Thoughts on this Bottechia road bike?

[TonyHetherington]

http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/detail.asp/sku=Bott-BS23...

That one.

My local bike shop, of whom our band's singers uncle runs the shop, will do me a good deal all in with all the bits on that bike. Now, it's a bit more than I wanted to spend, and I have no idea why, but I bloomin love it. It's a proper local bike shop, so they'll set me up and chop/change bars etc. so it's perfectly fitted to me (even on the brand new bike), but I thought I would run it by you guys first.

I've just got properly into cycling and as is always the way, I wanted a balance between something that would not frustrate me and something which is upgradable, but equally not stupid money. A bit of searching it seems the frame is a great starting point for that.

Urmmmm....so, what d'ya reckon?!

[neil_bolton]

Only this: It's a slippery slope you're on.

[TonyHetherington]

I knew my £500 wouldn't last long

Oh, by bits I mean shoes, pedals/cleats and then 50% off anything else I buy at the same time. Which is a rather good deal There's this jacket I've seen, y'see....

[neil_bolton]

TonyHetherington said:

I knew my £500 wouldn't last long

Oh, by bits I mean shoes, pedals/cleats and then 50% off anything else I buy at the same time. Which is a rather good deal There's this jacket I've seen, y'see....

Then it'll be 'oooh, but I'll need a set of white tyres to match my saddle' or 'ooooh I think I need some carbon wheels, you know, cos they're white'

Oh wait. Hello Garlick

[TonyHetherington]

Well it comes looking like this;



You think white tyres? Yeah, white tyres would do it.

Seriously though - anyone got any thoughts on the frame and if it's a good way to go?

[neil_bolton]

I'm no roadie expert, but it looks nice enough. Most at that price level are far east sourced but are very well made nontheless.

There are more than enough PH roadies who can provide a good insight having digested Cycling Plus backwards.

However, the rules are: Your bike is only cool if your bike is made by a company with a team in THE tour. End of.

[TonyHetherington]

It's Italian made - every single component - and they DO have a team in the tour. Phew, I'm in the gang!

[kazste]

No idea on the bike, but might be worth trying that orbea, I chuffing love mine even after many long miles today, see the £500 thread for full review.

[anonymous-user]

TonyHetherington said:

It's Italian made - every single component - and they DO have a team in the tour. Phew, I'm in the gang!

i hate to tell you this but its not italian made and there will barely be an italian made component on it. even the low end camapg stuff is made in romania these days.

A US company bought the rights to the name and they are now made in the far east along with all the others. not that any of that is a problem, they are good value bikes and comparable to pretty much everything else in that price range. They supply a few UCI teams but no Pro teams unfortunately.

[BliarOut]

pablo said:

TonyHetherington said:

It's Italian made - every single component - and they DO have a team in the tour. Phew, I'm in the gang!

i hate to tell you this but its not italian made and there will barely be an italian made component on it. even the low end camapg stuff is made in romania these days.

A US company bought the rights to the name and they are now made in the far east along with all the others. not that any of that is a problem, they are good value bikes and comparable to pretty much everything else in that price range. They supply a few UCI teams but no Pro teams unfortunately.

They're back in italy now I think, that was the situation a few years ago.

I've got Bottecchia B35 CX and i'll try to be objective. The paint seems a bit brittle and some of the fixings have rusted during winter but I wouldn't let it put me off buying another. There's just something about the way it rides that I love and god don't they look sexy!!

Mine's got the full 105 kit on it.

As for Fat Birds, they're ace!! Ask Richard where the name came from, there's a hint in this link:

http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20...

[anonymous-user]

BliarOut said:

They're back in italy now I think, that was the situation a few years ago.

I've got Bottecchia B35 CX and i'll try to be objective. The paint seems a bit brittle and some of the fixings have rusted during winter but I wouldn't let it put me off buying another. There's just something about the way it rides that I love and god don't they look sexy!!

Mine's got the full 105 kit on it.

As for Fat Birds, they're ace!! Ask Richard where the name came from, there's a hint in this link:

http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20...

interesting to hear that, even the low end alu stuff? very surprised but its good for the industry.

yes, fat birds are good, they often try to take money off me in exchange for a van vicholas.... damn them

[BliarOut]

I only went for a walk in Sunny Hunny and this bright green bike flirted at me from the window. Drove the fifty miles back the next day when they were open with the bike rack sitting in the boot

[TonyHetherington]

Thanks guys. As Bliar says, I think they're back in Italy now, tho that wouldn't make my decision for me it's nice to know!

The problem is it looks so bloody good. I mean REALLY. I'm going to try that Orbea too (will go look at the thread!) fortunately my local bike people shop thing supply them also. I'm close to pushing the button

[itsnotarace]

It's really heavy, will be nearly 10kg once you add pedals and computer, bottle cages etc. It's a good buy for the price, and will happily accept upgrades in the future (wheels & tyres first)