Tommaso Fascino Review
Tommaso is a direct-to-consumer cycling brand based out of Denver, Colorado. The company was founded in Italy in 1985 but moved to the US in the early ’90s, where it continues today.
The company is well-known for making affordable, reliable bicycles, bike shoes, and apparel. The design and engineering teams at Tommaso still take inspiration from Italian cycling and apply it to their range of products.
The Tommaso Fascino road bike is their most affordable road model and an excellent entry-level choice with a high user rating and an industry-leading warranty. This article will take a look at the bike in detail so you can decide if it’s the right choice for you.
Tommaso Fascino Key Features
The Fascino road bike by Tommaso delivers plenty of quality for the low price of just $799. They can offer good quality bikes at these prices because they make their own components and use a direct-to-consumer business model.
Big-name brands provide reliability in crucial areas on Tommaso Fascino, such as the drivetrain and tires. These brands include Shimano, Kenda, and KMC.
The bike is primarily for entry-level or intermediate road cyclists who need a new bike on a budget. In addition, the Fascino would make an excellent commuter bike for fast or long-distance commutes. Now, let’s look at the key components that give this bike its affordable performance.
Tommaso Fascino Quick Specs
- Frame – 6061 SLA Aluminum compact road frame, six sizes (XXS-XL)
- Fork – SST Steel with aluminum steerer tube
- Tires – Kenda K152 700×25
- Wheels – TC-20 wheelset – 23mm rim
- Drivetrain – 3×7-Speed Shimano Tourney
- Chain – KMC X-51
- Brakes – Dual-pivot V-brake calipers
- Weight – 23.6-24.8lbs
Tommaso Fascino Review
The Tommaso Fascino bike comes in at the low-end of the brand’s range of road models but has a high rating on Amazon. This rating indicates high user satisfaction, with reviewers mentioning the solid construction, comfort, and stylish look considering the price.
The components ensure a solid balance of performance and comfort on roads. Fast 25mm tires and a responsive and lightweight aluminum frame provide speed, while the shock-absorbing steel fork, compact endurance geometry, and ergonomic Tommaso saddle provide all-day comfort.
Geometry
The Fascino is designed with Tommaso’s Optimized Geometry System, which provides a balanced ride position that is comfortable riding long distances for your neck and back.
The frame itself is a ‘compact’ style, which means the top tube slopes down from front to back. As a result, the seatpost must be a little longer, but this type of frame is slightly lighter and stiffer than if it were traditional geometry.
Frame and Fork
The frameset for this bike is a 6061 Super Light Aluminum (SLA) alloy, one of the lightest you will find in the sub-$1,000 price range. In addition, 6061 aluminum is responsive, durable, and cheap to manufacture, making it the perfect choice for entry-level bikes.
The SLA frame is complimented by Tommaso’s Vibration Dampening Technology (VDT) steel fork. This thick steel absorbs much of the road vibrations you encounter and increases the bike’s durability.
Unfortunately, though, you must ensure it doesn’t get exposed to the elements for too long as it will begin to rust if there are any deep scratches in the paint.
Gearing and Brakes
Thankfully, Tommaso chose a Shimano Tourney groupset for this bike instead of a cheap off-brand one. The Tourney drivetrain provides reliability, solid shifting performance, and easy repair at this price range.
Tommaso Fascino offers a total of 21 gears, with a decent gear range for riding different terrains.
The breakdown is a 3×7-speed pairing with a 12-28t cassette and a 50/39/30T chainset for gearing. This ratio allows riders to tackle super steep gradients and keep pedaling on descents. The main issue with triple chainsets is they take more maintenance than single or double ones.
Unfortunately, Tommaso kept costs low for the Fascino by choosing v-brakes instead of mechanical discs. These brakes are fine in dry conditions but don’t perform well in wet weather. That said, it’s not uncommon for bikes in this price range to use v-brakes. The one benefit is that they are cheap and easy to maintain and repair.
Wheels and Tires
The wheelset of the Fascino is suitable for the price. You get own-brand Corsa TC20 700c rims with 20 front and 24 rear spokes. These wheels are adequate for lighter riders, but very heavy riders may experience broken spokes.
The tires chosen are Kenda K152 25mm. Although heavy, the K152s are perfectly fine for beginners and will allow you to zip along on smooth roads with ease.
If there were one thing to upgrade on the Fascino, it would be the wheels and tires. You could significantly boost the performance and durability of this bike with an aftermarket wheelset.
Saddle and Handelbars
Tommaso chose the saddle and handlebars to maximize comfort as much as possible for an $800 road bike. The UltraCompact handlebars have a low drop, making riding in the drops almost as comfortable as the hoods or flats.
The saddle is custom-made by Tommaso to be flexible, boosting shock-absorbance when riding over rougher roads. Reviewers regularly comment on the surprising comfort of this saddle.
Tommaso Fascino Sizing
Tommaso has designed the Fascino in six sizes that fit riders between 4’9″ and 6’5″ tall. This broad sizing means most riders can find the perfect fit.
Image source: tommasocycling.com
Who Should Get the Tommaso Fascino Road Bike?
The Tommaso Fascino Sport Performance is an excellent choice for any new road cyclist or commuter with a sub $1,000 budget. You will get plenty of quality, reliability, and performance at this price.
Thanks to its lightweight build, this bike will perform perfectly well on urban and rural roads for training and group rides. Additionally, riders who do long-distance commutes and leisurely weekend rides will enjoy the comfort-optimized geometry and relatively light build.
Though, don’t forget that this is an entry-level road bike with basic components, and keep your expectations realistic.
Other Tommaso Models to Consider
Tommaso also offers flat bar urban fitness bikes, adventure bikes, one MTB, and three other road bike models. Their whole range of twelve bikes falls between $599 and $1,199.
If your budget is a little bigger, you could, for example, choose the Monza, the top road bike in the range. This roadie has a carbon fork and upgraded Tiagra groupset. Alternatively, you could select the similarly-priced Siena gravel bike with disc brakes and 40mm tires for all your off-road adventures.
Is the Tommaso Fascino Bike Worth the Money?
The Tommaso Fascino road bike seems worth the money, given the excellent customer feedback and competitive component list at $799.
This bike delivers on performance, reliability, and durability but would benefit hugely from a couple of minor upgrades that you could make over time. Additionally, this bike (and all Tommaso bikes) comes with a risk-free 14-day test ride, excellent customer service, and a lifetime frame and fork warranty when assembled by a professional.
If you’re looking for a road bike that is cheap and reliable but doesn’t entirely sacrifice performance, you’ll be satisfied with the Tommaso Fascino.
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