2020 was intended to be the year of the Noosa Strade Bianche, Taupo and l’Eroica in Gaiole with a few local brevets thrown in to ensure the legs were up to the challenge. Frank was built with these events in mind and was working out well. The first brevet of the year was conducted on board Frank under a thick blanket of smoke as the country burned, and then of course, Covid emerged shutting down everything worldwide.
So, with a bit of time on my hands, and when a magnificent Rossin Columbia frame appeared for sale, I enquired and then acquired. Research confirms this is a 1985 Rossin Columbia in SLX, a model produced exclusively for German bicycle retailer Petermann. It sits alongside RL/RLX and Ghibli as models produced at the same time.
The frame appeared to be in excellent original condition, rocking a very loud 80’s paint job. While there is evidence of being well used, I decided the original finish would be good enough, and left it alone. After due consideration and lacking a better idea, this bike has obviously been dubbed “Red”. Of course it’s also blue and yellow (and now I know why), so Red it is then.
The platform on which it’s based is a late 80’s variant of the by now venerable Record and shares the same basic architecture. Typically SL or SLX tubing is used for a light frame and a larger bottom bracket shell is fitted to improve power transmission. Similarly aged variants (RLX/Ghibli) had a more elaborate bottom bracket, internal cable routing for the rear brake and different lugs and fork crown compared to earlier versions. Handling is arguably less responsive compared to the Record SL that preceded it, but power transmission improved.
Red is equipped with a Campagnolo Potenza gruppo, with 36/52 x 29 gearing. Campagnolo Scirocco wheels roll for days and are almost silent. Handling is precise and confident on Pirelli rubber. The cockpit is similar Bling, Giro bars, originally a 130mm Cinelli 1A stem now replaced with a 110mm 3T stem and grippy Zipp CX bar tape. The 1A stem in 110 has become unobtanium during the covid era and a new old stock 3T stem appeared at the right price. Looks great and goes with the neo vibe.
More recent updates include Deda bar and stem to replace the 3T stem which exploded luckily while standing still and the wheels from the green machine have replaced the Campagnolo wheels. While the Campagnolo vibe was cool, the bespoke wheels ride and handle much better and handling is further improved by the new cockpit as well.
You might imagine all the Rossins to be much the same and from the perspective of ride and handling, indeed they are similarly confident and comfortable. However, at the same time they have different strengths.
Bling, the original 80’s race bike is a more relaxed ride now with compact gearing. It no longer urges you to attack every hill or smash every descent as it once did. It is equipped with a super granny gear for really big hills, and will sit on the back of a bunch at a comfortable 30-ish km/h.
Although having now exited the palazzo, Frank had long legs, climbed any hill, perfect since it was setup for brevets and gravel with big tires and low gearing. Being old school, you need to pay attention with downtube shifting to ensure changes are sent to the engine room with plenty of notice, especially if ascending. Frank will gallop down the road if prodded, but doesn’t really encourage smashing down the road for fun. It’s just not in his nature.
The Green Machine is agile and nimble. Now set up for Eroica, it completed a trip up and over the Kazahaya Pass with ease on its frankensteined drivetrain inherited from Frank. It’s just a properly brilliant vintage ride.yes, brakes are not quite where I want them to be and I don’t love old school pedals, but you know you are alive on this bike, especially in the hills.
Red is a party machine. It encourages being wound out (avanti, forza). With even taller gearing than the other bikes it somehow ascends without drama. Acceleration is remarkably brisk. And it will insist you attack descents and corner with gusto at the appropriate time. It seems this bike may be the best of all worlds.
Red is another build from Adam at Le Service Course who has added some nice touches and paid great attention to detail putting it together. Support your local LBS. We need more guys like Adam.
