Product Description
When you think of prestigious Italian road bicycle makers, you think of the giants such as Cinelli, Masi, Colnago, and Bianchi. Next in that list is often Tommasini! Iro Tommasini formed his company in 1957, who has been making top level bikes ever since. The Prestige and Super Prestige were Tommasini's flagship model in the late 1970's and early 80's.
This example has been professionally restored by Joe Bell of San Diego, and has just a few miles since. The logos are hand painted, not decals! The frame was brought over from Italy by a personal friend of Iro Tommasii. It is a true show bike, and looks and rides just as good as the day it left the Italian factory 34 years ago. It is pretty close to 100% stock. The rims and tires are a bit newer, but everything else is just how this could have been built in 1980. This is a no-expense-spared build with FULL Super Record, Phil Wood bb, handbuilt Mavic/Record wheels, and nice little touches everywhere.
A few cool details of the build: It comes with a matching-paint Silca Impero frame pump, with Campy head. The brakes have O.M.A.S. alloy center bolts and pad nuts. Toe straps have Campagnolo end caps. The rear wheel is "tied and soldered" around the spoke junctions, an old school trick for stronger wheel builds. The bar tape is period correct Ambrosio faux-leather, with Tommasini end caps. The handlebars are rare 3TTT Superleggero, which were claimed to be the lightest in the world in the day! Cables are period correct Campagnolo cables with the little "C" logo on the heads.
HISTORY
This bike has some history! It was owned and raced by a successful female Cat 2 racer, who was the wife of a long time bike shop owner in Montrose CO. Below is an account from that shop owner, detailing the bike's history:
"Domenic Malvestudo had the frame and approached Leslie to buy it for a good deal. He'd picked it up in Italy from Tommasini (his neighborhood friend from childhood). So he approached Leslie. He always wanted her to ride for his team. Tom Sain was on the US Cycling Team and to this day, we are close friends. For whatever reason, Tom gave Leslie the big pantographed ring and the panto seatpost. He thought it would make the bike look extra sharp set up that way. Leslie won a few races on that bike: Prescott-Skull Valley road race, Mt. Graham Hill Climb (course record), Mining Country RR (course record), Phoenix Criterium (dominated and won all the primes too), Pinnacle Peak RR, and some other lesser events. She organized, raised the cash prizes ($5000), and raced the first women's La Vuelta de Bisbee. She was 3rd on GC, when she punctured during the crucial final criterium stage. She was just about to catch Marianne Martin (who went on to win the first women's TDF that year) when the flat occurred. It was heartbreaking for her as the whole town knew she would win the event. She was simply way faster than the rest of the women. After that, she again punctured at the Iron Horse while in a break away with 3 other ladies on the way to Silverton. There was no support any where to be found, so she'd dismount, pump up her tire to where it was rideable, catch the break, only to have her tire go soft again (sewups). She did this 3 times and finally blew up. She did eventually get a wheel change to finish the event. Those 2 disappointments pretty much were her swan song. It doesn't matter how fit and fast you are, a mechanical can ruin everything. Bernard Hinault one said, "In order to win, you must finish". No shit!"
FRAME SIZE
This small 50cm frame will fit someone roughly 5ft 2 to 5ft 7. 50cm c-c seat tube, 51.5cm top tube.
CONDITION
This is in pristine show bike condition. It has been ridden very little since the restoration. It has been professionally tuned, and all bearings have been greased. I have found 4 TINY blemishes in the frame: The back of the left fork leg has a 1mm mark that's not through the paint. A 2mm chip on the top outer edge of the left side of the fork crown. a 4mm section of paint wear on the bottom of the downtube near the bb shell. And a 2mm chip above the front derailleur clamp on the non-drive side. All logos are perfect. Frame is straight with NO dents/bends/cracks/damage.
Most of the components are mint or could almost pass for NOS. The seatpost has the most wear The paint in the milled areas is slightly worn, and theres some light scratching elsewhere. The drivetrain is pretty close to perfect. Wheels are excellent. Perfectly true, buttery smooth, great spoke tension, only very light rim tract wear, and very little cosmetic marks. Brake levers are mint, and hoods are as close to mint as they get. The bottom corners near the lever hinge has been cut on each lever (intentionally) to relieve stress of the lever bending the hoods. Headset is mint, as are the brakes. Saddle and bar tape are brand new. Wear items such as tires, chain, freewheel, cables, and brake pads have little wear. Pedals are in near mint shape and have only minor wear. They are incredibly smooth. Overall, you could confuse this bike for a NOS one if you don't look closely.
COMPONENTS
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Frame: Columbus SL lugged steel
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Hubs: Campagnolo Record Low Flange #1034, 36 hole, Record curved-lever skewers
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Rims: Mavic Reflex SUP
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Tires: Continental Ultra Gatorskin 700 x 23
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Rear derailleur: Campagnolo Super Record #4001, Pat 1984
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Front derailleur: Campagnolo Nuovo Record #1052/NT
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Shifters: Campagnolo Super Record #1014
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Crank: Campagnolo Super Record #1049/A: 170mm, 52/42t, date code "4" for 1984
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Bottom Bracket: Phil Wood
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Brakes/levers: Campagnolo Super Record #4062, white hoods
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Saddle: San Marco Concor Supercorsa (new)
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Handlebars: 3TTT Superleggero
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Stem: 3TTT Record, pantographed
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Headset: Campagnolo Nuovo Record #1039
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Freewheel: Sachs LY98: 7-speed 13-21t (can swap out bigger geared freewheel
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Chain: Sachs
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Pedals: Campagnolo Record Superleggeri #1037/A: Alfredo Binda straps w/Campy end caps, Christophe clips