Free Bottecchia
11-13-22, 05:08 PM
#1
Le Crocodile
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Free Bottecchia
Got a free bike. All of my bikes are not "lockables", as there would be too much anguish if they were stolen. If this one gets jacked, I will just sigh, tighten up my shoelaces, and start walking home. It's in great shape in the scheme of things.
Cool registration sticker. Of course it stays.
Everything appears original but this, but I could be wrong. It should have Suntour Spirit?
It shifts just fine! The original owner always kept it indoors. I am the second owner. I am going to clean it up, and use it as an errand bike.
I turn down bikes all the time. This one had "something", so I said why not.
Last edited by Erzulis Boat; 11-13-22 at 05:27 PM.
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11-13-22, 05:19 PM
#2
Le Crocodile
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Carnielli? C'mon man.
There are 12 "L"s on the brakes alone!
Suntour Power. That's got to be good stuff, right?
Actually, it probably is!
11-13-22, 05:26 PM
#3
So it goes.
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Love Bottecchias, I have two in my stable. Excellent pick up, and, of course, free is the best!
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Pohl's law: Nothing is so good that somebody, somewhere, will not hate it.
Pohl's law: Nothing is so good that somebody, somewhere, will not hate it.
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11-13-22, 05:30 PM
#4
Partially Sane.
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I say excellent grab, even with all those unnecessary "l's". 😁😉 I'm thinking that license looks a heck of a lot like the Levi's logo. 🤔😉
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11-13-22, 05:33 PM
#5
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11-14-22, 09:51 AM
#7
Le Crocodile
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My research indicates that this is a "De Luxe", basically the Varsity of the lineup. If this was their bottom of the barrel, then even their "worst" was pretty good.
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11-14-22, 10:51 AM
#8
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GREAT SCORE !!
LOVE the color combo. That will clean up nicely !!!!!!
That's a keeper !
LOVE the color combo. That will clean up nicely !!!!!!
That's a keeper !
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11-15-22, 07:05 AM
#9
Death fork? Naaaah!!
This is exactly the type of bike that inspired this project:
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...lia-build.html
Top
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...lia-build.html
Top
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You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
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11-15-22, 08:40 PM
#10
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The front derailleur was probably a Suntour Spirt. (Yes, that's how they spelled it.) If so, I'd guess that it was replaced by someone who didn't like that they work backwards.
--Shannon
--Shannon
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11-16-22, 08:58 AM
#11
Le Crocodile
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Wow! Thanks for that bit of knowledge, I had no idea. With that, I will probably get something age appropriate that shifts in a conventional manner.
11-16-22, 12:16 PM
#12
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My first "10-speed", bike-boom gas-piper sold by JCPenney, had those same Balilla brakes. Somehow I survived.
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02-03-23, 05:45 PM
#13
Le Crocodile
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Keeping everything real. Just cleaning things up only. I am actually looking forward to riding this gas-pipe beauty
I am just working on it bit by bit, when I am in the mood.
02-04-23, 08:27 AM
#14
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Suntour Vx or 7 maybe.
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1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
Last edited by jdawginsc; 02-04-23 at 08:45 AM.
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02-04-23, 10:02 AM
#15
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It sure is cleaning up nicely, and I love the color.
Don't make it look too nice now, you won't be able to lock it up and walk away.
Don't make it look too nice now, you won't be able to lock it up and walk away.
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02-14-23, 07:52 AM
#16
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perchance your machine may have resembled this Chiorda built example, ca. 1970 -
a discussion thread on the cycle rests here -
https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/jc...-italy.133427/
-----
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02-14-23, 08:19 AM
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Older "lower" end steel bikes like this ride nicely and make great lock up bikes. Plus you did a great job of cleaning the bike up. I'm curious, though, are you keeping the steel wheels? That's the one change I know I'd make.
02-14-23, 08:46 AM
#18
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-----
the cycle's original gear ensemble would have been Simplex Prestige
the present MAEDA set must have been fitted by a previous owner
the "backwards" MAEDA front gear mechs mentioned above are a sound concept and operate well
there are three models: the Spirt, the Compe-V and the SL
me favourite amongst them is the Compe-V; the SL has an alloy cage which can get worn through
forum member jeirvine is a strong fan of them and has fitted them to several of his machines
this is the second generation or late model Spirt which launched in 1976
[above images courtesy of VB]
---
hub tip -
the Gnutti five-piece bimetal swaged hubs with which the cycle is fitted have one tendency to be aware of
with use the drive side flange of the rear hub can loosen up
when this occurs the gear block can be seen to wander about lazily in a kind of ogival pattern when freewheeling
to check for this lay the machine down on its non-drive side and spin the rear wheel like a roulette wheel
if it exhibits the symptom there is no particular danger and the spokes and axle set are holding everything in place so nothing can really go anywhere
just something to be aware of...
