1983 De Rosa Professional

Click to view other photos

Notes:

Frame & Tubing
'83 De Rosa Professional ~ 59cm C-C ~ Columbus SL Tubing ~ Campagnolo Dropouts

Fork and Headset
De Rosa w/Chrome Engraved Crown & Heart cutout Lugs (Columbus SL) ~ Specialized/Campagnolo SR

Handlebars and Stem
Cinelli Giro D' Italia 64-39 ~ Cinelli 1A 140mm & 115mm ~ Ambrosio Bike Ribbon
Ditched the Bike Ribbon, too thick. Back to ye olde Benotto Cello Tape

Brakes
Campagnolo Super Record Calipers w/Pads & Super Record Levers ~ Ame Anatomical Hoods

Front Derailleur
Campagnolo Super Record (Braze-On)

Rear Derailleur
Campagnolo Super Record

Shifters
Campagnolo Super Record

Gearing/Freewheel
Regina Extra 7 (13,14,15,16,17,19,21)

Crankset and Bottom bracket
172.5 Campagnolo Super Record Strada 52/42 & Phil Wood Ti BB

Pedals and Chain
Campagnolo Superleggeri w/Campagnolo Alloy Clips & Alfredo Binda Straps / Regina

Saddle and Seat Post
Selle San Marco Regal Ti, Concor Supercorsas, Cinelli Unicanitor #1 / Campagnolo Super Record Post - 27.2
More seat post on the De Rosa due to experimentation with slightly smaller frame
than I usually take, going for more post and less frame bulk.

Front wheel
Mavic GL 330 (36) ~ Mavic 550 RD Hub ~ Vittoria Corsa CG Squadre Prof tubular
Mavic Open 4 CD (36) ~ Campagnolo Record ~ Veloflex Pave

Rear wheel
Mavic GL 330 (36) ~ Mavic 550 RD Hub ~ Vittoria Corsa CG Squadre Prof tubular
Mavic Open 4 CD (36) ~ Campagnolo Record ~ Veloflex Pave

Water Cage
Vintage TA

Weight
20.5 lbs

_____________________________________________________________________________

This '83 De Rosa Professional is now my daily rider along with my other favorite
'74 Raleigh Professional. They are different beasts and I've now decided that to
declare a favorite is not possible as each has its strengths and both are so enjoyable
to ride, it's a hard decision which to pull down from the rack.

The De Rosa Pro frame is Columbus SL and simply a joy to ride on all fronts. Ultimately,
one must ride one of these machines to see what the fuss is all about; simply put, an Ugo De Rosa
bike just feels "Right", this whether you are hammering the beast, throwing it into a corner,
descending, or flying down the straights. It's light and responsive, with an amazing ride exhibiting
an ability to communicate the road as well as respond to your commands. Subjectively speaking,
it seems to accelerate better than the Raleigh Pro and simply feels even more alive with soul.
Of course, I love my Raleigh and will never part; it's just this De Rosa has shifted the paradigm
a bit and is an exceptional conglomeration of performance, feedback, and grace.

I feel as if I've acquired a great sampling of handling/geometry with my 70s Raleigh Pro,
'83 De Rosa Professional, and later, more aggressive geometry 01 Cinelli Supercorsa which
is STILL waiting to get built. Looking forward to finally comparing the three.

I get compliments on this bike daily, though the number one comment inducer is still the
Mink Blue Raleigh Pro, even though the De Rosa is in eye popping Ferrari red. The red
Michelin Pro2 Race are a bit much aesthetically, but the Veloflex Pave are the perfect
match if going clincher, the best I've ridden to date. For the ultimate rolling ease and road
feel, I moved to the GL 330 with Vittoria Corsa CG Squadre Prof tubs. Moving to the Mavic
GL 330 combo is eye opening although the Rigida Score w/Veloflex Pave's are not far
behind (Tubs are hard to beat, however). What a joy to ride.

1900px shot w/Cinelli Unicanitor & Mavic Open CD/Rigida Score/Veloflex Paves
http://i-vol.com/bikes/photo_de_rosa_professional_3.htm

Alternating between 74 Raleigh Pro & 83 De Rosa Pro is a pleasure, each offering its own
take and a wonderful way to move at speed, all with more connection with something
handmade with quality and detail. And lately, I've not touched either of the above as
I've grown addicted to the '72 Raleigh Professional Track.

- kh

More photos: http://i-vol.com/bikes/de_rosa_professional.htm

People who friended this bike Streetcore, darklordoflove, flatblackcapo, nickp, mastronaut, Zephyrus, Olli-B, sf_danno, asterisk, mr.2ter, onechance, steel-is-real, paperthin, coppi 68, phoenix, amnomad, tyler215, ragnar.jensen, dennisbrowne, GEORGEPALMA, mugatu, sashae, fanta, ClassicSteel, solofe, justinbarnes, Cool Steel, Jeffrey, Valentijn, bryant, Bobby Wham, Shannons2008, bionnaki, Moser London, 79esprit, RyeBokeh, hollowgram5, tazmeraz, woodcn, ravuthpum, hamonryan, brainvacation77, Blair Waldorf, plumbleboy, nexus6, mircsterus, jacobtang, iamsomeguy

» login or register to post comments

The...

Submitted by nexus6 on 08/04/2009.

...most beautiful bike on the site.

» login or register to post comments

Used to have a De Rosa while

Submitted by Ruffinit on 06/03/2009.

