New Build: De Rosa
10-30-21, 06:10 PM
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New Build: De Rosa
Hey folks, I picked up a new project - a De Rosa. This is only my second Italian bike, and somewhat of a holy grail, as I remember seeing these a lot back in the 80s. I think that is approximately the vintage of this one, but need some assistance from some of the De Rosa experts on this forum. In my research, some of the attributes look like early to mid 80s (fork crown, seat stays/binder, etc. But the internal brake cable routing throws me off a bit... It does have an SLX sticker, but not sure if that is accurate, I haven't really peeked into the bottom of the tubes yet to determine if there is rifling there.
In any event, there is some patina and paint chips, but the color is so cool (very dark blue) I am not going to do a repaint. But I will do a re-decal....
In terms of components, I think I will try for mostly Super Record. It does have a Chorus headset, but the stack height seems a little off. I'm thinking about maybe looking for a set of Cobalto brakes...
Any advice the De Rosa experts might provide in terms of date would be great. There is a serial number on the bottom bracket: CO327.... not sure if that means anything....
Thanks
Andy
In any event, there is some patina and paint chips, but the color is so cool (very dark blue) I am not going to do a repaint. But I will do a re-decal....
In terms of components, I think I will try for mostly Super Record. It does have a Chorus headset, but the stack height seems a little off. I'm thinking about maybe looking for a set of Cobalto brakes...
Any advice the De Rosa experts might provide in terms of date would be great. There is a serial number on the bottom bracket: CO327.... not sure if that means anything....
Thanks
Andy
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10-30-21, 07:24 PM
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My ‘86 Professional has external brake cable routing and Campy dropouts. I don’t know for sure but I’d guess late ‘80’s. That headset is mid 90’s fwiw
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N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
10-30-21, 07:31 PM
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Thank you! I did feel some ridges, very shallow..... Interestingly, they are also in the steerer on the fork... Here is a pic looking down from the top of the steerer tube. It's much more subtle than I would have thought.
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10-30-21, 07:32 PM
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In other words, I can confirm it's definitely SLX....
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10-30-21, 08:16 PM
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SL tubesets have the helical ridges in the steerer tube. Even the French Supervitus 980 tubset has it in the steerer tubes.
A lot of people mistakenly think they have an SLX frameset when they just check the steerer tube and find the ridges in there. You always have to check the down tube and the seat tube ends at the BB shell to be sure it is an SLX frsmeset.
A lot of people mistakenly think they have an SLX frameset when they just check the steerer tube and find the ridges in there. You always have to check the down tube and the seat tube ends at the BB shell to be sure it is an SLX frsmeset.
Last edited by Chombi1; 11-02-21 at 08:23 PM.
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10-30-21, 10:57 PM
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i'll defer to others
But the SLX sticker looks much fresher than anything else on the frame.
Nice frame however.
Don't fret the decals.
Build it, ride it.
Nice frame however.
Don't fret the decals.
Build it, ride it.
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10-31-21, 05:37 AM
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Yes I agree, the SLX decal looks somewhat newer. Good advice above, I did feel in the seat tube and there are definitely ridges in there, hard to see, but they are there...
10-31-21, 05:59 AM
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Perfect frame to build & ride. I'd keep the old decals. Great find!
10-31-21, 06:25 AM
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Neither the 1988 or 1989 catalogues show internal rear brake cable routing, pushing it into the 1990s. so that headset could be OEM.
10-31-21, 07:04 AM
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Definitely early 90s with the brake cable inside the top tube. Mine is 87 I think, and still has brazed on cable guides. Yours also has de rosa dropouts instead of campagnolo, which remind me of Columbus dropouts. I’d build it up with whatever parts will get you riding it, because that’s what these bikes do best.
and that blue is the best de rosa color. Here’s mine.
and that blue is the best de rosa color. Here’s mine.
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10-31-21, 08:18 AM
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Great find. Enjoy the heck out of it.
