Dave Martinez wrote, in part:
"I was expecting the frame to handle perhaps alittle quicker than the lovely Cal Masi twi nplate. But sadly this was not case. The bike was extremely twitchy and som ewhat unpredictable. I would reach down for the waterbottle and during the moments inattention the bike would be almost in the opposite lane. I wanted to like the bike. But I only hang on to bikes that fit and have good"
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I had a nice prestige for awhile, a very early one, probably one of the first ones made, and it definitely had steeper angles and a higher bb shell than the old Gran Criterium design. I found it kind of refreshing, but concur with David, that, in the end, it was not as pleasant to ride as a GC or Special, which have slacker angels, longer chain-stays, and, most important, low bb shells--more drop, that is.
In the category of near-gossip, somewhere in this old brain is memory of a conversation, or a blog entry, or e-mail, to the effect that the Prestige was Faliero's answer to the Colnago Super, which was considered a more sporty design when both Supers and GCs were common in amateur pelotons around North America. Whether this is true or not--that Faliero was trying to stay current with the Colnago--I have no idea, but it's plausible, since the early/mid 70s Supers were definitely steeper and shorter than the GC. Which, in turn, was moderately more upright than the older Special.
By the late 70s, as most of us have discovered, either by experience or simply by looking, *all* italian racing frames were becoming more and more upright...the trend continued into the 80s. I've found every 80s italian racing bike I've looked at, ridden, or owned (and I still own a couple) to be at once attractive to look at, but not-much-fun to ride for more than about 20 minutes. After that, they're more strenuous than fun. I've also noticed that these 80s frames really like to be ridden small...that is, with a lot of seat-post showing, and with long stems with low bars. They ride better than way. I suspect that since more post and a longer stem with lower bars result in a "longer" virtual top-tube, and, even more, significant seat set-back, the frames are more stable when set up this way...but very hard on the old body. I had such a bike recently, very nice aesthetically in every way, but, to my taste, virtually unrideable. Practically in the Rigi category. So I sold it on.
Some people really like these bikes. Just goes to show, there's a steed for every taste.
I've tried riding 80s racing frames with less post and higher bars, say, a size or two "too large" for me, and while they're more comfortable, they feel quite peculiar that way, with what seem to me compromised handling and climbing, and I've sold every one I've owned of that sort.
My dilettante two-cents.
Charles Andrews
Los Angeles