Tommaso - Take Two
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Tommaso - Take Two
Since Narhay posted his beautiful Tomasso...I thought I would take the opportunity to post about my baby...my Tommaso! Different paint scheme, same era! I now have mine outfitted with Campy stuff...the drivetrain is Campy Chorus Racing Triple, the brakes and shifters/brake levers are Record. This bike is one of the ones that gave me back my love of riding...I simply get on her and ride. I am also posting some pics of another Tommaso I had...and wish I had kept...the pink one that you see below...
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Wow, the Tommaso's are coming out of the woodwork! Where have you guys been hiding them all this time? They really look beautiful and have nice attention to detail. They look well built and have a racy looking geometry to. Nice!
So since we know that they are made in America by an American, was the "Tommaso" name a marketing gimmick to make the brand sound Italian?
So since we know that they are made in America by an American, was the "Tommaso" name a marketing gimmick to make the brand sound Italian?
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I have the Tomasso 'raw' frame below that is going to get some love and a build out. Any ideas about how to tell WHICH model of Tomasso it might be since it is free of labels. From what I have learned of the history, the importer, Ten Speed Direct, went under with unpainted frames in storage. I bought this from an SF LBS as a naked frame in about 2003 and I think it is an early 1990's model.
I have gear to build it out, but I am very up-in-the-air about colors...
Thanks for your thoughts.
I have gear to build it out, but I am very up-in-the-air about colors...
Thanks for your thoughts.
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An SLX Tomasso that passed through The Lab a couple of years ago. 55cm, so too small for me, but a nice rider. First Italian BB I ever worked on.
Had been powder coated in CA by the PO. I bought it as a bare frame and built it up with Shimano 1050/1055.
My understanding is that most of these were built by the Billato brothers in Italy, then shipped to TSD for painting in the USA.
Had been powder coated in CA by the PO. I bought it as a bare frame and built it up with Shimano 1050/1055.
My understanding is that most of these were built by the Billato brothers in Italy, then shipped to TSD for painting in the USA.
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Wow, the Tommaso's are coming out of the woodwork! Where have you guys been hiding them all this time? They really look beautiful and have nice attention to detail. They look well built and have a racy looking geometry to. Nice!
So since we know that they are made in America by an American, was the "Tommaso" name a marketing gimmick to make the brand sound Italian?
So since we know that they are made in America by an American, was the "Tommaso" name a marketing gimmick to make the brand sound Italian?
Based on my limited sample size of two...I highly recommend these bikes...both that I owned were great looking and riding (what more can you ask for in a bike?)...value wise, I find them to be highly variable, but mainly based on components that are on the bike. Both of mine were purchased for reasonable prices with full Dura Ace (age appropriate)...
#7
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Wow, the Tommaso's are coming out of the woodwork! Where have you guys been hiding them all this time? They really look beautiful and have nice attention to detail. They look well built and have a racy looking geometry to. Nice!
So since we know that they are made in America by an American, was the "Tommaso" name a marketing gimmick to make the brand sound Italian?
So since we know that they are made in America by an American, was the "Tommaso" name a marketing gimmick to make the brand sound Italian?
I have the Tomasso 'raw' frame below that is going to get some love and a build out. Any ideas about how to tell WHICH model of Tomasso it might be since it is free of labels. From what I have learned of the history, the importer, Ten Speed Direct, went under with unpainted frames in storage. I bought this from an SF LBS as a naked frame in about 2003 and I think it is an early 1990's model.
I have gear to build it out, but I am very up-in-the-air about colors...
Thanks for your thoughts.
I have gear to build it out, but I am very up-in-the-air about colors...
Thanks for your thoughts.
As I understand the history of Tommaso...the bikes were originally Italian and imported by Ten Speed Drive Imports (both of the ones I have owned had the TSD stickers). Eventually...and others may know the timing, but I think sometime in the 80's, the brand "became" American...so, no, I do not think that Tommaso is a "gimmick"
Based on my limited sample size of two...I highly recommend these bikes...both that I owned were great looking and riding (what more can you ask for in a bike?)...value wise, I find them to be highly variable, but mainly based on components that are on the bike. Both of mine were purchased for reasonable prices with full Dura Ace (age appropriate)...
Based on my limited sample size of two...I highly recommend these bikes...both that I owned were great looking and riding (what more can you ask for in a bike?)...value wise, I find them to be highly variable, but mainly based on components that are on the bike. Both of mine were purchased for reasonable prices with full Dura Ace (age appropriate)...
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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#8
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Very cool. Thanks for posting.
Mine is very smooth and feels very racey but on the big side for me and...to be honest...I've been spoiled by brifters.
