jeffreythree

I couldn't resist the call of the lug work on the head tube on this Bottecchia. Campy Grans Sport derailleurs and Tipo(?) high flange hubs, Mafac Racer brakes, Fratelli Brivio cranks w/ Simplex outer spider bits and alloy rings, Ambrosio alloy hoops(maybe hacked to fit schrader valve) and stem(chrome steel), Leotard pedals, Bottecchia headset, Campy seat post, ADGA 28a saddle(very dry). I think that the Carnielli 50th anniversary decal means it may be a bit older than a '69 model the seller thought it was('61 maybe?), but it is missing the dates where a frame pump rubbed. The bad part is I think the fork is tweaked a little. I was kind of surprised at how light it was, a bit over 24# for a 58cm frame with some steel parts. Any info would be appreciated, especially on age or things you see wrong, and I have done a lot of searching including the same frame but newer with lower level components here: THE SPECIAL BOTTECCHIA SPECIAL - INTRODUCTION

juvela

Wheels, pedals, toe clips and saddle are not original to bicycle. Brakes are a mix of MAFAC calipers and hangers with Universal levers. Since hangers are MAFAC my guess would be that levers have been changed.

Handlebar end caps appear to be missing. Originals would have been either Gaslo or REG:

randyjawa 

You are very lucky to have found such a rare bicycle, assuming that we can agree some Bottecchia bicycles do fall into the rare category. The OP's bike is of much higher quality than the one I had. Mine was newer and did not have Campy drops. Also, the OP's if full polished chrome (I think) rather than just partially polished.

Nice find and this is what its inferior sibling looks like...

Charles Wahl

I'm currently building up a Bottechia frame very similar to that one
https://www.flickr.com/photos/131757...57630922118844
It came to me with headset only, refinished by Cyclart, and weighs just under 3.1 kg bare, at 61 cm size. I found Universal (Italian) centerpulls for it, though I ended up buying two pairs to get one of the longer reach ones for the rear; the short reach ones _just_ wouldn't reach, where I needed a 61-62 mm drop.
Nice to see one in the raw.

T-Mar

It should be a 1959 model, based on the cinquatenario decal. The 1989 models all came with 80th anniversary decals.

jeffreythree

Thanks everyone for the additional info. I started on it late last night. The left fork arm is a bit forward of where it should be with a misaligned dropout, and the headset had one to many balls in it explaining the problems adjusting it. A practically new Maeda Perfect 14-28 freewheel is on the back as well. I plan on seeing how well my barrel vise adapts to being a fork alignment tool.

juvela

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Does anyone know if this lugset may have been proprietary with Carnielli? Cannot recall seeing it employed by other manufacturers...perhaps just me rusty olde "braine."

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SJX426 

My Bottecchia comes in at 24lbs with a Pro saddle with clincher rims. I date it around 1973 and is loaded with Campy NR and Universal 61 brakes. It is a 60cm frame.

gaucho777 

I really like this bike and can understand why you couldn't resist.

That said, the lug at the seat post does give me concern: Is that a crack on the drive side just in front of the seat binder bolt?

juvela

On me screen it looks like binder ear deformation from overtightening and/or employment of a too small pillar.

jeffreythree

I had to go take another look after you said that. It is dried up old grease and dirt caught in the step where they machined flats on the ears for the binder bolt. However the binder bolt is bent, but the ears look OK. 26.8mm seatpost in it by the way.

I have it dismantled the bike all the way now after a long battle with a stubborn cotter. I may need a replacement cotter since it was missing a few threads when I removed the nut. The bare frame was 4.5#(~2040 gm) and fork is 1.75#(~800 gm), and not bad IMHO for a '50's straight gauge 58 cm bike. I Aligned the fork today, but I still need to make or get a dropout alignment tool for a final adjustment.

John E

Is that a 14-28 freewheel? That's how I want to gear my Sieger, but I wasn't sure a 1960 GS could handle 28 in back with a 4-tooth (49-45) drop in front.