Used to have a De Rosa while I was building up my Colnago. It was a bit more extreme than this frame. Metallic rose over chrome and more of a crit bike where the seat tube was indented so the rear tire would fit. You could only use very specific tires or they'd rub the seat tube.. It was a work of art, but I couldn't ride it distances because it would beat you to death. The Colnago is similar to this frame and I love the ride, a true road frame. (I've only had it for 24 years so I'm still infatuated with it) Beautiful build. The white saddle with the Benotto tape looks great. I have the Concors Superleggera which I like a lot, but the Rolls on my Cannondale Black Lightning crit frame.

» login or register to post comments

Great Rosie....

Submitted by RobbieTunes on 05/26/2009.

You must be pretty tall. I tried a stem like that, made the steering really twitchy, but it looks pretty sleek on that setup.

Does the bike fit otherwise, or is the setup so it fits?

Really pretty ride. I'm eastern NC, too. Lotta tri folks, but if you get up to Emerald Isle by the Sheraton, check out the bike shop, older guy with an appreciation for bikes like yours...

RobbieTunes

» login or register to post comments

See third shot

Submitted by abstrait on 05/26/2009.

I've shared a few PMs with you on the C&V forum, almost coming up for that Louisburg ride a month or so back. The De Rosa is definitely my favorite geared bike and along with my early Raleigh Pro Track, my smallest frame at 59 (I'm 6'3 ~ 185-190lbs). I have come to prefer a slightly smaller frame for less bulk and more lively handling, with a bit more seat post. The 140 stem is no longer in service, now replaced by the stem you see in the shot with the Cinelli Unicanitor #1, a Cinelli 1A at 115. This bike is amazing on all accounts, with great feel and responsiveness, along with the ability to hang with modern gear, vintage to the core. It gets 200 miles a week these days. Used to frequent Emerald Isle years ago when in Chapel Hill. Wrightsville is closer to home these days. Next time up that way, I'll have to check out the shop. Thanks for the comments.

» login or register to post comments

Absolutely gorgeous bike.

Submitted by SquadraCorse on 05/26/2009.

Absolutely gorgeous bike. Love everything but the big cable loops.

» login or register to post comments

Thanks

Submitted by abstrait on 05/26/2009.

Yeah, the cable loops looks rather exaggerated in some of the shots but are actually not bad. A few shots show the front coming from the right, my old preferred way but I've switched back to cross. The third shot with the Cinelli Unicanitor is the latest, just taken a few days back. The probably could stand to be shortened a tad. That bike has had about four different stem lengths before settling on 115.

» login or register to post comments

Wow

Submitted by Bobby Wham on 12/14/2008.

I think I'm in love!

» login or register to post comments

nice, nice

Submitted by justinbarnes on 10/17/2008.

i might have to copy that set up... if i can afford it

» login or register to post comments

for what frame?

Submitted by abstrait on 10/18/2008.

Thanks for the comment. Are you talking about copying this setup for your later model Moser Gara ALU frame? Although I love NUOVO and SR, I think your build should probably be from a later era, with Campangolo Chorus being a good option. It's a lot of the value of Record without the supreme cost and can be found on eBay for a good deal if you're patient. I would head to the mid 90s and later sans carbon fiber for best strength/price. You will need to decide what type of shifting you want and speed (8/9/10), but it will be more fitting with that frame for sure. Good luck, don't kill your bank account.

» login or register to post comments

good call

Submitted by justinbarnes on 10/19/2008.

i shall have a good look around for some bargain chorus. Thanks for the advice.

» login or register to post comments

Saddles -R-Us

Submitted by abstrait on 09/29/2008.

Jesus, I've put enough saddles on my De Rosa in the last month more befitting
something belonging in a race horse paddock. It's been a Selle San Marco Tour
with various Concor Supercorsas, the Regal, and even a Brooks Team Pro for long
distance the other day. I cant decide if I like Black or white, either, now
inching towards BLACK, unfortunate considering I have more white saddles than
sense. There is nothing as comfortable as a Brooks saddle once broken in;
it just looks patently absurd on the De Rosa, however. Think I might move
to a black Regal or Rolls, of course, two options I DON'T own. I love the
GL 330 tubs with the Vittorias but they are wearing faster than a toothbrush
scrubbing a tile sandwich...

My last headache is to find another pair of clincher rims I really like.

» login or register to post comments

Stunning

Submitted by gridplan on 07/03/2008.

It looks showroom new. What a head turner that must be out on the road!

» login or register to post comments

Thanks...I love this beast

Submitted by abstrait on 07/06/2008.

I have to say, it's one of the most eye-popping red paint jobs I've seen that just explodes in the sun.
You get all sorts of stares from those that know though I'm on the NC coast in a big triathlete rider
town, and most of those guys wouldn't know a vintage steel bike from a bag of rocks; however, older
riders and younger fixed gear freaks recognize it and usually are smitten. Aesthetics aside, I
love the way the De Rosa rides! It's a perfect blend of great handling and ride. Vacillating between
a Selle San Marco Regal in white and my trusty old Concor.

Online:

1983 De Rosa Professional

The...

Used to have a De Rosa while

Great Rosie....

See third shot

Absolutely gorgeous bike.

Thanks

Wow

nice, nice

for what frame?

good call

Saddles -R-Us

Stunning

Thanks...I love this beast

Very, very nice. I'm