Della Santa

[foggypeake]

New (to me) Della Santa Corsa Speciale with some Campagnolo Chorus 9s. I found frame, fork, HS and BB on FB Marketplace. It was bit more expensive than what I was hoping (and my wife was a bit hesitant), but this is the bike that I dreamed about for a real long time. I had spoken to Roland at NAHBS and was planning to have him build me a frame, but he unfortunately passed away before I could get my sh*t together. I'm extremely thankful to Linda Yaxley (Roland's cousin) who has maintained Roland's files of his previous builds and was able to confirm the serial number and geometry. Based on my previous bikes, this seems to be a great fit (at least up and down the driveway this morning).

This is the second dream bike that I've been able to buy in the past two years. I recently bought a Colnago C40 that was the first: https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=269514

[jamesdak]

That's a real beauty! Let us know how it rides once you get it out for a proper ride. Enjoy!

[roguedog]

Wow. Nice find! Lucky too

Would be great to hear a ride reports esp as it compares to other rides.

[ERK55]

Is that a slightly sloping top tube? If so, I’ve never seen that before in a Della Santa.

[54ny77]

That bike is superb in every possible way.

I had a deposit with him for a long time, several years, and I too couldn't get my s&*! together on timing and so forth for the build. It was to be a dream build, something I'd wanted for years but just never got around to it. When we first spoke it was during a very tough period (loss of a parent).

Had a bunch of fun conversations with Roland during that interim time though. So many good stories, shared acquaintances, and I just loved hearing his passion for the sport. He always laughed when I asked, "How about just build me a 54 square and I'll figure out the rest," telling me to get my act together and fill out his form.

When hearing he had passed, it was a gut punch.

He was an absolute treasure.

Ride in good spirits!

[deluz]

Congrats, yes it was worth it.

[gbcoupe]

Congrats! Another red Roland in Maryland! Mine has a slightly sloping TT as well.

[fourflys]

A DS is certainly on my short list of wanted steel bikes.. congrats, this looks like a great one!

[helldriven]

Congratulations! It's a real beauty!

[hokoman]

I convinced my friend to get this one and I helped him put it together.. it was posted on the good deals a couple years ago from pros closet.

Yours looks great!

[foggypeake]

Originally Posted by ERK55

Is that a slightly sloping top tube? If so, I’ve never seen that before in a Della Santa.

Actually yes. The top tube does have a very slight slope to it (3.5 degrees according to the build sheet).

[foggypeake]

Originally Posted by 54ny77

That bike is superb in every possible way.

I had a deposit with him for a long time, several years, and I too couldn't get my s&*! together on timing and so forth for the build. It was to be a dream build, something I'd wanted for years but just never got around to it. When we first spoke it was during a very tough period (loss of a parent).

Had a bunch of fun conversations with Roland during that interim time though. So many good stories, shared acquaintances, and I just loved hearing his passion for the sport. He always laughed when I asked, "How about just build me a 54 square and I'll figure out the rest," telling me to get my act together and fill out his form.

When hearing he had passed, it was a gut punch.

He was an absolute treasure.

Ride in good spirits!

Thank you! I was going to have a conversation with him at NAHBS, but he was in an in-depth conversation with someone and I didn't want to interrupt. When I finally had the chance, I sadly avoided talking to him as it was the end of the show and I really didn't have much to say other than I really want one of your frames - and how many other people said the exact same thing that day? I was sure that my chance would come, but when I heard of his passing I was similarly quite upset. I never imagined that I would ever find something like this, but it popped up on Facebook Marketplace and I convinced my wife of the need for (yet another) once-in-a-lifetime bike. I can say with absolute certainty that I married the right woman.

[foggypeake]

Originally Posted by gbcoupe

Congrats! Another red Roland in Maryland! Mine has a slightly sloping TT as well.

I'd love to see a pic (I did search, but to no avail).

[Flinch]

Nice! .............Living in Reno I see the rare DS. Last fall I vainly tried chasing a guy on his DS to see if a) I could get a better look at it, and b) see if it was for sale. Years ago I passed the same bike - he going in the opposite direction.

Sadly, both the rider and bike were better than I, and never did get to catch him.

[gbcoupe]

Originally Posted by foggypeake

I'd love to see a pic (I did search, but to no avail).

I've posted a few pics of the DS, but never had its own build thread.