On 20/11/2005, David "Mr. Long Legs" White of Burlington, VT wrote:
> Does anyone know anything about this frame maker? Di Rocco. Junk
> equipment, but the frame might be interesting. Hard to tell from the
> photos. My size. Never heard of the maker before and not even one
> mention in the archives.
>
> http://ebay.com/
> -1980s_W0QQitemZ7198363289QQcategoryZ98084QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem>
>
Sure. Rocco Siffredi. Little known but .... uh ..... passionate builder from Milan. Started early on with Faliero until an argument ensued when young Rocco invited himself to spend nights at the Masi house whilst Faliero was away. He then bounced around with the usual suspects but never really got the credit he deserved. Broke out on his own with little money, he had to moonlight in another profession whilst doing heavy lugwork and pipe mitering during the day. He found the 2 worlds very similar and in that everybody knew his name, accolades and acknowledgment was en masse but he still drove a 23 year old Fiat. He had only just managed to bring his first signature frame out, called the "cicciolina" before the fast life took it's toll and a significant drug debt to the mafia meant he has "gone underground". One source in Firenze has told me on the down low that his first frame was built for a J. Robert Holmes of CA and it's rumoured that this very bike is now in the hands of a master builder in CT (who happens to be a big fan of Rocco's BTW). Exact words "I wish I could do with pipe what Rocco does. He IS an artist and Im just making bicycles". The Holmes bike is perhaps significant because it remains the only traditional lugged steel bike with a twin top tube arrangement.
Rocco was last seen in Vegas 'round Interbike time.
I would offer more information but unfortunately goggle doesn't yield much when searching his name on the internets.
;)
ciao,
Ben Kamenjas
Bondi, Oz