stevesid

I have a barely used 1989 Bottecchia, and I mean barely used. It is in mint condition! It is I guess the replica or brother model to the one Greg Lemond won the Tour de France on in 1989. I bought it at a reputable bicycle shop named Gamache's Cyclry and it cost me somewhere around $1300.00 to $1400.00 when I bought it back then. I was riding another bike I bought from them but when I saw this I had to have it and maybe just maybe rode it for 3 weeks then stored it until now. It is the florescent yellow and never ever been damaged by any misuse. Gamache told me it was the same bike that Lemond rode for the win but I understood what he meant. Gamache's is now closed and it is almost impossible to get info on it. Another biker and myself think that maybe each dealer got one of these to sell or maybe there is some other story. Does anyone know about this kind of Bottechia and maybe what it is worth?

I just found original purchase slip and the bike went for $1300.00 exact and it says the model is an ADR replica , neon yellow/purple and is 700c wheel, 57 CM. It was purchased on 8/09/90. Will get better pictures loaded as soon as I can. Thanks to all of you for your very kind help. I am not a very bike intelligent person so answering many of the questions about it are not my forte. Gamache is out of business and lives out of state and if I could find him I could probably get more answers.
Thanks
stevesid

beech333

Pics would help tremendously.

eja_ bottecchia

The color scheme for your bike was one of the color schemes offered bv Bottecchia in 1989. I believe those were the ADR team colors.

There are a couple of Bottecchia experts in the forum, I am sure they will chime in with more details.

I own a 1989 with Columbus SLX steel with Campy components. Mine is in the red and white color scheme.

Bianchigirll 

not a bad looking bike from that CL pic. but Scott and eja are correct we need some better pics and more information. what is the frame materiel? CroMor? SL? SLX? and the component group? I can see it is Campi but what level? is it Athena? unless the shop gave you a killer deal I don't think it is a SLX C-record bike. perhaps a SL (or CroMor) Athena bike judging fom the grey or century finish. did you buy the bike in '89 or is just an '89 model frame?

beech333

I'm not Bottechia expert, but didn't one of those pop up in this forum a few months ago? Have you learned how to use the search function?

I suppose that all of us Fuji guys look the same and you cannot tell us apart.

-Matt

Benko1977

Hi!
The ADR tema had red and white color in 89 when LeMond won!And the bike was fully equiped with MAVIC !!!!! And MODOLO !!!!! Im building one right now...

eja_ bottecchia

Steve, now you need a Bottecchia shirt to match your new frame (see picture below).

I already have a Bottecchia shirt to match my bike.

I have a 1989 Bottecchia catalog that I bought from a FB owner. I will scan pictures of your bike and will also scan the page with the specs, including geometry.

Enjoy your Bot!

Bianchigirll 

well your avatars do look similar. *giggle* there was a ADR imatation with a CroMor frame and the early Xenon group with the crank that look like Victory. I tried to buy it but the seller one of those who despite our advice insisted it was worth millions.

stevesid

I looked at a bunch of pictures from the 89 Tour and they show that Lemond was both color bikes. The red one and the Bottecchia. Easy to find!

stevesid

Thanks but more interested in getting a fair worth of the bike so I can sell it. Riding days are long over for me. Thanks again.

eja_ bottecchia

Steve, at a recent eBay auction a frame similar to yours (same color scheme anyhow) sold for $450.00 (frame and fork). I am not sure which Campy model group oyu have, so it is hard to figure a price for a fully equipped bike.

What steel is used in your frame? The frame that recently sold on eBay was Columbus SL. If you take close-up pictures of the components (derailleurs, crank, brakes) I or someone else here can figure out what group you have. That should give you some idea of how much the bike is worth.

I am sorry to hear that your bike riding days are over.

Best of luck.

stevesid

It is an SL Columbus frame, speciali reinfotazi is on label as well. It Campys that are half a darker grey which looks like a different type metal, and a shiny steel for outside where gears are. There are 7 sprockets on gearing.
steve

Bianchigirll 

if you had posted better pics and answered our questions we could hae given you a better estimate of the value of the bike. Campagnolo made several different levels of groups with darker coloring on some of the parts. while a better quality rear deraileur and crankset in a darker color may attract some ones attention, if the brake, hubs and other parts are very lowend it effects the whole bike.

