> > Really I'd just personally draw the line at
> > details one has to flip the bike over to see.
If it weren't for the fact that under-bottom-bracket cable guide lumps do odd things on some bike racks and workstands, end up as the first place where paint is worn through and rust begins, and aren't ever needed on a "eschew-unnecessary-adornment" track bike, I would agree with you.
As it is, such a detail telegraphs (to me, at least) a lapse in a builder's level of attention to detail. It's clear that Tommasini could've sourced and used a bottom bracket that didn't include this cast feature -- I'm sure their supplier would've been happy to oblige (and it looks like they continue to do this with their Sintesi Pista model). If they didn't want to go to the trouble of checking some boxes on an order sheet, it'd be pretty darn easy to grind them off during fabrication (we are *not* talking about much time needing to be expended on this). If I'm paying that kind of money for a frame, I want to know the builder isn't cutting such obvious corners (and how can it not beg the question of which less-obvious ones have they cut?). All I was saying was that it looked out-of-place to me.
I know, "to each his own" and "live and let live" and all, but I can easily remove those ridges in under 10 minutes with a bench grinder, a file or two, and a wire wheel or sandpaper.
If Irio constructs purpose-built bikes where little attention is expended on
details like this, then he needs to have somebody modify the text on his
marketing materials, where terms like "maximum attention to detail" and
"perfection is strived for" are bandied about.
http://www.tommasini.com/
Ok, enough.
Scott "took the bait, even after telling myself not to" Minneman San Francisco, CA, USA
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Kurt Sperry Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 12:33 PM Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR] TOMMASINI PISTA PRESTIGE
Really I'd just personally draw the line at details one has to flip the bike over to see. I've got a Cinelli that has the lugwork really nicely finished for its day but the bottom of the BB shell has some big nasty file marks left. I assume because Cino figured nobody was likely to see them there. I'm cool with that, seems quite sane- even stylish. There's such a thing as trying too hard.
Chacun a son gout.
Kurt Sperry Bellingham, Washington USA
On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 8:08 AM, Otis <otis@otisrecords.com> wrote:
> "They are obviously cast integrally into the shell. What would be the
> point of laboriously grinding/filing them off? I'm not getting what
> actual purpose that could conceivably serve besides needlessly jacking
> up the price.
>
> Kurt Sperry"
>
> Isn't that the whole point of buying a "hand-built" lugged frame? Using
your
> argument why would a builder file any lugs, the frame will ride the same
and
> it just adds labor cost.
>
> To me it makes no sense to have a modern lugged pista frame that will most
> likely never see a velodrome or even get ridden on the road further than
the
> local coffee bar. But if that's the case it should at least be as stylish
as
> possible.
>
> I had a late 90's-2000's model Cinelli Olympic Pista frame that used the
> same BB shell. This frame was as "production" built as it gets, but those
> cable guides had been removed.
>
> Cheers, Jon Williams
> Grants Pass OR USA