Hi,

This is my Rapallo-decalled Titan, an Italian-made Swiss-trade marked bike that I bought on ebay two-three years ago. The bike didn't come with any Titan decals nor with matching fork. So I looked for an appropriate decal on ebay also. I could have used a De Rosa sticker/decals because of the heart-shaped window on the lugs at the head tube portion [not shown on photos]. But "Rappallo" caught my eye and interest. Rapallo is an Italian trade mark of boutique-class apparel, housewares, etc. If my source is right, it means roughly "rapid acceleration," an appropriate name for a racer bike that has an Italian blood. [though I am no racer, mind you. Just a soon-to-be senior citizen who enjoys a classic road bike.]

Anyway, I built this bike in stages. The last item I installed on this is the Columbus fork with the right offset which added the needed trail to make it stable even at slow speed. I am very happy with how it is set up now. I don't think I can afford to change the gruppo to the more appropriate campy.

I use this for brief rides on the flattish bike trail near my place when I want to go faster and not carry too much weight except my own and bottle of water. This bike, without the saddle bag and air pump, weighs around 22lbs only.

I hope you like it as much as I do.

The following are the specs:
Head set: Chris King. I used two lock nuts to adopt it to a threaded fork.
Seat Post: Sakae 26.8
Saddle: Black Brooks B17 Champion Special with Titanium rails
Hubset: Dura Ace 7 to 8--speed freewheel for 126mm frame clearance
Rims & spokes: Mavic and butted DT Swiss spokes; 32 front and 36 rear
Quick Release: Dura Ace
Tires: Continental Gator Skin 700c x 25
Front Derailleur: Dura Ace double
Rear Derailleur: Dura Ace double
STI Levers: Shimano Tiagra 8-speed triple but used as double only
Cassette: Shimano Freewheel 11 ~ 28T Alpine design
Chain: SRAM 8-speed silver
Crankset: FSA Mega EXO
Chainrings: FSA 50T and TA 33T
Bottom: FSA integrated as supplied with Crankset. Italian.
Pedals: Performance with Power Grip
Front Brake: Dura Ace
Rear Brake: Dura Ace
Handlebar: Nitto "Noodle" bar
Stem: Nitto Technomic 10cm
Bar Tape: Deda
Seat bag: Rolled waxed cotton fishing hat and tied with leather straps. I recently changed it to a small black Gilles and Berthoud.

Rene

valbuena@ix.netcom.com