gomango

So we are all supposed to say great job?

Now that's a bit much.

Narhay

Here's a Bambi quote for you:

"If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all". - Thumper

gomango

Here's a Bambi quote from me.

Bring on the venison roast, steaks and sausage.

Mighty tasty.

Narhay

Probably Bambi's mother

gomango

Could well be.

Equally tasty.

KonAaron Snake 

+1 - I don't think it takes a fortune teller to predict that De Rosa fans who are passionate about the brand, and who saved and waited to own De Rosas, might find this brand imitation in rather poor taste.

FYI - the hunter shot Bambi's mom for pretending to be the black stallion. Good riddance.

iab

Where is the line? And why isn't that line arbitrary?

I suspect most of the people who don't like this "reproduction" have "fake" Campagnolo world logo hoods on their brake levers.

How about a damaged frame and you replace a tube. Is it "fake"? What about 2 tubes? Three?

KonAaron Snake 

Did I say it wasn't arbitrary? It's like everything else, case by case and subjective.

David Newton

Shoot! I guess riding season is over.

iab

Just asking. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, not poor taste.

repechage

The "line" is variable, no argument. In the case presented by the original poster he cited that he like the brand, did not have one and essentially decided to create one as reproduction graphics were accessible while he set about refurbishing his bike. To a large number of informed prospective buyers of a DeRosa this bike would not be given a second look. To the more casual observer it could confuse or misdirect their view of the brand. That is not very fair to Ugo as he worked hard to build that brand and here is an imposter mucking things up. DeRosa still builds some steel bikes further messing things up.

The argument about replica Campagnolo hoods is an interesting one, a vintage part abandoned by the OEM. I have a number of bikes with torn hoods, some with wrong era hoods, the white and black originals seem to last longer than the gum rubber ones. I would like some plain ones with better parting line choices than the units marketed by Euro- Asia. I wish I could find more A'ME hoods.
Note DeRosa has not abandoned steel frames.

As to a repaired bike, many collectors shy away from reprinted frames just for the possible stories that can be covered over. Frame repair is interesting, sometimes it takes a keen eye to see the effort. I would call them modificati, unfortunately bikes don't have to have log books, so it goes. There is no agreed upon way to proclaim a major repair.

KonAaron Snake 

To comment further on the above, I would view the use of a repro campy hood much the same way I viewed the use of a repro decal; perfectly fine when used on the appropriate part. Still - if selling, it must be disclosed. The key difference to me is that the repro hood is going on a campy part. The availability mentioned above is also a key difference. If someone tried to modify dia compe levers and used campy hoods to make them look like Campys, I would likely not be a fan. What about DiaCompe hoods on campy levers? I have that on a few. The difference is that I'm using that hood for practical reasons, not trying to make a campy lever a dia compe lever.

As far as the repair to a bike, it's an interesting question. There was a classic philosophy question that was similar called the ship of Theseus. If his ship was repaired over years, is it still his ship? Do the new bits become original as they are incorporated? Would a new ship made from the original bits be his ship? At what point of repair does it cease to be his ship? I'm an aspiring accountant now - I just want to know if it had a capital gain recorded in the period.

Once a tube is modified, it is not the original bike to me and I would be unlikely to purchase it. It should be disclosed at sale. I wouldn't have an issue with the person calling it by it's name because most of it was at one point. The repair wasn't made to obfuscate, it was done to use an item.

rootboy 

Read this whole thread with interest. I can see all points, and subscribe to a few. Aside from whether or not this should be done, what I'm really trying to figure out is why someone would want to. With no offense meant to the OP…whatever blows your skirt up, I guess… but I don't understand the motivation for doing this. I'm afraid I don't get it.

big chainring 

There are a couple bikes that always catch my attention that are basicly the same thing as the OP's bike. A Raleigh Record in Team Raleigh paint job, and a Falcon/Merckx. Both are basicly faux race bikes, replicating true racing bikes. Sure its a licensed product but still, a "fake".

With the availability of repro decals I am sure many faux DeRosa, Colnago, etc. bikes are wondering the streets.

iab

I'm the same way with flames painted on a car. All I can do is deadpan to myself, Your car is on fire.

repechage

The desire for Ornament.

rootboy 

There's something to be said for a cool Hot Rod. But when I see a totally stock '32 or '40 Ford in minty shape, I'm way more impressed.

repechage

Don't forget the entry level Gios bikes in the 70's too. (Those interestingly are ignored by Gios in their corporate history)

All of those just cited though are as noted "approved" applications. One can make a case as not smart, obviously the product manager felt it was a good idea in a profit margin kind of way. That goes in contrast to a use where the owner of the brand received no compensation, a significant difference.

iab

I get hot rods. I have some ideas for a 64-66 T-bird convertible (those are pretty "cheap" right now, not on anyone's hot list). But there will be no flames. I don't get that.

Wildwood 

^ +1
A DeRosa owner here. (and kinda passionate about DeRosa/Campy/raceworthy/etc)
Hey - somebody out there needs a derosa with double eyelets on their stamped rear dropouts. How else are you gonna cleanly attach fenders and a rear rack? A grocery getter - call it the family man's derosa.
As long as it gets ridden and scratched once in a while - it's OK in my book.
The cheap ones are just bicycles after all.
Nice work by the OP in making it prettier and a clean ride.
Coming on summer Down Under - may all your winds be at your tail.

final edit: RobbieTunes started a C&V thread today - Race, Commute, Gravel, Grocery Get = 1 bike. Maybe OP nailed it - The grocery getting, rain bike, with fatter tires for the commute, that can (new moon) moonlight as the sexy Italian race bike/cheap date. Yeah, yeah - that's the ticket.

degan

I think that there is nothing wrong with what OP did, as long as he doesn't try to sell it as a DeRosa, obviously. But seriously, who is negatively effected by this? It doesn't dilute the market if it is never on the market. To 95% of the population it's just an old road bike and the DeRosa name doesn't mean anything to them anyway. To the 5% who know vintage Italian road bikes, they would probably be able to tell is a Japanese frame from the geometry, shape, etc. before they even got close enough for their failing eyes to notice the decals.

repechage

If you have had your design work ripped off, I think you would have a different view.

degan

You're right, I'm sure Ugo is cursing the gods as we speak.

Seriously though, who is being negatively effected by this? It's not like hes pumping out fakes left and right. They sell the decals on ebay. I could buy a set and make myself DeRosa lawnmower if I wanted. The only people I could see getting mad about this is someone who spent big bucks on a real DeRosa and are upset because, to the layperson who doesn't know vintage bikes, the only obvious difference is the price.

KonAaron Snake 

I don't see anyone "getting mad about it", I see people who find it silly and of questionable value.

degan

I think you're right. It would be a silly things to was time being mad about.