I decided that what my collection needed was a classic low profile time-trial bicycle, seeing as how they went from oddity to being the required tool for time trials to being outlawed by UCI regs. They are soon to be extinct.
I was very fortunate to get hold of a Basso with lugs and Columbus SL tubes, the seat and top tubes being deliciously curvy. Absolutely classic. The trouble is that much of the original equipment has been replaced by cheap stuff and I want to get it back to period correct. I think the Campagnolo C-Record 28h front hub, headset and bottom bracket and the front 650 Mavic Mach 2 CD 2 are original. I plan to fit a complete C-Record group but am wondering what is the correct generation -- original C-Record? slant parallelogram 7-speed? 8-speed cassette? Synchro I, Synchro II or Synchro that worked?
Does anyone know how to interpret Basso frame numbers for year of manufacture? The number on the bottom bracket is 9101013, which superficially looks like 1991 (and dangerously close to off-topic but for method of construction), but that is only an assumption. Does anyone know for sure? The bb is also stamped 58, but I think that is the seat tube c-c dimension.
The Basso head tube decal carries world championship stripes -- did anyone ever ride one to a world championship victory?
I would appreciate any info on tha above and on Basso in general.
Many thanks
Hugh Thornton
nr Crewe UK