Mondonico ID Help Needed
05-03-16, 02:05 PM
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Mondonico ID Help Needed
Could our Italian collectors give me a hand in ID'ing the model and year on this gorgeous Mondonico? First, my apology for not having a full-on shot but hopefully there is enough to go on with the pics I hastily obtained. There is no model decal on the TT like with the Dimond. Whatcha think? Aint she lovely?
05-03-16, 05:49 PM
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They must have a cult-like following.
05-03-16, 07:07 PM
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Is it going to be yours? Like the colourway, very nice and sedate, kind of elegant. Is that a Superbe groupset? I cannot make out the graphics on the rear mech, just the SunTour.
Bill
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Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
05-03-16, 07:38 PM
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The rear derailleur is Suntour Superbe (5300 series) which was manufactured 1983-1986. This fits well with the Campagnolo short, non-Portacatena, dropouts. Normally, I'd say that it is probably from the earlier portion of this range, given what appears to be a single set of bottle bosses but it appears to have an empty hole for a pump peg in the back of the head tube and pump pegs would typically be from the latter portion of the range. The presence of a front derailleur tab would also fit well with his timeline but the photos crop out this area. Pending further evidence, the characteristics seem to be pointing towards mid-1980s.
05-04-16, 03:38 AM
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The rear derailleur is Suntour Superbe (5300 series) which was manufactured 1983-1986. This fits well with the Campagnolo short, non-Portacatena, dropouts. Normally, I'd say that it is probably from the earlier portion of this range, given what appears to be a single set of bottle bosses but it appears to have an empty hole for a pump peg in the back of the head tube and pump pegs would typically be from the latter portion of the range. The presence of a front derailleur tab would also fit well with his timeline but the photos crop out this area. Pending further evidence, the characteristics seem to be pointing towards mid-1980s.
05-04-16, 03:39 AM
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05-04-16, 05:33 AM
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I have two of them, so maybe I'm the cult!
What is the tubing? There is often a tubing decal at the top of the seat tube.
Neither of mine have any year markings. One, that I bought used around 1986, has a Columbus sticker with no "SL" or "SLX" or other designator. It does say "Rinforcati," so it uses butted tubes. It's a 52 cm frame, so SP tubing is not likely but cannot be ruled out. The first owner had it for about two years, so it is about 1984. It's kind of stiff so I assume SL. It has the same under-BB features for cable guiding and BB venting, single water bottle. Mine has the same short dropouts, but it has the portacatena hole mentioned by T-mar. Mine also has the front derailleur bracket, fully-chromed fork, no fender eyelets. It has only one signature near the back of the top tube. When I got it was spaced for 126 mm and was equipped with Shimano 600/6207. I had it cold-set for 130, installed Campy 3x10 with 28 mm tubular tires and short-reach brake calipers. It was even better with the indexed shifting!
I also have a 2005 Futura Leggero made of ELOS, which is an oversize (with steel better than Cyclex) 7-4-7 tubing, made with pinned, lugged construction. This one came to me with a Reynolds carbon fork, painted and marked (decals) to match the original. It has "mondonico" decals on the seat stays and fork blades. Both frames have the little nub to hang up the chain on the drive-side seat stay. It will also accept tires up to 28 mm. Both frames have excellent steering but both have very steep seat tube angles. The ELOS has dual water bottle points. Both have top tube cable guides. The ELOS has the mono strut seat stays. The 1986 has the same fastback seat stay attachment, and has biconical seat stays.
Both bikes are great rides, but the ELOS seems to plane. We had one of our first rides last weekend (Metro Grand Spring Tour, Downriver Cycling Club), and I could easily climb the meager hills. They usually sap my energy this early in the season.
If it fits you and you like a pure road frame, buy it! I paid about $2000 for my ELOS fully built with nearly-all Campy Record 2 by 10, a year ago. It has a Campy Record triple crank in its future. The threading and key dimensions for both frames are classic Italian across the board.
If your fork is original (Mondonico engravings on the crown) and you would plan to replace it, I might want to buy it from you. It looks like it would fit the head tube of my ELOS.
Google "Magnificent Seven" and read the article!
Antonio Mondonico sold frames in the US through primarily Torelli, with a wide range of Columbus tubings. Diamond was usually the cheapest, running all the way up to ELOS and even higher. For some years it was said that he also build the Torelli frames, but I tend to doubt he build them all. His geometries and the Torelli ones are the same, if you need to read them. Some of his work is continued by his son Mauro, but I'm not sure just exactly what Mauro is doing. If you research it and find out, please share. Antonio supposedly retired in 2005 after a sales trip to the USA and after he finished building to fulfill those orders. I would tend to doubt any "Mondonico" built after perhaps 2006 is a real Mondonico, built by Antonio in his garage, by hand.
Classic Italian!
What is the tubing? There is often a tubing decal at the top of the seat tube.