Mine is very smooth and feels very racey but on the big side for me and...to be honest...I've been spoiled by brifters.
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Here's mine.
And here are a couple of catalogs.
https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalog...so88%28tsd%29/
https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalog...so85%28tsd%29/
And here are a couple of catalogs.
https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalog...so88%28tsd%29/
https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalog...so85%28tsd%29/
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Mmmmmm.....Yellow Regal!
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In the valuation thread, I just posted a good quote from the LinkedIn page of the guy who ran the factory that made Tomasso and many other brands on an oem basis. Now that I know so many brands came from the same shop, I see many more detail similarities between Rossin, Colnago, Tomasso and other frames from the same period. Cool.
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/922666-Tomasso-What-Year
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/922666-Tomasso-What-Year
#12
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My frame looks very similar to the TL 8700 from the 85' catalog but mine is the Sante group, ambrosio bar and stem and araya rims so perhaps they came in different flavours.
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Think I might have your Tommaso frame, paid way too much for it on ebay around this time last year, impulse buy based on colour before I knew anything about steel bikes or their relative value. Now that the pain of paying is forgotten, nearly, I'm quite happy about the colour and quality of the frame.
The reason I think it's the same frame is because of the paint chips just above the downtube shifter braze on, could be coincidence but think it's too similar.
Haven't done anything with it yet as a few other projects came along as I was deciding whether to go retro or modern. Have a few retro built bikes now and think I'm not someone to ride everyday on friction shifters. The frame is worthy of more regular outings so think I will go the brifters route once other tinkerings are out of the way - Would be nice to have it on the road for summer.
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Think I might have your Tommaso frame, paid way too much for it on ebay around this time last year, impulse buy based on colour before I knew anything about steel bikes or their relative value. Now that the pain of paying is forgotten, nearly, I'm quite happy about the colour and quality of the frame.
The reason I think it's the same frame is because of the paint chips just above the downtube shifter braze on, could be coincidence but think it's too similar.
Haven't done anything with it yet as a few other projects came along as I was deciding whether to go retro or modern. Have a few retro built bikes now and think I'm not someone to ride everyday on friction shifters. The frame is worthy of more regular outings so think I will go the brifters route once other tinkerings are out of the way - Would be nice to have it on the road for summer.
The reason I think it's the same frame is because of the paint chips just above the downtube shifter braze on, could be coincidence but think it's too similar.
Haven't done anything with it yet as a few other projects came along as I was deciding whether to go retro or modern. Have a few retro built bikes now and think I'm not someone to ride everyday on friction shifters. The frame is worthy of more regular outings so think I will go the brifters route once other tinkerings are out of the way - Would be nice to have it on the road for summer.
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#17
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Since this has evolved into 'Show Your Tommaso' thread here is mine. I believe it is a '92 with TSX tubeset.
Last edited by rjhammett; 01-09-15 at 08:48 PM.
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Wow, this is seriously tempting!
Tommaso Vintage Road Bicycle Frame Fork Columbus SLX Tubing Late 80's Italy | eBay
Looks like a real beauty for a great price!
Tommaso Vintage Road Bicycle Frame Fork Columbus SLX Tubing Late 80's Italy | eBay
Looks like a real beauty for a great price!
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#20
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I have seen better prices for a Tommaso frameset on eBay. I paid about $200 shipped for my frameset early last year. Mine is in excellent condition (see above photo). That being said, it is a large frame and not everyone may like the colors. But, with a good BIN price it would be tempting if it was my size.
Wow, this is seriously tempting!
Tommaso Vintage Road Bicycle Frame Fork Columbus SLX Tubing Late 80's Italy | eBay
Looks like a real beauty for a great price!
Tommaso Vintage Road Bicycle Frame Fork Columbus SLX Tubing Late 80's Italy | eBay
Looks like a real beauty for a great price!
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Wow, this is seriously tempting!
Tommaso Vintage Road Bicycle Frame Fork Columbus SLX Tubing Late 80's Italy | eBay
Looks like a real beauty for a great price!
Tommaso Vintage Road Bicycle Frame Fork Columbus SLX Tubing Late 80's Italy | eBay
Looks like a real beauty for a great price!
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Hmmm, an Italian made SLX frame in nice shape for $229?
That's tough to find.
If I was in the market, I'd jump on it.
That's tough to find.
If I was in the market, I'd jump on it.
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Just came into a Tommaso and have been digging the threads. Thanks all!
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That fuscia Tomasso was one of the most iconic bikes in the mid-1980s. It was featured in ads in the magazines with full C-Record, Rolls saddle and leather wrapped bars. Pure eye candy in 1986.
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I know this a really old thread, but since it's been resurrected, I'll post mine up. One of the best bikes I've had, and my daily rider.
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