IMHO $900 may be a bit optimistic for this since ifit does have a '89ish Campi group with "Synchro" shiftingit limits your potential customers. a buyer will have t weigh the $900 price against 1, learning to deal with Synchro shifting, 2, riding in in friction, or 3 spending additional money to repace the shifters, RD, cain and freewheel/rearhub to allow for a modern or smoother functioning period index system.

once again please post some better pics of the bike so we can help you. also for $900 you really need better pics and mor informatio on the bike for you CL ad.

eja_ bottecchia

Bianchigirl, I agree with you that better (more detailed) pics would have helped a great deal. I, however, disagree with your assessment of the Synchro shifters.

My Bottecchia came originally equipped with Synchros II shifters. I bought the bike back in 1989, so I have used the shifters for over 20 years. I have never had a problem using those shifters. I have used both 6 and 7 speed clusters and the shifters have worked wonderfully. The shifts are buttery smooth, not the harsh click typical of Shimano shifters of the same era. Yes, sometimes I have to make adjustments to the shifts to make sure that the chain is properly centered, but to me that is part of riding a bike and I don't mind it at all. Besides, for a piece of equipment that is over 20 years old, that is not bad at all. I do have a pair of Campy friction shifters of the same vintage, just in case the Synchro gives up the ghost some day. But for now, they are just fine.

I also agree with you that the $900 price may be a tad high, but with vintage bikes it is just a matter of mating the right bike to the right buyer. To one buyer $900 may be high, to another, who is looking for just that kind of a bike, $900 might be a bargain.

I told Steve that on eBay a frame identical to his bike's frame just sold for 4450.00--just the frame. So who knows, his price for a fully equipped bike may be just right.

Incidentally, my first love were Bianchis. I wanted a Bianchi in celeste blue in the worst possible way. The day that I finally had the money saved to buy my "dream bike" I marched to the LBS, cash in hand. Well, the Bianchi that I wanted had just sold--I was very disappointed.

But sitting in a corner was this gorgeous red and white Bottecchia that a customer had special ordered, then ridden in the parking lot and did not want it.

I looked at the Bot and I swear that I could hear it speak to me (in a Sofia Loren voice):

"Ciao bello...eliminilo per un giro." Not sure if this is exactly what the bike said to me, something may have been lost in translation or memories may have faded with age :-)

I was immediately smitten with the sexy Bot; we have been together ever since then...
Ciao!

senisbs

Bottecchia in ADR colors were offered to public in 1990 (as seen in catalog). I have seen two paint schemes. Owner provided pictures of serial number which is very hard to read. Size is 57cm, Columbus SL. I will not comment on the price.

retnav94

stevesid, I am as in the dark about these bikes as you are. However, If you bought the bike a Gamache's I am going to assume you are from Fitchburg or that area. Here is a pic of a bike I just picked you from my Brother in Myrtle Beach. He had it buin 91 or 92 I believe. We are originally from Fitchburg. I am positve he bought the bike at Gamache's. My dad bought me a few bikes from them in the 60s. Anyway, My brother said he put a few grand into the bike back in the day. It has Dura ace components, but that is all I know. I am just getting into cycling and this is going to be my road bike experiment.
Bottecchia..jpg

T-Mar

Are you sure it's an SL frame? I only have the 1990 price list, but there are two possible models listed ($1200, Xenon equipped & $1325, Athena equipped). Both are listed as being only tretubi SL frames.

stevesid

It is an SL frame and it cost me $1,300.00 for the bike. I have sales slip from Gamache's in front of me dated 8/9/90

stevesid

it also says HAND MADE CARNELLI on the frame itself.