Neither of mine have any year markings. One, that I bought used around 1986, has a Columbus sticker with no "SL" or "SLX" or other designator. It does say "Rinforcati," so it uses butted tubes. It's a 52 cm frame, so SP tubing is not likely but cannot be ruled out. The first owner had it for about two years, so it is about 1984. It's kind of stiff so I assume SL. It has the same under-BB features for cable guiding and BB venting, single water bottle. Mine has the same short dropouts, but it has the portacatena hole mentioned by T-mar. Mine also has the front derailleur bracket, fully-chromed fork, no fender eyelets. It has only one signature near the back of the top tube. When I got it was spaced for 126 mm and was equipped with Shimano 600/6207. I had it cold-set for 130, installed Campy 3x10 with 28 mm tubular tires and short-reach brake calipers. It was even better with the indexed shifting!
I also have a 2005 Futura Leggero made of ELOS, which is an oversize (with steel better than Cyclex) 7-4-7 tubing, made with pinned, lugged construction. This one came to me with a Reynolds carbon fork, painted and marked (decals) to match the original. It has "mondonico" decals on the seat stays and fork blades. Both frames have the little nub to hang up the chain on the drive-side seat stay. It will also accept tires up to 28 mm. Both frames have excellent steering but both have very steep seat tube angles. The ELOS has dual water bottle points. Both have top tube cable guides. The ELOS has the mono strut seat stays. The 1986 has the same fastback seat stay attachment, and has biconical seat stays.
Both bikes are great rides, but the ELOS seems to plane. We had one of our first rides last weekend (Metro Grand Spring Tour, Downriver Cycling Club), and I could easily climb the meager hills. They usually sap my energy this early in the season.
If it fits you and you like a pure road frame, buy it! I paid about $2000 for my ELOS fully built with nearly-all Campy Record 2 by 10, a year ago. It has a Campy Record triple crank in its future. The threading and key dimensions for both frames are classic Italian across the board.
If your fork is original (Mondonico engravings on the crown) and you would plan to replace it, I might want to buy it from you. It looks like it would fit the head tube of my ELOS.
Google "Magnificent Seven" and read the article!
Antonio Mondonico sold frames in the US through primarily Torelli, with a wide range of Columbus tubings. Diamond was usually the cheapest, running all the way up to ELOS and even higher. For some years it was said that he also build the Torelli frames, but I tend to doubt he build them all. His geometries and the Torelli ones are the same, if you need to read them. Some of his work is continued by his son Mauro, but I'm not sure just exactly what Mauro is doing. If you research it and find out, please share. Antonio supposedly retired in 2005 after a sales trip to the USA and after he finished building to fulfill those orders. I would tend to doubt any "Mondonico" built after perhaps 2006 is a real Mondonico, built by Antonio in his garage, by hand.
Classic Italian!
05-04-16, 05:39 AM
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The rear derailleur is Suntour Superbe (5300 series) which was manufactured 1983-1986. This fits well with the Campagnolo short, non-Portacatena, dropouts. Normally, I'd say that it is probably from the earlier portion of this range, given what appears to be a single set of bottle bosses but it appears to have an empty hole for a pump peg in the back of the head tube and pump pegs would typically be from the latter portion of the range. The presence of a front derailleur tab would also fit well with his timeline but the photos crop out this area. Pending further evidence, the characteristics seem to be pointing towards mid-1980s.
Based on my non-ELOS Mondonico, I'd guess the one we're talking about is mid to late '80s. Lack of portacatena suggests that it is newer than mine, which is 1984-ish.
05-04-16, 08:16 AM
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This is intriguing.
05-04-16, 03:15 PM
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I have two of them, so maybe I'm the cult!
What is the tubing? There is often a tubing decal at the top of the seat tube.
Neither of mine have any year markings. One, that I bought used around 1986, has a Columbus sticker with no "SL" or "SLX" or other designator. It does say "Rinforcati," so it uses butted tubes. It's a 52 cm frame, so SP tubing is not likely but cannot be ruled out. The first owner had it for about two years, so it is about 1984. It's kind of stiff so I assume SL. It has the same under-BB features for cable guiding and BB venting, single water bottle. Mine has the same short dropouts, but it has the portacatena hole mentioned by T-mar. Mine also has the front derailleur bracket, fully-chromed fork, no fender eyelets. It has only one signature near the back of the top tube. When I got it was spaced for 126 mm and was equipped with Shimano 600/6207. I had it cold-set for 130, installed Campy 3x10 with 28 mm tubular tires and short-reach brake calipers. It was even better with the indexed shifting!
I also have a 2005 Futura Leggero made of ELOS, which is an oversize (with steel better than Cyclex) 7-4-7 tubing, made with pinned, lugged construction. This one came to me with a Reynolds carbon fork, painted and marked (decals) to match the original. It has "mondonico" decals on the seat stays and fork blades. Both frames have the little nub to hang up the chain on the drive-side seat stay. It will also accept tires up to 28 mm. Both frames have excellent steering but both have very steep seat tube angles. The ELOS has dual water bottle points. Both have top tube cable guides. The ELOS has the mono strut seat stays. The 1986 has the same fastback seat stay attachment, and has biconical seat stays.
