Thank you, Marc, Mike, Gilbert, Joe, Dave and Richard for your input on Rolls bikes.
The confirmation of the Colnago connection and expecially connecting Rosario Ando is much appreciated. I'll pass your posts along to the owner. I'll be replacing the damaged decals and doing a light touch-up to the pictured bike.
My memory of Rolls bikes is that I purchased one new from Park Ridge cycles in New Jersey. I even remember an odd snobishness at the time as mentioned in one of the replies. I rode trhe bike for several years and took it with me to California. Mine was not a great bike and was equiped with the dreaded Campagnolo Valentino derailleurs. I'm sure there were higher priced models at the time. I lost that frame in the Confente shop lockout, as it wwas in for refinishing. Since I was not impressed with the frame in any way excep that it had served me well, I planned to set it up as a back-up for my new bike. I replaced the 27" wheels with a proper set of sew-ups and had some better brakes ~ Universal Extras, I wanted to fit. They would not span the looong reach so I replaced the brake bridge with one in a lower position. The reach on the fork was also far to long for any decent brake so I came up with a playful solution: I put in a second brake bridge under the fork crown! Goofy looking, but I think it would have worked just fine!
I met Rosario Ando in 1979 and was very impressed with his warmth, generosity and passion, but I never knew of his connection to these bikes.
BTW: for those who had difficulty with the photo link, if if does not work simply by clicking it on you system, try pasting the entire line into you browser, if you remove any spaces which may have been added by text "wrapping" it will work.
Many thanks - again.
Anybody have anything to add about Rolls? Anyone found a fork with a brake bridge in it?
Jim Cunningham CyclArtist Vista, CA
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Richard M Sachs Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2002 5:19 AM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]Rolls bikes?
i can't get the picture link to work but...
rolls was a brand name that came on frames imported to the u.s. in the early 70s by rosario ando of new york. in the beginning, all rolls were colnago supers, except they had a rolls decal on the down tube, all the while having all the other typical colnago decals on the other areas of the frame. the rolls decals were clearcoated, not stuck on. mr. ando was having colnago make the frames for him. it was in that time that colnagos were a hot bike, and rolls were the exact same bike except for the graphics. ultimately, there would be price point bikes from rolls, just as there would be from colnago. e-RICHIE
On Fri, 12 Apr 2002 22:25:19 -0700 "Jim Cunningham" <CyclArtist@cox.net>
writes:
> Dear Listmembers,
>
> I'd appreciate any recollections,opinions or hyperbole regarding
> the
> builder and or marketers of the Rolls bike in the photos link
> below.
> I'm reasearcing on behalf of a much enamored owner of several of
> these.
> He has his theories about the origins of the breed. I've hoping to
> hoping confirm, deny or further confuse him with your help.
>
> http://www.cyclart.com/
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jim Cunningham
> CyclArtist
> Vista, CA