Hello List members
I little good fortune came my way today, delivered by FedEx, almost exactly one year after one of the worst days I've had in recent memory.
I'll explain. Last summer, my 51cm moltini replica '73 De Rosa with absolutely mint super record steel group bike was stolen from my garage. Disappointment does not describe the feeling of losing that bike. Yes, it was only a replica, but it was beautiful, and perfect, and fit me like my custom dream bike would be, and then it was gone. The fact that my missing bike was probably now covered in black primer, had a mountain bike handlebar bolted on, and a plastic diet coke bottle fender taped to the seatpost, made the situation no less painful to deal with. The insurance money helped, but still the void was left unfilled. I own a lot of modern bikes, why didn't they take something easy to replace!
Fast forward to three weeks ago. Cruising ebay as usual, now for Masi's, Sachs, and other gems, and I come across a very nice silver DeRosa listed as a 52cm c to c mid-eighties slx bike, super record parts, near mint condition, with only a few minutes to go!! I hesitate because 51cm is really a perfect fit for me, well, aesthetically anyway, but at the last moment, I bid, and win. Then regret sets in: what have I done! It's not the right size... I've let my emotions get the better of me, why have I done this? !!! The wait for delivery is an anxious one. Several missed delivery attempts later, this morning the box arrives!! Extremely well packed, it takes me too long to get it unwrapped, my hands are shaking!!!
As the bubble wrap comes off, the first thing I notice is the head tube length, with looks exactly the same as my missing replica frame, so quickly, out comes the tape measure, and low and behold!!!!!! It's 51cm c to c just like my replica. Thank you bicycle gods, where ever you may be! My new frame is in absolutely beautiful condition, barely a nick or scratch, with all the lovely details I admire in 80's De Rosa frames.
Today is a good day.
grant mclean
toronto, canada