[CR]Tommasini and MS tubing

(Example: Racing:Jacques Boyer)

From: "Gear" <gear@xmission.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2006 08:57:47 -0700
Subject: [CR]Tommasini and MS tubing

I had a Tommasini with MS tubing, and I think it was called the 'Diamante'. The MS, from what I recall, simply stands for 'multi shaped'. I now have in the pipeline a Somec with MS tubing, and the only cylindrical tube is the headtube. Barbara Tommasini is Irio's daughter who used to accompany her Pops to Interbike because her English was better than his. At least that's what she told me while he nodded and shook my hand. I still have in the pile her biz card from something like 1993 or so. Wouldn't necessarily expect the contact info to be the same, though. I remember when Tommasini product went to Colorado Cyclist from Wm. Lewis. As a retailer at the time, I stopped offering them based on the prices in the catalog, or more accurately, the 'deals' in the catalog. If the frame was near regular price, you almost assuredly got several freebies thrown in the deal. Customers would expect me to match or beat it. Couldn't do it. As I recall, Colnago also went the mail order route for a time, but luckily got out with its skin, better than most others who tried it and virtually disappeared in short order.

Greg Overton
remembering 'retail hell'
Logan, Utah