Quiz: what is this frame designed for?

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12-06-09 | 01:34 AM

#26

Mos6502

Elitest Murray Owner

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 2,657

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Bikes: 1972 Columbia Tourist Expert III, Columbia Roadster

Well, NOW you have to make with the pictures.

12-06-09 | 01:44 AM

#27

EjustE

sultan of schwinn

Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 3,536

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From: Lehigh Valley, PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kommisar89

We have a winner! It is that exact frame! (Well, not that EXACT frame but the same make, model, general time period). A '69 - '74 era Bottecchia Professional. As Italian as possible. I'm surprised at how many people guessed French.

But not the same as the second bike you showed - the frame in question was built as a Professional Model but was also used for the Giro d'Italia and 2nd gen Gran Turismo. The other frame you showed was used for the De Luxe, Special, and 1st gen Gran Turismo. I have a couple of those too but haven't taken the measurements in any detail yet. I believe they are a bit more relaxed in geometry.

The ones pictured are both Bottecchia Professional bikes butchered in different ways (the second one with an inaccurate paint job - Gios bluish- and decals). The funny photo angle in the second one does wonders to disguise its identity as well as to hint towards a bent fork.

Never realized that Bottecchias had that big of a bottom end before... this is worth to embed a video

12-06-09 | 01:48 AM

#28

Kommisar89

Thread Starter

Bottecchia fan

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 3,520

Likes: 12

From: Colorado Springs, CO

Bikes: 1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo (frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame), 1974 Peugeot UO-8

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mos6502

Well, NOW you have to make with the pictures.

LOL...I'll have to take some. It looks just like this, though it's hanging on the wall in the garage...

Edit: This is my 1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, identical frame, different components

__________________
1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo(frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame),
1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame),
1974 Peugeot UO-8, 1988 Panasonic PT-3500, 2002 Bianchi Veloce, 2004 Bianchi Pista

Last edited by Kommisar89; 12-06-09 at 02:02 AM.

12-06-09 | 01:59 AM

#29

Kommisar89

Thread Starter

Bottecchia fan

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 3,520

Likes: 12

From: Colorado Springs, CO

Quote:

Originally Posted by EjustE

Not at all...the second bike you showed is(was) Fred Yavorsky's 1973 Bottecchia Special. 100% original in Bottecchia Blue with the original decals. It's a totally different frame. Both my Professional frame and my 2nd gen Gran Turismo frame are the same blue with the same decals. The Professional et al are Columbus SL frames with Prugnat lugs and Campagnolo fork-ends/drop-outs while the Special is a hi-ten steel frame with Bocama lugs and stamped fork-end/drop-outs. I think the Special has a longer wheelbase, longer chainstays, and something like 72.5 degree angles but I'll have to check. I have two of them in the garage but it will have to wait until tomorrow to measure them.

12-06-09 | 02:15 PM

#30

Kommisar89

Thread Starter

Bottecchia fan

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 3,520

Likes: 12

From: Colorado Springs, CO

Here are some specs from the Bottecchia Special Model. It is noticebly different.

late 60s - late 70's 23" Bottecchia Special frame specifications
Frame/fork tubing: hi-tensile steel
Frame/fork construction: Brass brazed, Bocama lugs, stamped bottom bracket, flat crown fork, stamped dropouts and fork ends
Size, inches: 23
Seat Post Size, cm: 26.4
Seat Tube, cm: 58.5
Top Tube, cm:
Chainstay, cm: 43.6
Wheelbase, inches:
Head Tube Angle: 71.5°
Seat Tube Angle: 73.0°
Trail: 54.5mm
flop factor: 16.40 (moderately high)

12-06-09 | 02:56 PM

#31

divineAndbright

Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 2,234

Likes: 2

From: ontario

I knew it was a "racing bicycle" or at least "racing style", but I figured french due to the brake reach guessing it would of used centerpulls, I guess when I think italian racing I think universal sidepulls

12-06-09 | 03:18 PM

#32

Kommisar89

Thread Starter

Bottecchia fan

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 3,520

Likes: 12

From: Colorado Springs, CO

Quote:

Originally Posted by divineAndbright

Universal Model 61 center-pulls where oem. They are currently mounted on my 2nd gen Gran Turismo which is the same frame but originally came with Universal Sport center-pulls.