I recently got a late 90's Tomassini Sintesi steel frame bike. 2 questions:
1. I will be replacing the cables and the rear brake cable passes inside the top tube. Does anybody know if there is a tube inside the tube to guide the new cable through, or do I have to pull it through with the old cable?
2. Tried to find by Google search the Tomassini web site - it was there a few months ago, but can't find it now - are they still around?
Thanks.
- Michael

There is a guide in the top tube, thus no need to pull through with the old cabling.

Tommasini website - www.ridetommasini.com

Ran across this problem with my own Tommasini, although mine is an early 90's. I dont believe there is a cable tube inside the top tube. I replaced my old cables with some Campy Super Record cables and remember I had a bit of a time trying to fish the new ones out of the exit tube (near the seat lug). If I had to do it again I would pull the inner steel cable out of the housing (thats still in the bike) and maybe connect the old housing to the new housing someway, then pull it all the way thru.

After that just snake in the inner cable into the newly installed outer housing and your good to go. The inner cable will slide right on thru the new housing without any problems. As far as brake cables go, Campy Record has an inner teflon housing that slides inside the tougher outer housing. The steel cable slides inside it.

enjoy

Sorry, forgot all about your second question.

https://www.tommasini.com/

https://www.clubtommasini.com/index.html

Interesting WR - my late 80's SP has a guide - I suppose I assumed that all would. Sorry for the mis-information.

[QUOTE]

oops, sorry Rad.

On the OP's Sintesi it may very well have an inner cable tube inside the top tube. Unfortunately, on my bike, which is a '91 'Comp', does not have such luxuries. I remember I had a b'tch of a time trying to get the new housing in. Maybe in the mid 90's, or sometime after my bike was made Tommasini done something about that.


hmmmm

I sent an email to Tomassini asking about this - will post their response here if they reply. Thanks for the answers.
- Michael

Yes, quite interesting Rad....... Are you sure there is a complete inner metal tube going all the way through the top tube on your Super Prestige? I mean, if it did it would make good sence. My bike has the cable guides brazed into the top tube (one in the front, and one in the back) sticking out about an inch, but it doesn't run all the way through (that I remember anyway).

I do know that when I replaced my cables two summers ago, I had a hard time trying to fish the new cable (housing) out into the exit tube. Seems like I had to snare it to get it through. This does have my interest piq'd though. If the guide does run all the way through, I find it hard to believe Tommasini would only do that to certain models. Since mine is the 'comp' model (competizione) and lower on the food chain than top of the line 'Super Prestige', maybe they did.

Four years ago an RBR member sent me scanned copies of original early 90's Tommasini sales brochures sold through 'Colorado Cyclist', who was one of the stateside importers at that time. The brochures were eye-opening to say the least. They showed every paint option they offered, and they were all beautiful. I remember the 'Super Prestige' was top of the heap, and listed for $970 for frame and fork (in 91-92 dollars). The 'Comp' was a bit cheaper at around $800, but had the lightest frame in Columbus SL. Of course all this is before 'Sintesi' or 'Tecno' models came out, by a good 7 or 8 years. All the Tommasinis' I ever seen were beautifully made and gorgeous in paint. Absolutely breathtaking.

Unfortunately, I had a computer crash shortly after that and lost the pics (yeah, tell me about it)

an inner guide makes sense if you store it out of the rain and dry it after wet rides. The brake cable housing can rust solidly to the guide tube, thoroughly bumming the owner out when it is time to change housings.

On a related, less painful note: you bend a tiny hook in the end of a broken spoke, run the cable into the frame, and fish the cable out with the little hook. Then run the cable housing down the cable wire and it'll pop out at the other end. It's easier than it sounds...Kleins have no internal tube and they work in a similar fashion: run an inner lining into the frame, fish it out with the little hook, and then run the cable wire.

No bait on the hook? Not even a little worm? Sounds pretty tricky to catch that cable. This sounds like the best method I've heard so far, from genejockey over in the Bicycle Mechanics forum:

"So, I guess what I'm saying is, if yours is like mine, DON'T pull both the cable and the housing out! I'd suggest feeding the new cable (with the original soldered end) through the old housing, then pull the old housing out and feed the new housing over the new cable. Voila! New cable and housing."
https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-mechanics/360473-cable-inside-top-tube-replacement.html

I stand corrected.

2 weeks ago, I fed a cable through the top tube and it easily came out the other side...leading me to believe there was a guide there. Tonight, I pulled it out and tried again....big mistake. There is definitely not one there.....

Again...my apologies for the mis-information. I'm still new to the Tommasini experience.

55/Rad

I have a bike with internal routing. When the time comes to change cables, I just remove the seat with post and use my index finger to point the new cable up the hole from inside the toptube. I have never had a problem with this method. Guess you need quite long and slim fingers, though.

Helluva experience, aint it Rad!!


"yellowcanoe" you got any pics of that Sintesi?

Bike's at home, I'm at work unfortunately Will try to post some over the weekend. I think you'll like the paint job

Another great idea - as in why didn't I think of that!

I tried for 10 minutes and gave up. Figured I'd deal with it once the frame returns from its trip back to the factory in a couple of months. I just got lucky the first time....

I don't know about the Tommasini, but the 'hole', in the top/seat tube lug is nothing more than

a 'peephole', on my '86? Montello. (no room to stick anything, let alone one's finger.)

My Ambrosi ('85/'86/'87?) has both the rear brake cable 'buried' (ala Pinarello) as well as the

rear mechanical cable. (chain stay)

In order to fit both cables through their respective tubes, a small 'kink', was put in the wire

about 1 inch from the end, measured for app length, fed through the tube, and slowly rotated.

Top tube, no problem; chainstay, maybe 2 minutes. once finished, the o/s cover is installed.


Regards,
J T

See post today: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/361335-tommasisn-sintesi-photos.html


JT: Checked out my seat tube - I also have a very narrow opening to the top tube, not enough to get a finger into to guide the cable.

You have to remove the old cables and let the new one pass though the inner cable routing (unless the previous customer required not to put the standard inner cable routing on that frame). If you send me the code stamped into your bottom bracket I can find out more about that frame for you. As for if we are still around - YES - our US website is www.ridetommasini.com