[CR]Bottecchia 88 or 89 teambike, info sought

(Example: Books)

Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 15:01:31 +0100
From: "Freek Faro" <khun.freek@gmail.com>
To: "Classic Rendezvous" <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]Bottecchia 88 or 89 teambike, info sought

Dear list,

Last weekend I got my Bottecchia (the one I sold the Anquetil book for)! And what a bike it is. Almost my size too, with a proper length stem it'll be OK. Had to go to Belgium for it (near Kortrijk), but it was worth it.

Here are pics, in its original state: http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/Freeks-racefietsen/1988+Bottecchia/ (its a good thing you cant smell it, ughhh!)

So its almost completely Mavic equipped, its got Mavic, Columbus and Bottecchia decals everywhere, its got a number tab on the toptube, and the rims are well-used SSC tubulars. All this says to me: teambike, professional rider. Who else would have that Mavic stuff all over, and the deals to go with it? So I searched for teams with Bottecchia and Mavic equipment, and found this obscure team: http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/pelotons/eq1989.php (scroll down)

The team is called Humo-TW rock-Ricoh-Bottecchia. There's a Mavic name on the shirt, the shirt is red, so it seems to fit the bill.

(Humo is a Belgian magazine, TW rock stands for Torhout Werchter rock festival) I've searched and searched for pictures of this team, have not been lucky.

Maybe someone who has more knowledge of Bottecchia bikes, or knows this team, can confirm my reasoning? I've mailed Bottecchia in Italy, so far no reply.

BTW, the bike is made from TSX tubing and has the Cinelli 'spoiler bracket', that should date it more precisely maybe.

Freek (even more happy since I washed the bike, and threw away the smelly saddle) Faro Rotterdam Netherlands