I really like your Bottecchia! 11kg sounds about right for the weight.

You have the same Simplex 3-to-6-bolt chainring adapters I do. Are those Agrati cranks?

peter_d

This is the bike Randy mentioned. Much heavier than yours but just as pretty.



ATTACH]540556[/ATTACH]

IMG_1745_1_1.jpg

jeffreythree

It is a 14-28. I test road it last night up and down the block a few times and it seemed to shift fine. I actually have a 5-tooth drop up front with a 52-47. Cranks are Fratelli Brivio, and I discovered the BB is as well today. BB lug work looks good once I opened it up, and it is pinned(a current thread on here made me think of that).

juvela

[QUOTE=jeffreythree;19132076]It is a 14-28. I test road it last night up and down the block a few times and it seemed to shift fine. I actually have a 5-tooth drop up front with a 52-47. Cranks are Fratelli Brivio, and I discovered the BB is as well today. BB lug work looks good once I opened it up, and it is pinned(a current thread on here made me think of that).[QUOTE/]

Thanks very much for this new information.

You mentioned that pillar size is 26.8. Are you satisfied that this is the frame's intended size? Asking because I do not think pillar could be original to bicycle. When pillar not original sometimes if one prys open the binder ears a bit it can be discovered that opening in tube is slightly larger than pillar.

Great to read things are moving forward for you.

Charles Wahl

My Bottechia that's virtually identical definitely takes a 27.0 mm seatpost.

SJX426 

As a reference:
[IMG]P1030591, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]P1030588, on Flickr[/IMG]

Pillar measure 68.86

[IMG]P1030662, on Flickr[/IMG]

jeffreythree

I checked it tonight and it was pinched in a bit. Opened it back up and it was 27.0 mm. One more thing to add to my shopping list. Anybody need a 26.8 Campy seat post? I don't know why, but almost every used bike I have came with a 26.8 post and needed something different (even one that took a 26.6).

qcpmsame 

Should be a really nice restoration, I might be prejudiced towards Bottecchias, my first true drop bar bicycle in 1972, yours will be fantastic I am sure. Please keep updating us if you would.

Bill

Normware

nice

needs decals

juvela

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Did FB offer headsets showing name of the bike?

Am only familiar with the Giostra (Magistroni) in this regard.

Or perhaps what we have here is a Giostra?

Expect original hubs would have been FB or Campag marked FB.

Thanks for any information ;^D

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T-Mar

I think this bicycle has gone through quite a few changes. For instance, normally one of the items most likely to be OEM would be the shift levers. However, a 1959 would have used open C levers and these appear to be closed C. If the shift levers aren't OEM, there's a very good probability that many of the others are replacements.

crank_addict

Neat find and project. There's something appealing about the brand, its history, the respectful naming of Bottecchia.

OP's looks racey geometry for that era. Any thought what type of tubing on the OP's?

Can't knock even the lower end vintage models. I really enjoy my budget rider weighing in sub 25 lbs.. Taking in consideration for using many steel components, crank, headset, bottom bracket, sewers, bars, seatpost, heavy saddle, pedals, Velox rear derailleur.

jeffreythree

They are closed C. I am not surprised a 57 year old bicycle has been changed. Probably not going to restore it to original glory, at least for now. Have you seen what people want for FB hubs? Goal for now is to make it rideable with what it has on it for now. Half done stripping the mostly missing paint down to shiny chrome, and need to get some ball bearings and a proper sized seatpost.

Charles Wahl

A cheap way to get a 27.0 mm seatpost is to buy a scarred-up 27.2 (Campagnolo, even) and carefully, evenly sand it down using wet-or-dry sandpaper in successively finer grades; it doesn't take much ro remove a fifth of a mm. And finish with rubbing compound and Simichrome. Might need to back up a bit if you go too light, but it's easy to do.