Its the new year and I'm ready to start off big with an impulse buy. Here is my short list which came about due to cost, availablility, fit and appeal. I'm gonna go custom steel this summer but want an all-steel rig NOW. I prefer a geometry that offers quick acceration (snap) over long distance, compliant comfort.

1.Moser M85-- great price, $1k, but it has a carbon fork and is tig which I'm trying to avoid.STA is laid back but has short CS which might offer nice snap.

2. Mondonico Futura Leggero- its lugged with steel fork but no longer made by the man himself, but not big deal on my end if quality control is still high.

3.DeRosa Neo Primato- out of my price range but I've always lusted after one. Seems like you are paying a premium for the brand. Quality of build and paint????

4.Olmo Mercury- again, nice price but tig and carbon fork. Steep STA appeals to me.

So if you all have experience with any please offer feedback. Lets stay away from the custom builders for now; I know who they are and am stoked at the choices but again I want to be riding within 2 wks. All these frames are built with 14.5 but not sure if or how the builder has manipulated the tubes. I did ride/own a Gios Compact Pro which I was not to hot on.

They are all good bikes. Don't leave out the Merckx 7-11 reproduction. Good sources to look are R&A Cycles www.racycles.com and GVH bikes www.gvhbikes.com. They stock steel frames and if you happen to ride a 59, R&A has a Moser TK1 with a steel fork for a very good price.

I think the Mercury is the newer HiZoot version of the Millenium. The Olmo Millenium was one of the last Steel Pro Tour Bikes. Oscar Friere and Vitalicio Seguros were racing them in the Vuelta as one of their frame choices. Great pedigree and rare on the road.

I think the Mercury is the newer HiZoot version of the Millenium. The Olmo Millenium was one of the last Steel Pro Tour Bikes. Oscar Friere and Vitalicio Seguros were racing them in the Vuelta as one of their frame choices. Great pedigree and rare on the road.


The Millenium, which I've ridden, is currently their top steel; EOM 16.5. It was too small for me but climbed great. Welds were a bit rough looking with a "cheap" stickered headbadge. I'm trying to walk with $1k invested, frame/fork.

The Neo Primato is a timeless classic frameset that you'll probably never hear a negative comment. If you take care of it, it'll be a bike you'll be even more fond of in several years.
Fwiw, I'm a very big fan of the 16.5 steel. Its quick, snappy and comfortable. The short stays of my Fondy status dramatically aids climbing, and accellerating more than my "stiffer" AL frme and oclv5500 I've ridden in the past. Try and seek the geometry for 02-03 fondriest status. Its absolutely sensational.
I'd also have to agree with the other poster to add a Merckx to the list. DeRosa, Merckx,- exempliary steel frames.
Please post images and review when it has landed. Enjoy
Happy New Year.

i was just going to mention the fondriest status but noticed that jhamlin beat me to it. The Mondonico Futura Leggero can be had as a custom from Smart cycles http://www.smartcycles.com/torelli.htm If you can find one already built that night be the way to go.

Of the 4 you listed I would choose the De Rosa. It's a classic and will always be so.

Of the 4 you listed I would choose the De Rosa. It's a classic and will always be so.

I agree with you and JHAMLIN...its a beauty. One of the bikes you never get bored looking at and hopefully riding. I might be giving up some performace compared to the Moser and Mondonico with their shorter stays and somewhat tighter rear triangles. I've been searching for review on the Moser but coming up empty. I'm fairly light at 150 so having a lively, snappy feel is important to me. The Moser's HT seems a bit longer than the De Rosa in my size 53/54 which might be a plus with saddle/bar drop requirements.

So Close......... no ride today to begin 08 so laying low beating a cold. I'll be sure to post pics.

The first thing I would look at among the builders your considering is frame geometry. What fits you best should be your prime concern. All these bikes will give you years of great riding but none of them will if they don't fit. If you don't know what to look for go get a fitting from a good bike fitter. It will be well worth the money.

As others have said, there's not a bad one in the bunch. You've got a really tough choice to make. I've got a DeRosa that I bought new in 1994. It's the newest bike I own. The biggest problem with it is that in spite of looking at, and riding new(er) bikes, I've never found one made of any material that I liked better. You could be ruining yourself for buying new bikes.

