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Old 10-11-15 | 05:07 PM
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Omas

Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with Omas Components? Were they just "cheap" Campag copies or did they have some validity on their own?
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Old 10-11-15 | 06:20 PM
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OMAS components were weight-weenie replacements for heavier high-end components, e.g. aluminum stem bolts to replace the steel bolts in your Cinelli stem, aluminum pivot bolts for your Campagnolo derailleur, etc. Later they started making their own bottom brackets and headsets and such. I'm not aware of any OMAS components that could be termed "budget" or "low-end."

OMAS, main
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Old 10-11-15 | 06:29 PM
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When I needed a water bottle cage for my Schwinn Volare, the only one handy was an OMAS. I swear the bike got lighter when I installed it.
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Old 10-11-15 | 06:34 PM
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I have an Omas Big Sliding Ring crankset. Just wondering how it compared to the Campag?
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Old 10-11-15 | 06:36 PM
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I used to ride a set of OMAS hubs on my Bianchi. Beautiful, high quality hubs, very smooth, and in my opinion, at least on par with Campy.


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Old 10-11-15 | 06:37 PM
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iirc there was also an OMMAS. seem to recall that Andy Newlands carried some of their products at Stawberry from the late seventies to mid-eighties. some of the OMMAS items competed with the OMAS ones as i remember it.

unfortunately they are not listed at VB or CR.

does anyone have any knowledge to this mfr?
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Old 10-11-15 | 08:18 PM
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Originally Posted by juvela
iirc there was also an OMMAS. seem to recall that Andy Newlands carried some of their products at Stawberry from the late seventies to mid-eighties. some of the OMMAS items competed with the OMAS ones as i remember it.

unfortunately they are not listed at VB or CR.

does anyone have any knowledge to this mfr?
What are "VB or CR"?
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Old 10-11-15 | 08:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Wileyone
What are "VB or CR"?
VB = Velobase:

VeloBase.com - View Brand

CR = Classic Rendezvous -

OMAS, main

1978 catalogue -

https://www.velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_itemId=12973

Last edited by juvela; 10-11-15 at 08:39 PM. Reason: addition
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Old 10-11-15 | 08:36 PM
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Omas

CR is Classic Rendezvous.
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Old 10-11-15 | 08:39 PM
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Originally Posted by cb400bill
CR is Classic Rendezvous.
Sorry thought that was Craigs Rist...
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Old 10-11-15 | 08:59 PM
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I was thinking of buying some of their weenie stuff like the aluminum replacement clamp/pivot bolts they sell for Campy NR seatposts..... but Nahhh.... I decided they really weren't such a good idea....... Now their Ti spindled BB's, maybe I can live with...... If only I could afford them......
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Old 10-12-15 | 04:58 AM
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I've got a BB and a pair of hubs, Ti skewer. Very pretty to look at, very light, and spin like buttah. Pretty much top end stuff.
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Old 10-12-15 | 11:30 AM
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I have one pair of wheels with OMAS hubs - as AZORCH notes, they spin like buttah

Also have a spare NOS front hub (for sale) just kicking around, and another C&Ver just received a complete set from me just a week or so ago. I'm sure he'll weigh in here with his observations.

Great stuff. Finish is on a par with Campagnolo. Oh, and I use a pair of the alloy clamp/pivot bolts on the Colnago Mexico's NR seatpost. 8 years and still going strong...

Hubset:



DD
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Old 10-12-15 | 01:30 PM
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I've got a Omas Ti bottom bracket and aluminum quill bolt in my Cinelli 1R stem on my Guerciotti. Both top notch stuff and would love the Ti hardware kit for Record calipers.

One thing I never understood is the meaning behind the "Big Sliding" name.
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Old 10-12-15 | 01:39 PM
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^ Maybe it means if the Ti spindles/axles break, the rider will soon be doing some Big Sliding while picking up some road-rash in the bargain

DD
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Old 10-12-15 | 01:51 PM
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There was a Greater Demand at the time than one company, Campagnolo, could fill so there was room for other companies sales.

Roto was cheap OMAS was fine.

Campag Ti Spindle BBs were subject to failure then too.

FWIW Cinelli had an aluminum wedge bolt in their 1R stem at least there is no little rusty hex socket on top of it.

Last edited by fietsbob; 10-12-15 at 01:55 PM.
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Old 10-12-15 | 02:37 PM
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Does any one know if OMAS built Avocet cranks? *I thought I read that but my memory.... *Anyway, the Avocet crank is nicely finished & looks great on my frankenbike 3 speed Armstrong.
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Old 10-12-15 | 04:53 PM
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Originally Posted by MeadMan2
Does any one know if OMAS built Avocet cranks? *I thought I read that but my memory.... *Anyway, the Avocet crank is nicely finished & looks great on my frankenbike 3 speed Armstrong.
No. Ofmega made the cranks for Avocet.
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Old 10-12-15 | 05:27 PM
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Those Avocet cranks deserve their own thread.
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Old 10-12-15 | 09:47 PM
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
No. Ofmega made the cranks for Avocet.
Well they both do start with O.
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Old 10-12-15 | 09:52 PM
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
There was a Greater Demand at the time than one company, Campagnolo, could fill so there was room for other companies sales.

Roto was cheap OMAS was fine.

Campag Ti Spindle BBs were subject to failure then too.

FWIW Cinelli had an aluminum wedge bolt in their 1R stem at least there is no little rusty hex socket on top of it.
One of the bikes I recently picked up had some Roto components. Campy knockoff, but felt very light when I took them off.
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Old 10-12-15 | 10:14 PM
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Never heard of OMMAS but OMAS made great stuff and God only know I dreamed of having them on my bike. that was just too much for a poor high school or college kid. I did get may hands on some alum bolts and bits in the late 80s. With those water bottle bolts, I KNOW I was able to climb my regular 4 mile hill at least 2 minutes faster.
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Old 10-12-15 | 10:44 PM
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Originally Posted by look171
Never heard of OMMAS but OMAS made great stuff and God only know I dreamed of having them on my bike. that was just too much for a poor high school or college kid. I did get may hands on some alum bolts and bits in the late 80s. With those water bottle bolts, I KNOW I was able to climb my regular 4 mile hill at least 2 minutes faster.
Just make sure you grease (or use anti-seize compound) those Al waterbottle bolts once in a while as they will seize on to those steel bosses in short time, especially as it kinda gets wet in that area often.....
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Old 10-12-15 | 11:07 PM
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Omas sold at a premium over Campagnolo back in the day. Their quality was always top notch. Their BB, headsets and hubs all weighed less than Campagnolo and were very long-lasting. I have a bike fitted with a full selection of Omas components.

Big sliding is without a doubt a poor English translation. I believe they wanted to indicate on the box "grande scorrevolezza" which using a direct dictionary translation would be rendered as "big sliding" whereas a more appropriate translation should have been "super smooth" referring to how the parts worked, or "Great smoothness". I have never been convinced that this was meant to be a model name but rather a description of the part.
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Old 10-13-15 | 04:01 AM
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I fitted light weight OMAS replacement nuts/bolts for their Campy SR counterparts to my best, never sell, bike. I reckon they're a prestigious upgrade and components I chased for quite some time.

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