playing with fire: Mondonico, Pegoretti

[mimitabby]

Today it's slow here at work and I was doing some serious web cruising.

Still looking for Steel, hopefully Italian. Then I make the mistake of writing to two of the outfits: one being: Smart cycles in Connecticut. They write back instantly with a frame they want me to look at: (Yes, I can have it in Orange)
It's made by Mondonico (one of 3 my size left EVER made by Antonio who is retired)


While wasting time I also found a website for a bike shop in Moab Utah



They sell Pegoretti bikes. These are the coolest looking bikes I've ever seen.
And both guys thought they could set me up with a frame that would fit me. He wrote to Dario
right away for a quote!!!

Good grief, what am I thinking, another sight-unseen sale? Do I trust the measurements that Eric Moen gave me and just buy a frame? and if i buy a frame, what bike shop in town is going to build it for me? They all like to do their own stuff and I'm not sure I could stand the sneering.

[DebW]

What a beautiful chrome fork on the Pegoretti. And how could you possibly turn down one of 3 Mondonico frames in your size EVER made by Antonio? If I tell you to buy both, then you'll feel like you're being conservative when you buy only one.

[mimitabby]

Deb, you're good.
The Pegoretti costs twice as much as the Mondonico (1k vs 2k, plus whatever
other !!! costs that i don't know about)
any thoughts on how to get it built up if i actually did it?

[mimitabby]

the chrome is on the Mondonico actually.

[DebW]

the chrome is on the Mondonico actually.

In that case, I'm absolutely in love with the Mondonico. You need that bike, and it's only 1K.

[mimitabby]

the Pegoretti guy hasn't sent me photos yet.
We'll just have to see.
and my DH hasn't gotten HIS bike yet, which was supposed to be done in early December. I don't want to initiate anything until he's safely on top of his new bike!

[DebW]

Get the complete specs on both frames (angles, tubing, trail, bb drop, etc.). See if one fits you better than the other.

Why not have the shop you buy the frame from build it up?

[mimitabby]

Well, here's why I probably wouldn't get the Pegoretti built by that shop:

Have Lee Bridgers build up your Pegoretti for an additional $3950. The build includes packing and shipping anywhere in the 48 states and our supremely upscale RoadMAX component group, based on Dura Ace shifting, cranks and brakes, an FSA K-Wing handlebar (options for more traditional bars are available), Moots stem and post, a choice of saddles and a handbuilt wheelset constructed from Mavic's best road rims, DT spokes and Chris King hubs color-matched to the frame. Custom kits designed to specifically match the performance and balance the fine art cosmetics of a specific frame are also available. Lee has decided that Pegoretti and Moots are the ONLY road frames worthy of this kind of attention.

!!!!
now we're into it 6 grand... at least!!!!
I don't want to spend THAT much

[Velobambina]

I love that Mondonico! Do they do custom work or is it all standard (non-WSD) sizing? I need either custom or WSD because of the reach issue. Of course, I'm not really in the market for a new ride and I think my next "dream" bike will be titanium.

Mimi--if you decide to get the frame and build it up, don't scrimp if you can afford it. I went with Campy Chorus (carbon compact crank) on my Luna Orbit and it was worth every dollar.

[Trek420]

mimitabby "It's made by Mondonico (one of 3 my size left EVER made by Antonio who is retired)"

Mimi, if you're a 47 cm I have one of these triplets Who here has the other one?

I love mine, get the Mondonico.

I guess like Rivs you'll find most who have them heard about it from someone who loves the bike.

[KnottedYet]

Waterford and Mondonico. (the Man himself measured Trek for this bike!)

I didn't get a good close-up, sorry Mimi, but I will tell you this is ONE GORGEOUS BIKE! And very light! and waaaaay too small for me, though I did try to ride it.

(dare I say it might even be as lovely as Flossie? )

[Trek420]

Waterford and Mondonico. (the Man himself measured Trek for this bike!)

The master is retired but his son will carry on, the third generation Italian builder I think.

I met his son then too, cute!! (If you like that kinda thing, dark Italian men, into bikes...).

Fear not TE gals, there will be more!!

I chose the chrome fork, we went for the look of "classic old steel bike with fancy new stuff".

I've seen them with matching carbon front fork and rear triangle...sweet!

Most are shocked when they pick it up that it's steel.

Of the off bikes my size (47 cm) I've tried take your pick of:
slanting top tube
toe overlap
smaller wheels or
some combo of any two.

Antonio himself said "it will have a slanting top tube is that ok?"

Well, he spoke Italian so it may have been "Am I really building this marvel of Italian engineering for that chubby 50 year old?"

anyway look at her next to Flossie...if the top tube slants I don't see it, full size wheels and NO toe overlap.

[mimitabby]

The master is retired but his son will carry on, the third generation Italian builder I think.

I met his son then too, cute!! (If you like that kinda thing, dark Italian men, into bikes...).

Fear not TE gals, there will be more!!

I chose the chrome fork, we went for the look of "classic old steel bike with fancy new stuff".

I've seen them with matching carbon front fork and rear triangle...sweet!

Most are shocked when they pick it up that it's steel.

Of the off bikes my size (47 cm) I've tried take your pick of:
slanting top tube
toe overlap
smaller wheels or
some combo of any two.

Antonio himself said "it will have a slanting top tube is that ok?"

Well, he spoke Italian so it may have been "Am I really building this marvel of Italian engineering for that chubby 50 year old?"

anyway look at her next to Flossie...if the top tube slants I don't see it, full size wheels and NO toe overlap.

wow, thanks for sharing your story. I know Antonio made this frame, but he didn't make it expressly for me. Yes, I love dark, Italian men (to look at) I would have loved to have met them. I actually have an address for their shop and might look them up when we're in Italy next. What do you mean
"of the off bikes my size"
so do you have toe overlap or smaller wheels? I am not clear on that.

[Trek420]

mimitabby "What do you mean
"of the off bikes my size""

I mean like Trek, Cannondale, Specialized...my old namesake Trek had full size wheels and steeply sloped top tube....not that there's anything wrong with that, it was a nice bike.

"so do you have toe overlap or smaller wheels? I am not clear on that."

I tend to not take sharp fast turns but I've noticed no toe overlap and those are full size wheels! I think it's more of a cyclecross issue.

Knott, you're about 5'8"? I'm 5'1" look at the wheels side by side, both full size

Not that there's anything wrong with 650 wheels.

Antonio used to come to the states every other year, visit the shops that carry his bikes and you could meet him, he'd measure you for a bike. Maybe his son will do this too?

If you want "chairman Bill", the Torelli importer co. owners e-mail adress to ask about this, let me know.

Check the website if he's doing this the schedule will be there but if that bike fits .... I'd get it!