Classic & Vintage - Bottecchia victories...?

Hi All -

If I'm going to ride a vintage bike I figured I should know something about its history and since I'm riding a Bottecchia these days I wanted to find out a little more about the brand's racing heritage, specifically the late sixties. Many are probably familiar with the panel decals on late '60's - late '70's (later even?) Bottecchia's proclaiming champion of Italy 1964-65-66-67 and world champion 1966. I know that the '66 world champion was Rudi Altig and the '66 Giro winner was Gianni Motta both shown on the last page of my catalog repro in Molteni colors but what about the rest? (Hmmm...and I just found repro wool Moteni gear on the web and my tax return just came in - wonder if I can sneak that past my wife? :) ) Does the Giro victory constitute "Campione Italiano" or are they refering to something else? I checked and different guys won the Giro each year 64-67. Did they all ride Bottecchias? That doesn't seem likely. Or is it Motta winning 'Campione Italiano' some other way? Anybody know? Thanks folks.

-Derrick

The 64-67 victories refer to the Italian National (Professional) Road Championships won by De Rosso (64), Dancelli (65, 66) and Balmamion (67). All road for Molteni which used Bottechia frames, reportedly built by Colnago, who was team mechanic during this era.

Thanks T-Mar! Good info. Maybe I will buy that Molteni gear to go with my bike...

Does yours look something like mine? http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/mrruins/DSC00370.jpg

Similar but in Bottecchia Blue:

http://www.geocities.com/kommisar89/My_Bottecchia.JPG

OK, one more time since I seem to be technology challanged tonight. Here (I hope) is my Bottecchia Giro d'Italia.

http://s195.photobucket.com/albums/z77/Kommisar89/?action=view&current=BottecchiaGirodItalia048.jpg

I like the blue. Did you stick with the original tire size of 27x1 or did you go with something else?

My old Bottecchia Special back in the day (1974) had Fiamme 27” alloy rims and Clement clinchers. When I was checking this one out on eBay, I could see in the pictures that it had Clement tires and I assumed the rims were original although I could not actually see them clearly and I didn’t think to ask. When I got the bike what it actually had mounted was steel Dolomiti rims in 700C! That’s a very unlikely combination. The DeLuxe and many Specials used steel rims, often Dolomiti, but in 27” and this model, the Giro d’Italia, typically came with tubulars in 700C. My guess is that the previous owner got tired of the sewup tires and replaced the original rims with the steel clincher rims and kept the 700C size to make sure the brakes would have the correct reach. All speculation however. At any rate, I decided to go with what I’m pretty sure was original on this bike which was the Fiamme red label tubulars. Since I don’t really have any experience with tubulars it’s been a learning experience (not to mention messy). I’m running Vittoria Rally tires on it right now ‘cause they’re reasonably priced training tires ($20). They do seem rather flat prone though.

I suppose there is clearance with the 700C since you're not having any issues with it. Are those the original brakes? After reading your last post and conducting some research of my own, I think I might swap the 27 to 700C.

Yes, the Universal Type 61 center pulls are original. They are long reach and have long slots so I don't expect you would have any problems between 27" and 700C and I'm almost certain your bike came with Fiamme red label 700C tubulars, double butted chrome plated steel spokes, and Campagnolo high-flange Tipo hubs. If you have the original hubs and remove the locknut from the hub and look at the lock washer beneath it should have a date stamp like 'CAM 73' or something similar that would give you an idea what year the bike is if you aren't sure. I was impatient when looking for replacements for the steel rims someone had mounted and was having difficulty finding nice polished box section clincher rims in 700C for a reasonable price - most of the clinchers in the '70's were 27" and by the time they went to 700C in the '80's they were using anodized and even aero rims so I went with the original tubulars that easier/cheaper to get. And then there's the 'coolness' factor.