ChristopherMast

Apologies to those who read the road bike forum as well...
I originally posted this there and they suggested it belongs here:

So my father in law reportedly bought this bike in the very early 80s or late 70s (as he recalls), having it shipped from Spain to Bogota, Colombia. He's a little foggy on the memory, but he told me he'd picked it out at a store that would hand-build road bikes to specification and that the frame is titanium. He rode it back in the days of "hairnet" leather helmets (and still has his).

Apparently, after having three daughters and a very busy commercial refrigeration company take up all his waking hours, the bike ended up languishing in a garage for years. Last year, my wife and I dug it out and had it refurbished. I didn't believe him on the titanium statement, due to the bike's age, until I lifted the bike. It's nearly as light as my current carbon fiber rig. The guy at the bike shop in Bogota said it's titanium as well. I know nothing about how they're made, so it could be just really light steel for all I know. I haven't tried the magnet trick suggested in the road forum, next time I'm down there I will.

Get this: Complete disassemble, cleaning, rebuild and lube, new cables, new handlebar tape and hood covers, new tubes and tires, a saddlebag, spare tube, tire levers, and a small portable pump... $270. Cheap for all that work. I'm tempted to take my own bike to Colombia next time it needs a tune, hehe...

I know it's probably a hell of a lot of cash to put into an old rig like this buy my father in law was delighted to see his old bike returned to great shape.

It's very light and rides like a dream (for an old metal bike). Six cogs on the back and two on the front. The old Campagnolo gruppo shifts very smooth. I rode it about twenty five miles during a Ciclovia Sunday.

I don't understand enough Spanish to research it on the web and haven't seen anything regarding Otero bikes in English. I wish I had a readily-available photo of the badge on the head tube (lost somewhere on an external drive I'm thinking), but it reads "Otero Ciclos Madrid" and the logo looks something like the logo on this website: https://www.oterociclos.es/

I understand that this link leads to a bike shop, but from some of the Spanish language posts I've been able to understand, they actually built their own brand of bike at some point. Not sure when it started or stopped and I'm not sure when this bike was actually built.

I sent an email but haven't heard back from them as yet.

In the meanwhile, is anyone familiar with (or at least heard of) this brand? The first several photos below are of the bike before the work and the very last is of the bike after. I wish I had more photos of the "after" but we had a very busy week in Bogota and I had limited time with the bike, which I'd rather have spent riding vs. photographing

Christopher

lml999

I've been to the shop in Madrid. Nice shop, really interesting ironwork on the windows outside -- all custom done with bike motifs for each of the windows. I tried to take pictures but there wasn't enough contrast for the ironwork to sho.

Shop seems like a nice small pro shop.

By the way, I've never seen a Ti frame with lugs.

curbtender

Try putting a magnet up to it. If titanium, it shouldn't attract to it.

wrk101

Frame and fork stickers both look like Columbus STEEL tubing stickers. Also painted Ti frames are a very recent phenomenon, from what I understand anyway.

ChristopherMast

OK, steel, titanium, whatever. I can tell you it's not carbon

Has anyone every heard of Otero as a brand of bike or does anyone know anything about 'em?

sauze

https://www.oterociclos.es/ ?

Giacomo 1 

Thats a great looking bike. It looks fast just sitting there.

IMHO, an heirloom such as this bike deserves as much money as it takes to make it rideable and presentable again. It has sentimental value that cannot be put into dollar terms. And I'm quite sure your father-in-law is really glad to see his old ride back in such great shape again, and there is no value you can place on that.

I can't give you much info on your bike, but I'll say it again, great looking bike!