Hi everybody, my name is Thomas Schreier, aka mozzy66 on ebay, I live in Zurich Switzerland. I manage and build up my bicycle business along my money job since 5 years and I love it. I was kindly contacted by Jon from bikeforums about the accusations placed here by Tina Indalecio from Tommasini USA.

These are the facts:

I talk to Alessandro Malentacchi from the Tommasini family in Grosseto on the phone regularly. I was on the phone with him this morning and we had a heated debate about this very serious accusation placed here in public towards me. We are all pretty upset, especially me.

I bouhgt and sold a big chunk of the Tommasini stock in vintage steel frames and bicycles over a good period of time. After 3 years of a most gratifying development of our collaboration, I asked Tommasini whether they were interested in developing a frame where I outlined the requirements according to my experience as a bicycle dealer specialized in steel frames and with some connections to the local velo and courier scene here in Zurich. The goal was a relatively low cost track frame, something they did not have in their program, to help them extend their market and fill gaps in their production. Tommasini agreed to produce some small steel frame series exclusively with me. The first series was a TIG welded track frame, named Gorilla, where we used some obsolete Columbus tubing Tommasini had in his warehouse. For the other series Tommasini only produced a couple of samples, they are nicely chromed road frames branded Gorilla, carrying their T head badge on the stearing tube.

All these activities have obviously become a needle in the eye of Tommasini USA. Who really wants to know about my and other Tommasini frames, go back to the source and call Tommasini in Grosseto Italy (0039 056 445 50 06), ask for Barbara Tommasini, she is fluent in English, she will be able to clarify the situation.

Tina Indalecio’s statement is a defamation, trying to endamage my reputation as a dealer of steelframes manufactured in Italy. I offer Tommasini frames amongst other products and brands. I work directly with Tommasini in Italy, our collaboration is based on a twosided appreciation. Unfortunately, Tommasini Italy sold the rights to their brand to Tommasini USA, so Tommasini USA have them in a difficult position I guess.

Tommasini USA is creating a big fuss about a couple of frames that american customers bought from me rather than from them (which is normal in the age of ebay and all the stores on www). They actually recieve calls from people (and I guess amongst those also requests from retailers) who want to buy that type of frame because it is nice - and Tommasini USA has to say sorry, no, we don’t have that frame. But why not, everybody wants it, they are replied. So there we go: This is actually what I was suggesting Tommasini in the first place: make something fun, explore new land, reach new custumers.

I am working on building up my business as a small niche bicycle distributer (Gorilla Bicycles), working directly with a couple of the finest Italian bicycle manufacturers - and do you think I would take that risk and throw away 5 years of hard work for a couple of fake frames? With the internet today and the bicycle community being so well informed and connected, this would be a very short sighted enterprise.

Last but not least: The Tommasini produce very beautiful steel frames, perfect in detail and finish. I know how much dedication it takes to being able to offer a product at such a high standard. The Tommasini manufacturers are honest, fun and professional people, that cultivate their craftsmanship on a very high level. They have my highest respect and appreciation. They are amongst the few who resisted the Chinese take over and still exclusively produce in Europe.

For any further information please contact me at thomas@gorillabicycles.com.

That was a lot of reading, thank you for your time and interest.