Wanted: De Rosa "Knowledge"

Howdy,

I have what I believe (trusted previous owner info) to be a De Rosa SLX, it seems they are notoriously tricky to ID.
I'm looking for some 'knowledge' as I have very little in this area.
What i do know is that it's just on the small side of my ideal sizing. It's feather light and a great ride, but one more my size would be even better :]

Unfortunately, the frame was re-painted (and re-stickered) by previous owner, i personally think it has lost some of the finer details. Also, it came with carbon forks, not original steel ones. As i'm looking for a bigger frame, rather than strip it I am going to cut my losses, leave it as is and see what interest I get and invest/trade for a larger De Rosa SLX.

I know it's not a FG, or SS (yet) but would anyone be up for looking at a few pics, shedding some light, or confirming what i know in return for some beer tokens and/or donation to the forum.

Cheers in advance.

Ben

*Attached a few pics that I have to hand, can take more specific ones if needed.

5 Attachments

it has the same lugs as my de rosa and the same embroiding on the top of the seat stays (mine is a track frame and a 1981). is there anything written on the dropouts?

the bottom bracket lug is different, but then, this is a road frame.

I think just Campag, might go down the shed and have a check. early 80's would sound about right from previous sellers info though.
found a close up pic if that helps for now.

1 Attachment

Stllaquid....

its hard to decipher, my has de rosa written on all dropouts, but then again...track frame.

Also the geometry looks like a de rose from that time. relatively steep steering (is that the right word?) angle and far forward bb with not so steep seat tube angle.

Stllaquid....

fair doo's, i'll keep a running total

The brake cable run externally under the top tube (if original) would make it late 90's/2k, but beyond that it's had to tell. It has the trademark Diamante chainstays (diamond profile) and classic later De Rosa road geometry. You can't really go wrong with a steel De Rosa, some were better than others but all were better than most unlike Colnago et al who tarted their brand on some real rubbish. This looks on the face of it to be fairly modern but a nice example if you can live without the original fork. Is that a Centaur gruppo on there?

Buy something you're sure of...

...in titanium.

Is that a Centaur gruppo on there?

It's Chorus throughout.

Cheers guys, most important for me is to make sure I have the same frame just a few cm's bigger. De Rosa or not, its a nice ride and i'd trust a larger version to be a dream for me.

Buy something you're sure of...

...in titanium.

Good advice.

I wish......
However, this would do nicely.

some pics and info here

[ame="http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=96526"]Help ID'ing De Rosa SLX frame - RoadBikeReview Forums[/ame]

zybernut

That's a very useful link - the key feature I didn't appreciate which is now barely visible on your bike Ben is the panto on the seat stay cap - this is written horizontally, which would probably make it pre-88 when it switched to being written with vertical letters. You have the bridge-less Microfusion BB shell, so that makes it 86 or later, so it's almost certainly 86/87ish. The ugly (IMHO) under the top tube brake cable stops must have been added when it was refurbed, probably due to rust or damage (or just bad taste!) to originals which would have been external on top of the tube.

some pics and info here

Help ID'ing De Rosa SLX frame - RoadBikeReview Forums

zybernut

Cheers zybernut, I had bumbled across that thread, but have only just registered to be able to see all images. Very useful indeed.

the key feature I didn't appreciate which is now barely visible on your bike Ben is the panto on the seat stay cap

The power of the Powder Coat (and lack of preparation) reminds me of the thick gloss paint over all the Wood Features in every "re-decorated" place i've lived...
Sure, the cable stops were the bit that was throwing me (combined with bridge and bb lugs) but that makes total sense. I don't mind the aesthetics too much, would prefer to see the rings running along the TT, but I think that's a restoration job (along with a decent paint job) for the next owner. I've managed to track down a SLX in original condition that needs some work, so I'm gonna try and make that happen. Right then, off to the sales room.

is there anything written on the dropouts?.

It's definitely just *Brev Campagnolo *stamped on the Dropouts.

Thanks All, Ales are on me (when I get my arse to a drinks) and a forum donation.