Both bikes are great rides, but the ELOS seems to plane. We had one of our first rides last weekend (Metro Grand Spring Tour, Downriver Cycling Club), and I could easily climb the meager hills. They usually sap my energy this early in the season.
If it fits you and you like a pure road frame, buy it! I paid about $2000 for my ELOS fully built with nearly-all Campy Record 2 by 10, a year ago. It has a Campy Record triple crank in its future. The threading and key dimensions for both frames are classic Italian across the board.
If your fork is original (Mondonico engravings on the crown) and you would plan to replace it, I might want to buy it from you. It looks like it would fit the head tube of my ELOS.
Google "Magnificent Seven" and read the article!
Antonio Mondonico sold frames in the US through primarily Torelli, with a wide range of Columbus tubings. Diamond was usually the cheapest, running all the way up to ELOS and even higher. For some years it was said that he also build the Torelli frames, but I tend to doubt he build them all. His geometries and the Torelli ones are the same, if you need to read them. Some of his work is continued by his son Mauro, but I'm not sure just exactly what Mauro is doing. If you research it and find out, please share. Antonio supposedly retired in 2005 after a sales trip to the USA and after he finished building to fulfill those orders. I would tend to doubt any "Mondonico" built after perhaps 2006 is a real Mondonico, built by Antonio in his garage, by hand.
Classic Italian!
What is the tubing? There is often a tubing decal at the top of the seat tube.
Neither of mine have any year markings. One, that I bought used around 1986, has a Columbus sticker with no "SL" or "SLX" or other designator. It does say "Rinforcati," so it uses butted tubes. It's a 52 cm frame, so SP tubing is not likely but cannot be ruled out. The first owner had it for about two years, so it is about 1984. It's kind of stiff so I assume SL. It has the same under-BB features for cable guiding and BB venting, single water bottle. Mine has the same short dropouts, but it has the portacatena hole mentioned by T-mar. Mine also has the front derailleur bracket, fully-chromed fork, no fender eyelets. It has only one signature near the back of the top tube. When I got it was spaced for 126 mm and was equipped with Shimano 600/6207. I had it cold-set for 130, installed Campy 3x10 with 28 mm tubular tires and short-reach brake calipers. It was even better with the indexed shifting!
I also have a 2005 Futura Leggero made of ELOS, which is an oversize (with steel better than Cyclex) 7-4-7 tubing, made with pinned, lugged construction. This one came to me with a Reynolds carbon fork, painted and marked (decals) to match the original. It has "mondonico" decals on the seat stays and fork blades. Both frames have the little nub to hang up the chain on the drive-side seat stay. It will also accept tires up to 28 mm. Both frames have excellent steering but both have very steep seat tube angles. The ELOS has dual water bottle points. Both have top tube cable guides. The ELOS has the mono strut seat stays. The 1986 has the same fastback seat stay attachment, and has biconical seat stays.
Both bikes are great rides, but the ELOS seems to plane. We had one of our first rides last weekend (Metro Grand Spring Tour, Downriver Cycling Club), and I could easily climb the meager hills. They usually sap my energy this early in the season.
If it fits you and you like a pure road frame, buy it! I paid about $2000 for my ELOS fully built with nearly-all Campy Record 2 by 10, a year ago. It has a Campy Record triple crank in its future. The threading and key dimensions for both frames are classic Italian across the board.
If your fork is original (Mondonico engravings on the crown) and you would plan to replace it, I might want to buy it from you. It looks like it would fit the head tube of my ELOS.
Google "Magnificent Seven" and read the article!
Antonio Mondonico sold frames in the US through primarily Torelli, with a wide range of Columbus tubings. Diamond was usually the cheapest, running all the way up to ELOS and even higher. For some years it was said that he also build the Torelli frames, but I tend to doubt he build them all. His geometries and the Torelli ones are the same, if you need to read them. Some of his work is continued by his son Mauro, but I'm not sure just exactly what Mauro is doing. If you research it and find out, please share. Antonio supposedly retired in 2005 after a sales trip to the USA and after he finished building to fulfill those orders. I would tend to doubt any "Mondonico" built after perhaps 2006 is a real Mondonico, built by Antonio in his garage, by hand.
Classic Italian!
I have a white EL OS mono stay built by Antonio just before he retired. Here's mine. Currently have Veloce 10, with Zondas. Have a Chorus 10 alloy group that I'll eventually get around to installing.
05-04-16, 04:59 PM
#12
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Yeah, nice! That's just about identical to mine, except for size (mine is 54), fork, and color! What does your tubing sticker say?
05-06-16, 01:31 AM
#13
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EL OS. When I bought it (on Craigslist SF sold by a local shop - maybe roaring mouse???), I wasn't really aware of EL OS. Just knew it was Columbus, and that it was a sweet white steel frame that I really liked. It turned out to be my best purchase. This is my favorite frame in my stable and the last one to go if I had to sell off all my bikes.
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