-----
the cycle's original gear ensemble would have been Simplex Prestige
the present MAEDA set must have been fitted by a previous owner
the "backwards" MAEDA front gear mechs mentioned above are a sound concept and operate well
there are three models: the Spirt, the Compe-V and the SL
me favourite amongst them is the Compe-V; the SL has an alloy cage which can get worn through
forum member jeirvine is a strong fan of them and has fitted them to several of his machines
this is the second generation or late model Spirt which launched in 1976
[above images courtesy of VB]
---
hub tip -
the Gnutti five-piece bimetal swaged hubs with which the cycle is fitted have one tendency to be aware of
with use the drive side flange of the rear hub can loosen up
when this occurs the gear block can be seen to wander about lazily in a kind of ogival pattern when freewheeling
to check for this lay the machine down on its non-drive side and spin the rear wheel like a roulette wheel
if it exhibits the symptom there is no particular danger and the spokes and axle set are holding everything in place so nothing can really go anywhere
just something to be aware of...
-----
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02-25-23, 02:50 PM
#19
Le Crocodile
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Test ride before bar tape. Had to catch a few minutes between heavy rain storms.
I kept everything original that was possible, so only the tires, seat, FD, and cables/housing are new. I did get a NOS Suntour Spirt FD to replace the replacement. The saddle was replaced with a Viscount (Taiwan) to match the original.
Rides really good! Stable, quiet, and smooth.
02-25-23, 03:03 PM
#20
Le Crocodile
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-----
hub tip -
the Gnutti five-piece bimetal swaged hubs with which the cycle is fitted have one tendency to be aware of
with use the drive side flange of the rear hub can loosen up
when this occurs the gear block can be seen to wander about lazily in a kind of ogival pattern when freewheeling
to check for this lay the machine down on its non-drive side and spin the rear wheel like a roulette wheel
if it exhibits the symptom there is no particular danger and the spokes and axle set are holding everything in place so nothing can really go anywhere
just something to be aware of...
-----
hub tip -
the Gnutti five-piece bimetal swaged hubs with which the cycle is fitted have one tendency to be aware of
with use the drive side flange of the rear hub can loosen up
when this occurs the gear block can be seen to wander about lazily in a kind of ogival pattern when freewheeling
to check for this lay the machine down on its non-drive side and spin the rear wheel like a roulette wheel
if it exhibits the symptom there is no particular danger and the spokes and axle set are holding everything in place so nothing can really go anywhere
just something to be aware of...
-----
02-26-23, 12:06 PM
#21
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Test ride before bar tape. Had to catch a few minutes between heavy rain storms.
I kept everything original that was possible, so only the tires, seat, FD, and cables/housing are new. I did get a NOS Suntour Spirt FD to replace the replacement. The saddle was replaced with a Viscount (Taiwan) to match the original.
Rides really good! Stable, quiet, and smooth.
Best, Ben
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"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
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Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
02-26-23, 01:44 PM
#22
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-----
with each image of the machine am struck by the length of its Teddy badged stem
me guess be that they ran out the nines they would normally fit to a cycle of this frame size and kept the line moving by using up these longer fellas they had in the bin
have never known the maker for these but have long suspected a contract product from ITM
-----
with each image of the machine am struck by the length of its Teddy badged stem
me guess be that they ran out the nines they would normally fit to a cycle of this frame size and kept the line moving by using up these longer fellas they had in the bin
have never known the maker for these but have long suspected a contract product from ITM
-----
02-27-23, 08:06 AM
#23
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Looks great. It’s amazing what just proper bar and saddle position does for the overall appearance.
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02-27-23, 08:10 AM
#24
I don't know.
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wow, nice job. Looks great.
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02-27-23, 12:21 PM
#25
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nice,
maybe koolstop pads to help with the steel rims?
maybe koolstop pads to help with the steel rims?
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
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