jamie1954

I am looking for help in identifying the year of manufacture and model of an older De Rosa I bought a few weeks back.

The fellow I got it from, and I have no reason to doubt him, said he bought it used in Milan in 1987, so I know it is at least that old.

On the inside of the crank arms there is a small diamond with the numeral 3 in it. I have read that indicates 1973,\; however I have also read it indicates 1983.

Also I have read that the serial number should be on the frame underneath the bottom bracket. And there is a number there but it almost unreadable. It appears to be either 1473 or 1478.

However I have read that De Rosa serial numbers are two letters followed by three numerals. Perhaps what I am seeing as a “1” is an “I.” I have also been told De Rosa serial numbers contain nine numerals. Even though this is hard to make out, it is clear there were never 9 numerals there.

The bike appears to be completely original except for the wheels, tires and chain. But since I have never seen one of these before I may be wrong. or some reason all the decals are gone. Maybe someone intended to paint it and never did.

A set of Campagnolo Delta brakes (un-mounted) came with the bike.

The bike actually rides well, although a little small for me. It does need some cosmetic work though.

Any ideas of exactly what I’ve got or where to find more info would be greatly appreciated.

Ex Pres 

For the crank, diamond is 70's, circle is 80's. The front derailleur is later than '78 The rear derailleur should be dated, too. I can't see if the brake calipers have domed q/r handle or flat (also pre/post '78), and the one skewer I see appears to be curved (post'78).

jamie1954

Brake caliper

Ex Pres 

Interesting - that's pre'78. I think all you can safely say from the components are that some have been replaced. But with the crank and the early brakes, that might have been original & maybe it is really '73ish. Now we need a DeRosa expert to chime in on frame details. That's definitely not me.

And there's a standard plumbing o-ring you can use on the brake cable adjuster. Don't pay for a "real" one.

jamie1954

Maybe this is a bike that was cobbled together from various parts.

MetinUz

Looks a lot like my '73 with pantographed NR parts, definitely '70s with pressed lugs. Could we have pictures of the bottom bracket area, also headlugs?

Wulf

Could the top tube and shifter bosses have been added later?

Wildwood 

if the fit is poor and you part it out. Put me in line for the stem; lightweight Modolo stem (fits nicely on a smaller than 60cm frame) or a black DeRosa panto seatpost in trade, or cash, or some combo. Many people are not impressed with the performance of Deltas, so a swap-out by prior owner might be quite likely. They're pricey.

Good luck with a clean-up and if the wheels are sufficiently light you should have an excellent ride. This is one frame where 23mm or even 21 tires are appropriate, short of commuting. Tubulars can be a big improvement. What size? 56? Tubing label or fragments?

edit: Classic Rendezvous, 72 red DeRosa
https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Ita...972_derosa.htm

gomango

Send De Rosa an email.

Go to their website, find the email link, give them details and pic.

Then wait.

It usually gets replied to in less than a week.

Wildwood 

The '72 from CR has no top tube cable guides, how about your '73?
Seatstay caps on '72 not like original posters.

jamie1954

I'll post more pics tomorrow.

MetinUz

That's true, no top cable guides, and different lugs. Same components, so maybe these were moved over from an earlier frame?

jamie1954

The bike I have has no top cable guides. However it appears that at some time someone rerouted the brake cables along the handlebars and wrapped tape around them.

vjp

Not a '73.

Short or long rear dropouts? If short, probably late '70's at the earliest.

jamie1954

How can I determine short from long dropouts? What's the difference?

tremolo1965

It is early and very rare, even for a De Rosa. I would recommend that you ignore any offers from buyers until you know what you have (not trying to to rude here - I have a '70s model, posted pics, and I know this from experience...)

If you haven't already - Google 'pressed lug De Rosa' and have at it. You have something special - congratulations on a very nice bicycle!

jamie1954

Tremolo,


Thanks for you comments on the De Rosa. I have been checking various web sites, including the one you mention, for for more info. However there is, at least to me some confusing info out there.


This is the first older De Rosa I have ever seen, much less owned thus I was wondering if you would tell me specifically what makes you think the bike I have is old and rare. I certainly hope it is but as I said I keep running across a lot of confusing/contradictory information. For instance - short dropouts vs. long ones - how long is long? Not having anything to compare it to knowing an actual length would help.


I am also coming to understand that on some De Rosas, especially circa early to mid 1970's, several versions of some design features, lugs and fork crowns, etc. may have been used in a single year or over a few years.


Thanks for your help, I do appreciate it.

tremolo1965

Hello jamie1954,

There are numerous folks on this forum that have a very in-depth knowledge of this era of De Rosa bicycles. Check out this link:

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...-timeline.html

The link above was a thread discussing a draft / attempt at a timeline of early De Rosa bikes - they vary a lot especially before the mid-late 1980s, so although it is useful, it is less than complete. More importantly, there is a distinction made between the frames built before c. 1980. Take a few minutes and read the thread.

One more thing - Note that one of the clear-cut features of your bicycle is the positioning of the binder-bolt ears on the seat lug - it's spelled out in the thread - yours also features hand done heart cut-outs in the frame lugs (the lugs were extensively hand-work by the frame-builder (either Ugo De Rosa or an apprentice / family member).

Hope this helps..

dadoflam

I agree the binder lugs are set low - to me this has always meant pre-investment casting era (before 1980) - also from the few I have seen the design on the top of the seat stays was slightly different in the late 70's - I'm betting pre '77

jamie1954

Thanks to all who have shown and interest in the De Rosa I have been trying to ID. I wanted to let you know the mystery has been solved. Over the weekend I found the email contact info for Cristiano De Rosa (it is on their website , but it wasn't easy to find). I sent him a description of the bike and photos. Today I received the reply from him that his father, Ugo, had made the frame in 1972.
Unfortunately he did not say how he determined that or if the bike is a particular model.
Again, thanks for your interest.
Jamie

jeirvine 

Congratulations. A '72 De Rosa is a pretty special bike. Not many were made, and those that were were often made for pro teams. They began making bikes for Eddy Merckx around that year and De Rosa's won many many top races during the early and mid-'70's.