schleven

Repost from SSFG but I thought some of you in here may enjoy this and might be able to help me identify the headset.

So, I just picked up a new bike from a guy in town. He raced in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The bike was last tuned at the Olympic Trials. The bottom bracket will spin for over a minute with crankarms (no grease was used in the BB, only high grade oil). Absolutely in love with this bike.

Here are some specs:
Mid 90's Custom Built Romic Pursuit Frame
Reynolds 708 Tubing
78 degree seat tube
Campagnolo Record Pista Hubs
Dura Ace Track Crankset
Superbe Bottom Bracket
Headset says "OMAS Italy" (anyone know what this is?)
700c Araya Aero 1 Rear wheel with Continental Track Pro Tubular Tire
650c Ambrosio Aero Dynamic Front wheel with Vittoria Pista Seta Ultra P-D Tire
Cinelli Stem
Cinelli Tempo Ultra-Light Tempered aluminum bullhorns
Selle San Marco Rolls saddle
American Classic Equipment seat post

onetwentyeight 

Swiped from Classic Rendezvous

From the 1984 Bicycle Parts Pacific catalog, courtesy Chuck Schmidt:

THE O.M.A.S. STORY

O.M.A.S. was established near Bologna, Italy in 1960. Initially they manufactured special automobile carburation parts for the world-famous E. WEBER carburator company, a relationship that continues to this day. In 1962, O.M.A.S. began to supply the firm Ruota Amadori, a maker of top-quality magnesium-aloy wheels for cars and motorcycles. This firm eventually was absorbed by the Vincenza company, Brevetta Internazionale Campagnolo. O.M.A.S. then began to manufacture various components of the Campagnolo group, collaborating with Campagnolo until 1977. (They supplied the titanium bolts and ti pedal and BB axles for the Super Record group --ed)

Meanwhile, in 1974, some avid cyclists had proposed that O.M.A.S. make some pieces in special light alloys in order to lighten their bikes. Finding that the components did well in rigorous competition, O.M.A.S. decided to manufacture them in 1975, using the same severe standards required by the carburation industry.

Since then, O.M.A.S. has expanded their line to include hubs, headsets, bottle cages, crank and bottom bracket sets -- with other components in the works. O.M.A.S. research and development rests to a large degree on the advice of world class cyclists, but this advice is combined with the most advanced metallurgy and engineering techniques, along with unbelievable quality-control (O.M.A.S. allows not less than one year between initial experimentation and production, and not less than one-and-a-half years before commercial marketing). This combination produces bicycle components that have quickly established a new industry standard for excellence".


as far as I am aware, they are no longer in business. nice score. dont ride that in the rain, that oil wont last very long. its used to use it on my pedals for ****s and giggles.

unworthy1

708 tubing? What's the story on that tubeset? Crazy bike, and I had read somewhere that "Mr.Romic" was a fairly conservative builder...or was this one made by his son after he retired?

schleven

This was made by "Mr. Romic" himself. It's signed by him on the TopTube by the headset.

Haven't really found much info on 708. Would like to know some more myself.

Thanks 128 for the info on OMAS. Looks like I've got myself a pretty nice headset as well.

-Steve

avenan

708 is a main triangle of similar specs to 753 tubing, with internal ribbing for strength. Fork is 531 tubing. No clue if its ribbed as well -- if you get a chance, you could feel around in the seat tube and steerer, and see if you feel anything.

There's a Reynolds catalog somewhere that has its specifications -- I can't find the link at the moment, sorry.

Bikedued

Damn that is a sweet looking ride, and I bet it weighs next to nothing to boot. Congrats!! I live a few miles
from where it was built yet I still can't find one. Well, I DID find one. Very sweet bike with extremely low miles. Only problem is that it was about 8 cm too small for me. Arrrgh!,,,,BD