cudak888 

Possibly the same location. If anything, it's unquestionably the Mayflower II (with a different scheme as it had in '70):





Mind you, the Mayflower II is seaworthy, and has moved around a bit. There is a possibility that the '95 photo wasn't taken in the same place as the '70 photo.

-Kurt

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Hey that is really cool!

Old Fat Guy

If you can move the seatpost, you can get it out. Just be patient, don't muck anything up. EL OS is easier to damage that a lot of other steels.

cudak888 

Sure is strong stuff though.

-Kurt

Murakami

Thanks for the info. To be honest, I'm not really concerned with the team association as an issue of value. I'm mostly happy I could finally afford a De Rosa, but I'd still like to keep it in the guise I recieved it in, almost for the sake of pedantry. I'll concentrate on getting it fully functional and useable first after the advice I recieved here. Thanks guys.

Elev12k

I have my own SAAB team thing going on:



We regularly team up to pick up the finest vintage rides.

Anyway, I remember for the mid 90s that SAAB was also involved in a SAAB atb team racing Gary Fishers (Trek). De Rosas are so much cooler.

Oregon Southpaw

Wait, no bemoaning the Mayflower re-spray?

(sorry, too easy)

Old Fat Guy

Yes it is strong, but it also dents fairly easily. I would liberally spray the inside with a lubricant, shouldn't even matter which one, since the post isn't frozen, put a sacrificial saddle on the post and wedge it in a tree, then use the frame to twist it out.

That method has yet to fail me.

OP, where are you located? If you are in the USA, there is probably someone here close to you that would love to help you.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

priceless

cudak888 

That is pure brilliance, OFG - the right tree wouldn't even put a scratch on anything, and be more solid than any vise.

-Kurt

pastorbobnlnh 

Scott,

Do you think that's the Mayflower II in the SAAB picture? I don't think it is.

pastorbobnlnh 

But then again... maybe it is?

cudak888 

Have a look at the '90s photo I referenced, when it was wearing that odd scheme (I believe it's some sort of attempt at the American flag - doesn't work that well):



The spritsail is not present in the 1970 photo; that might be tripping you up.

-Kurt

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

They're both re-pops.

Everyone knows the Mayflower sunk in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg.

ScottRyder 

I've been meaning to do this for years .. drag some of my Raleighs around and photograph them in front of those historic Massachusetts sites used in the 1970 catalog . hell, one is just fifteen minutes away. Now if I could get the matching Raleigh models, that would be cool.

Scott

Murakami

Ok guys, I'm not sure if I should start a new thread, but I've started stripping the bike down. Seatpost came out a treat in the end, only probs so for are the allen bolt for rear brake is worn but I'm going to try and jam a larger allen key into it to get it working, question is whether these can be bought new separatley or not. I have also made the total amateur mistake of removing the quill stem bolt and leaving the expander behind. Of course, beacuse it's a carbon fork I'm not able to poke away at it from underneath. Have used some penetrating spray on it and had at it with a mallet, but nothing so far. I'll probably just keep at it unless anyone has any other suggestions.

Please advise if I should start new thread about my progress too. I'm finding a lot of small rust patches and can hear something rolling up and down in the top tube, anyone have this before?

DRietz

The expander is stuck in a carbon steerer? Uh...what? Put the stem back in, screw in the bolt a bit. Take a towel, and say, a crescent wrench. Fold the towel or napkin up and put it over the bolt. Give the bolt a good thwack with the side of the wrench and that thing should pop out...

Small rust patches are OK. No need to start a new thread. Take some detailed pictures of the bike for us.

Is the thing in the top tube rattling? If so, it's likely just some brass that flaked off from when the bike was built. Otherwise, if it's not metal-metal clanging, it might be a cable or housing stuck in the top tube. That would suck...

cudak888 

Did someone put non-carbon-safe grease on the expander wedge?

-Kurt

DRietz

Wait, did they ever make threaded carbon steerers? Because that is a threaded headset...

Murakami

Just to clarify, the stem is still stuck in the headtube and the bolt won't reconnect with the expander wedge. As regards the threaded carbon fork, I have had a scan through the internet and have found a couple of examples of this. This particular brand is TIME and has a Composite Advanced Technology sticker on the side of the fork.

My apologies fo lack of photos, I will try and remedy that tonight.

Murakami

Well, just to update. I finally had to pay someone to take the fork out. Unfortunately it involved clamping the the fork in a vice and as you can guess it has been recommended that I never use it again. This may not be a bad thing in the end. The bike is happily apart now.

In the meantime I lost my job, so money is very tight and I can't be spending it on a trailer queen bike, I need something I can ride in sportives etc. I had orginally hoped to go for a decent Cannondale but now I'm wondering about using the De Rosa.

One inch threaded carbon forks are quite difficult to find cheap, so I figure I may be better off just going for a mish mash of modern components on it, modern carbon forks, decent stem, new handle bars etc. I realise it may not be to everyone's tastes, but I think it will make it a more usuable bike.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

I saw this on the highway over the winter and thought of this thread.

Its a saab, looking like its for the SRAM team carrying some Team bikes.
I wish I could have taken a better shot but its all I could do not to crash at 85mph on the NYState Thruway.

Bianchigirll 

I am not sure how I missed this post the first time around. I believe the white guy sticking out of the roof is the owner/former owner of Corner Cycles in Plymouth, what was that *$#&s name..



that was a sort of "SemiPro" team in New England, the were sponsored by Gita at one time.

Murakami

Look what I found on eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ROSA-GIORD...item2313e1eefe

Too big for me, and the SAAB stickers will be gone, but pretty cool.

msquito

looks like a sweet ride if it ends up anything like mine (late 80s) you'll be super stoked... I ended up taking the bike down to its bits an rebuilding with modern parts (I know, I know, blasphemy!!!) and it's been a dream. here's a relevant teaser...