Anybody know anything about old Italian road bikes?
 

I just picked up an old Italian bike for free that had been sitting outside for probably the last few years or so.

The brand is "Officine Meccaniche". It has Campy hubs and shifters, Rigida rims, Weinmann brakes, and Sun Tour Derailleurs. It is in pretty rough shape from sitting outside, has surface rust on the frame and some of the components but isn't actually that far gone.

Is this bike anything special? The frame is too large for me so would it be worth restoring or should I just strip the components for other projects?

Thanks and any info is appreciated.
(sorry for the crappy quality cell phone pics)


http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/PIC-0124.jpg

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/PIC-0125.jpg

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/PIC-0126.jpg

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/PIC-0128.jpg

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/PIC-0130.jpg

The brand is Atala.

the brand of bike is actually "atala" The campy bits seem nice, not terribly high end i think, maybe tipo hubs? and the suntour rd is midrange at best. Better pics of the lugs & components would help i think. Any serial numbers on the frame?

Needs a Resto and a campag NR setup !, seems mid range tho,but ,I think it,s a cracker early 70,s I think, are those "Nervex" lugs I see ? mmm bit of a mixture mystery !

1973 catalog flyer
http://classicrendezvous.com/images/...a/Ata_lstL.gif

Suntour derailleur not original.

The parts on it are contemporary in quality and price, if it fits, and the wheels are true or true-able, clean it up.

You will not get rich from it. It might need new tires, cables brake blocks, hopefully not a chain. The saddle will either be comfortable enough or need replacement.

Ok, will I be the first to bring up that dreaded question, is the frame bent? The head tube angle looks a bit steep. I don't mean to start a flame war as these things sometimes devolve into but inspect the top tube and down tube just behind the head tube lugs to see if there is any damage there. It just doesn't look kosher like maybe it's been in a front end collision. Anyway, it looks like the Atala Gran Prix model, a nice mid-range bike of the period (I must be trolling today, dang ;) ) but in that condition you'll have a lot of work to do to get it in good shape. IIRC "Officine Meccaniche" is the official name of OfMega, an Italian component manufacturer. I'm assuming you're reading that off a decal or components like the crankset.

Upon review, the fork at least looks pushed back some, no comment on the frame.
repairable, just adds to the estimate of refurbishment.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the frame or fork, though I initially had the same suspicion. The closeup of the shifters doesn't show any sign of paint rippling or cracking immediately behind the headlug that is indicative of frame damage. The difference in the angle of the front fork appears to be due to the front wheel being turned slightly towards the camera, which is readily apparent in the shadows.

+1 to it being a boom era, Atala Grand Prix with replacement rear deraileeur. (Note; The ad is incorrect. It was Grand Prix, not Gran Prix) These were mid-range bicycles and real eye candy with all the chrome. Unfortunately the head lugs and crown appear to quite heavily rusted and I don't think they'll clean up well. The Campagnolo Nuovo Valentino derailleurs left something to be desired and a SunTour replacement is not a surprise. The best feature of the bicycle is the wheelset. Campagnolo Tipo hubs laced to Fiamme aluminum clinchers made a nice wheelset.

If you live in a high price market, a restoration may be warranted, but I suspect there is more work than you anticipate.

I wondered about that. Seemed to be mixing French and Italian :)

I agree with Kommi, the frame at least looks kinked just behind the down tube head lug. The bike is supposed to be Gran Sport equipped. The shifters are GS, the hubs are Nuovo Tipo, but the front and rear Suntours are not original. It was reasonable to replace those Gran Sport parts with Suntour at some time in the bike's life, but now seems regrettable.

My kink ratio is very low, so I really believe this frame needs to be checked carefully.

Good luck sorting that out. I remember I had the same question back in the day.

Thanks for all the replies.


The Serial number is WEL7710 and opposite that there is the number 25.
The frame is not bent. I think it was just the angle the bike was in the picture. The lugs on the head tube look fine (though pretty rusty).

I live in Boston (is this considered a high price market these days?) and the frame is too large for me so I will probably be looking to get rid of it.

That's how I read the advert, and see the condition.

Could be a nice enough rider - either as a beater, or if you want to put more into it, as a restored/repainted bike. of course on the condition it's safe to ride. That downtube does look tweaked.

Worst case - you got some respectable parts for free.