C-C. My other bikes are about 24" in that dimension, and those are fairly stretched out (Lemond BA and Schwinn Circuit). That is why I was thinking that if I could shrink the stem I might be a bit more comfortable, at least on the bar tops.

My e-Bay feedback is actually 530, all positive. I am not sure why you would presume zero........??

In any case I am confident that my investment is safe based on what I see frames and certain C Record bits going for. I did not get a screaming deal on the bike, but I don't think that I overpaid for it either. Since I probably can't make much on it I think that I will refrain from flipping it or spending a lot to make it correct. But I will probably clean up the out of place bits and hang on to it for awhile anyway. It is a pretty neat thing to have. Someday somebody will want it more than me and maybe I'll make a couple bucks.

teetime

Just because you didn't seem to have a lot of knowledge about bikes in general. No offense meant. Good luck with it when you decide to sell.

RWhiteDeRosa

Gartenmesiter, have you sold this bicycle yet? I had this very bike in the early 90's. Sold it, and regretted it. I would love to look at it if you still have it..... Thanks... Rusty