stevesid

I am from Leominster. I bought the bike on 9/8/90 and your picture of the bike your brother has looks similar. The price I paid new for mine was $1300.00 on that date. I have the slip from Gamache's from 1990 in front of me. Other than that I am not sure what your asking. My bike was used about 3 weeks before I stoppped riding altogether. I have a second bike in cellar that I bought from gamache's the year or 2 before the Bottechia and had ridden that many many miles. It is still in great shape but it is not this Bottechia. ADR Replica. One guy came and looked it over and wants it badly but needed to sell some stuff before he could afford it. He told me I may be selling it too low a price but that was his opinion. He knew what he was looking at and got very excited about it. thanks

Bianchigirll 

did you sell it yet? if you paid 1300 for it with an SL frame then the Campi parts can't be any better than Athena if they arethat level.

lots of bike frame have handmade in italy stickers on them. that does not always mean one person handmitered and welded each and every joint.

how about some more and better pics?

stevesid

What do you want with me or this bike. You seem obsessed? All I have been doing is sending picts and all kinds of other info to half of America. I just don't get it. I am just a simple guy with a tits bike I bought that is almost new, bought from real reputable people, and ridden barely 3 weeks. It is an 57 mm sl ADR Replica that I have described. People seem interested in it but for what reason. To be sure I just don't know what you want. This is your 4th contact. I am not sure why I would want to look at pictures of your bikes, maybe you, but not Bianchi bikes.
Thank you very much

Bianchigirll 

I am very sorrow for some strange reason I thought I/we were trying to help you better identify the bike and the parts on it. I am sorry Iseemd to eager to help. good luck

PS as well as myself I think I can speak for others here, when I bike like this comes to our attention we love to see lots of pics of them to help build our knowledge. I do not think there were "off the shelf" Bottecchias so everyoen is different. see and and knowing all we can about these unique bikes helps us help the next seller or buyer.

also it is always possible we are chatting with a potential buyer in another thread. if we knew more about your bike we could tell him yes it is worth XXXX.00 pay that or no it isonly worth ZXX.00

stevesid

Well then thanks very much. I am somewhat skeptical of people's motives as I am an old retired cop and I couldn't understand why no one seemed to believe what I was telling them. Some of the advice produced good results as to where the identifying markers are located and that was helpful to me. As I stated Gamache's Cyclry was in business a very long time here and the owner was very trusted and respected by many. I was brought to his store when I was 8 or 9. That is why I continued to deal with him. He was honest and knew his bikes. I realize my price may be high to some but I have been told it may be correct and some told me it may be low. I haven't a clue other than it is basically a very collectible bike that cost 1300 and I felt because it was what it was and hardly ridden that 900 was close to fair. Maybe some negotiation would possibly be in the offing but close enough to start. I need to sell it because of my reasons but after searching for months I found this place and figured someone could help. I could ask my brother or 4-5 guys I know about the price of any car and get a ball part that would be fairly accurate fairly quickly. It seemed with all the bike experts I wasn't getting any definite answers except sending pictures and it was taking forever to get anyone to call it except for one guy who wanted the frame for a low price. I don't need a set of bike tires and wheels so it is all or nothing. I like bikes but if I wanted pictures to look at I sure wouldn't want hundreds of pictures of the same bike. Maybe my mistake and if I hurt your feelings or anyone else's I apologize. I just felt it would be easy to get a ballpark price and maybe even someone who would be interested. Again my deepest apologies!
Steve

SellOut

Stevesid,

I've got this same bike, purchased in California. My bike looks identical to yours:
- ADR Team Colors
- Columbus SL
- Campagnolo Athena with the Graphite finish
- Several components like the petals, clips, and seatpost are Campagnolo Chorus

I believe this was the first year the Athena Group came out - and I think it was classified right below Chorus. I actually bought this bike through a team discount and had no choice - at that time, I remember I really wanted a red and white Atala but over the years have really enjoyed this bike - not quite the paint scheme but definitely the bike.

The bike (ADR color scheme) does appear in either the 1990 or 1989 catalog with the Athena Group from my recollection. Hope this helps.

(eja_ bottecchia - could you send me a copy of the catalog scans as well? I would really appreciate the geometry information and info about the Athena group)