Â
This Umberto Dei pista is a wonderful bike, but I am wondering on what basi
s it is thought to be 1959. Or is that a typo for 1949? The lug
s, headset and just about everything else are very similar to my 194x Umber
to Dei strada, numbered 5110, so it is probably later than this pista.Â
Mine is also a modello Super Leggero and has original paint so has not
been altered. It is fitted with a Campagnolo Cambio Corsa gear, so ca
nnot be later than 1950/1. This pista just looks like a 1940s bike to
me.
Â
Does anybody know if there are reproduction decals available for Dei bikes?
 I am not currently thinking of having mine refinished, but it is ver
y much on the dividing line between "do not refinish" and "restore", the ma
in problem being the chrome which is abysmal, whereas the paint, deteriorat
ed but not too bad, is a very subtle old gold with gold head and seat
tube panels and gold pinstriping and gold decals. It could be reprodu
ced, but it would be a pity to lose the original.
Â
Are there any other U Dei frame numbers out there that we could have as poi
nts of reference. It would be interesting to get this information tog
ether.
Â
Hugh Thornton
Cheshire, England
From: FujiFish1@aol.com <FujiFish1@aol.com> Subject: Re: [CR]Umberto Dei Year To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Date: Friday, 31 October, 2008, 3:09 AM
Hi Rick, Welcome to the CR list ... you definitely qualify!
I had an approximate 1959 Dei pista model here for a while, but being way
too large for me and having a friend pay for part of it, it was sold. Her e are some photos posted of it (copy only what is within the brackets, but not t he brackets themselves):
<http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/fujifish1/MarksVintage/MarksSoldBikes/ Dei _1959_Pista/>
Or an easier, temporary link: http://tinyurl.com/
Unfortunately, I didn't get a very good shot of the serial number stamped
into the drive side of the seat cluster lug, but I can see that it begins w ith a numeral four (4). The buyer is a quiet list member who does not post her e regularly, if at all, but perhaps he will respond to your inquiry and fill in the remaining numbers. Of course, the frame details too may, or may not b e of help. If you don't hear from him, email me, and I'll try to contact him on your behalf.
Umberto Dei bicycles are VERY special ... so be sure not to give it away t o the first quick talking asker :)
Oh, and we would love to see some photos!
By the way, yours is only the third or fourth Avanti to be mentioned on the
list ... so not a very common bike "around here"!
Ciao, Mark Agree Southfield MI USA ~ ~ ~
Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:38:30 -0700 (PDT) From: Dorothy vonGerbig <vongerbig@yahoo.com> To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Umberto Dei Year
Eric von Gerbig vongerbig@yahoo.com
Hi. I am new to the CR list. I am an o ld ex -racer from the 60's so a lot of my old bikes that I bought new are n ow collectable.I still commute to work most days and ride about 6 to 8 thousand miles a year both on and off road.Yes I do have a few unmention a ble bikes but ride a fixed gear a lot.Some of my bikes include Masi, Schwinn Paramount, Cinelli, Trek, Fuji, Atala, Avanti, Medici, Umberto Dei, Pop Brennan, Durkopp, Crescent, Bianchi and a few I need help indentifying. Does anyone out there know the dates of Umbe r to Dei serial numbers? My bike is a track bike with the number8792 on the s eat tube.Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
Eric (Rick) von Gerbig Honey Bro ok, Pennsylvania
Anyone out ther from the past feel free t o contact me
**************Plan your next getaway with AOL Travel. Check out Today's Hot 5 Travel Deals! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212416248x1200771803/aol?redirhttp://travel.aol.com/discount-travel?ncid=emlcntustrav00000001)