I do need to add that at the time I was purchasing the DeRosa in 1994, I also rode the Mondonico. That too, was a great bike. I had trouble making up my mind, so I went with the more well-known name. IMO, they were really a tossup.

I'm down to these three:

Mondonico Futura- $1500, lugged, steel fork, Nemo tubing
Moser M85- tig,$1000, carbon fork, Deda 14.5
Merckx 7-11- $1500, lugged, steel fork,SLX

I'm a bit apprehensive about the SLX tubing in the Merckx after spending time on 14.5, EOM, 853 and OX. I'm not concerned about the weight penalty, if you care to call it that, more ride quality.

What is it about the Merckx century geo and ride quality that everyone is raving about? I do like to climb but most are rollers and short, steep rises that bring me out of my saddle.

Chime in Corsa Extra owners!!! ::yesnod:

I'm down to these three:

Mondonico Futura- $1500, lugged, steel fork, Nemo tubing
Moser M85- tig,$1000, carbon fork, Deda 14.5
Merckx 7-11- $1500, lugged, steel fork,SLX

I'm a bit apprehensive about the SLX tubing in the Merckx after spending time on 14.5, EOM, 853 and OX. I'm not concerned about the weight penalty, if you care to call it that, more ride quality.

What is it about the Merckx century geo and ride quality that everyone is raving about? I do like to climb but most are rollers and short, steep rises that bring me out of my saddle.

Chime in Corsa Extra owners!!! ::yesnod:

The century geometry is a laid back seat tube angle (STA). My Merckx has a 72.25 STA and a 74 HTA. The geometry works for me because I am tall with long legs. I get alot of leverage from my long upper legs and the STA puts me in a good position. The ride quality is due to the builder and geometry more than the material. The Merckx will be good for climbing since it is has a nice stiff feel. Where bikes like the ones you listed really shine is on descents. My Merckx is a cruise missile on descents.

Any of the bikes you listed would be a great ride, you can't go wrong.

if the Merckx had chrome and a quill stem like the originals, that would be my choice. But since it doesn't, go Mondonico. Especially with the steel fork.

I can't see using a carbon fork on a fine steel frame. Just seems wrong.

if the Merckx had chrome and a quill stem like the originals, that would be my choice. But since it doesn't, go Mondonico. Especially with the steel fork.

I can't see using a carbon fork on a fine steel frame. Just seems wrong.

FYI- Merckx is coming with steel fork but its threadless. Know anyone who still stocks NOS Cinelli bars- the old traditional bend?

I've seen some pretty good prices for older De Rosas on e-bay.

Don't mean to throw you off of your plans, but I'm a steel fan myself and found these guys to be a great source for steel bikes:

http://erapro.com

http://www.repartocorse.com/

http://www.yellowjersey.org/

http://www.granfondocycles.com/

http://bikyle.com/

I've talked to people at all of these sites and found their knowledge to be top knotch and each has a unique selection of frames.

GVH, Smartcycles, and RA Cycles has already been mentioned, great bikes at all of those places as well.

Also, Deda EOM 14.5 & 16.5 has been out a while, if you can find them in your budget the newer steels from Columbus (Spirit) and True Temper (S3) are worth checking out.

Bianchi still makes one very reasonably priced steel frame in Italy called the Pinella that GranFondo still imports that is made of their own version of the Deda steel called Boron XL that has gotten lots of praise. It had some problems in the earlier builds but Bianchi reinforced the frames with structural foam which has seemed to solve any problems.

If you can still find them Salsa made a frame called the Primero made from True Temper S3 that the guys from Salsa says it's the best riding bike they ever made, but had to discontinue it because they were loosing money on it since it's is so expensive to work with.

If you're going for the Moser or Olmo I'd talk to Era Pro, they have a great selection and they'll match anyone's prices.

Though if you just need a quick fix till you get your dream custom, don't rule out Lemond's Sarthe made from True Temper OX Platinum. Salsa's La Raza also True Temper OX. Or a Gunner Roadie. If you're stuck on Italian, the Bianchi Pinella can be had pretty reasonably also, and Gran Fondo, who also is a Pegoretti dealer, says it is the only frame that even comes close to the Marcelo.

If I had my choice out of any of the bikes that were mentioned, though I'd go for the Neo Primato if it fit your budget. Rides really nice and the looks are to die for, if you can find one in the Molteni Orange scoop it up immediately.