One word of possible caution: crank the wheel quick-releases down extra-hard. On my 1986, the drop outs required that. I thought of the feel of them as "greasy," although that is a metaphor and not strictly accurate. My guess is that the steel on De Rosa drop outs is just a tad harder than with Canpy drop outs, and thus the QR teeth don't bite as hard. All I know is that the rear wheel (and the fork when in a fork-mount carrier) were prone to slip unless I cranked the QRs down extra hard. (I had a 2000 Lemond Zurich that had the same problem, only more so. Well, not on the front - it had lawyer tabs.) Do not let this detract from the riding experience - it's an easy issue to deal with and my guess is that you will very much enjoy how it rides.
One word of possible caution: crank the wheel quick-releases down extra-hard. On my 1986, the drop outs required that. I thought of the feel of them as "greasy," although that is a metaphor and not strictly accurate. My guess is that the steel on De Rosa drop outs is just a tad harder than with Canpy drop outs, and thus the QR teeth don't bite as hard. All I know is that the rear wheel (and the fork when in a fork-mount carrier) were prone to slip unless I cranked the QRs down extra hard. (I had a 2000 Lemond Zurich that had the same problem, only more so. Well, not on the front - it had lawyer tabs.) Do not let this detract from the riding experience - it's an easy issue to deal with and my guess is that you will very much enjoy how it rides.
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"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
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10-31-21, 04:39 PM
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Wow that looks fantastic, I do like the color! Nicely done....
10-31-21, 04:55 PM
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Gathering components
Gathering some components for the build....
I'm going on the assumption that early to mid 80s Super Record will go well with this bike....
Braze on shifters
Super Record with miraculously uncracked pulleys....
Super Record levers, with what I believe to be actual non-repro hoods, in good shape....
Super Record seat post, appropriate to the eighties....
Record crank with SR rings, dated 1983...
Cinelli 64 bars and 1/A stem...
The front caliper even has the little hole for the rubber stopper - I wonder if you can even find those anywhere? None of my other Campy brakes have this...!
I'm going on the assumption that early to mid 80s Super Record will go well with this bike....
Braze on shifters
Super Record with miraculously uncracked pulleys....
Super Record levers, with what I believe to be actual non-repro hoods, in good shape....
Super Record seat post, appropriate to the eighties....
Record crank with SR rings, dated 1983...
Cinelli 64 bars and 1/A stem...
The front caliper even has the little hole for the rubber stopper - I wonder if you can even find those anywhere? None of my other Campy brakes have this...!
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10-31-21, 05:52 PM
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Thank you!
11-02-21, 05:44 AM
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De Rosa confirmation
Well, I wrote to De Rosa (help@derosa.it) and here is their reply:Hello,
thanks for your email,
the frame was SLX in steel and we produce it in the 1993
Thanks
thanks for your email,
the frame was SLX in steel and we produce it in the 1993
Thanks
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11-02-21, 06:33 AM
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Looking forward to seeing your progress on this build. Great foundation to work with.
11-02-21, 06:08 PM
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11-02-21, 07:00 PM
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11-03-21, 09:30 AM
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Yes, it is! Which is good, since I can finally now use this subset!
Campy C-Record 32H
Campy C-Record 32H
11-03-21, 10:37 AM
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Maybe originally, but now it's 130, new axle and spacers...
11-22-21, 08:28 PM
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C Record crank
I decided to go a slightly different direction, since the bike is already destined for the C-Record hubs..... I was inspired by Ray Dobbins' work on this '86 De Rosa and came up with this:
C Record crankset
After 180, 320, 400 grit....
After 1000, 2000, 3000, then the fabled Simichrome.... not perfect but not half bad. I think this will look pretty good on the De Rosa...
C Record crankset
After 180, 320, 400 grit....
After 1000, 2000, 3000, then the fabled Simichrome.... not perfect but not half bad. I think this will look pretty good on the De Rosa...
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