Greetings,
As the proud owner of a Bottecchia "Giro d'Italia" I would like to add the following. My first acquaintance with this marque is estimated to be 1972. A new bike shop opened in Cupertino, CA and I went in to check out the bikes. The shop featured Bottecchias. My first impression was that the build quality of these bikes were not up the standards of the "other" top Italian bicycle at the time. My opinion was based upon the finish of the lugs and the method of crimping the tubes at the forkends(this appeared really cheap). I picked up a catalog/brochure that featured the entire model line with many references to their(Carnielli Bicycles) successes in the mid '60s. The back page features photos of Gianni Motta and Rudy Altig. The photos in the catalog do not match the actual bikes(especially the lugs) so my guess is that this promo material was already dated when I picked it up.
In addition to Brad & Wes's descriptions I would add based upon my example that the lugs are a Prugnat Style Long point, the bike has a pretty interesting fork crown with reinforcing tangs on the inside, the seat stays are capped with a simple, short cap. The bike originally had only two(2) clamp-on cable guides and there are no braze-ons whatsoever on the frame. The top tube has two(2) 1" black & white checkered bands, the seat tube has a 9 1/2" wide white band(vinyl), the white band on the down measures 7 1/2" wide. There are numerous references to the exploits of the '60s on the bands. There is also a decal with a set of Olympic Rings and Made in Italy written across them low on the seat tube. My bike had/s a TTT bar & stem and the Nervar crankset is 52/40. The catalog is extremely generic with respect to specs. There is an abundance of descriptions like Aluminum sport model, Aluminum racing model etc., although on the Professional Model you will find "Gruppo Campagnolo Record" to include all expected components with the exception of the brakes. The picture shows a Silca pump as well for the Pro. AND both the "Pro" & "Giro" are advertised to be Hand-made frames - Columbus tubing. The "Pro" specifies front and rear ends Campagnolo Record. I hope that I have not left anything out. In spite of the obvious manufacturing shortcuts utilized I do enjoy owning and riding this particular bike.
Regards,
Jim Narlesky
San Jose, CA
> Sounds a lot like a Giro d'Italia model, and probably more like
early/mid
> 70's. The older brother of a friend had one (bought new) when I was about
15
> (1975) and we both envied him. Non-61 Universal brakes, Record RD, Nervar
> Star, Tipo hubs, all sound the same. Other details I remember were steel
> quill pedals (Sheffield/Lyotard 45 style), straight seatpin with uncovered
> nylon saddle, and a 14-28 freewheel that worked the Record changer to it's
> limits.
>
> Best Regards,
> Wes Gadd
> Unionville,CT