easyupbug 

Appreciate any impressions.

crank_addict

Nope to seeing in person but YES to like -please. Smoking hot!

Other: Nice ratio range but that Potenza crank looks so wrong on that bike. Stem, seat post and saddle good choice.

easyupbug 

I could not agree more, for the life of me I can not understand this bulbous crank style takeover with Shimano/Campagnolo/Sram.

...and while I am ranting why is everything black?

eja_ bottecchia

Oh WOW...I own the 1989 version of that bike, same color scheme.

As far as the crankset is concerned, at first I wasn't too thrilled when Campy went to a Shimano-style crankset; the look of the new crankset really especially bothered me.

But after riding and comparing both cranksets (I have the new style on my Colnagos and the old style on the Bottecchia) I am convinced that the new style is superior to the old style. It is stiffer and has a better feel. Also, with the new style you can change ring sizes without having to change the entire crankset. That's a plus right there.

T-Mar

I think the cranks are a very good aesthetic fit for this bicycle when you consider that the most famous Bottecchia in red livery is Lemond's's 1989 TdF time trial bicycle. That bicycle used MAVICs starfish crankset, which is not far removed from the Potenza and could be considered the first of the "bulbous" cranksets. Given the distain heaped upon this style of crankset by the C&V members in general, I'm amazed that the MAVIC is held in such esteem on the forum. We really are a fickle lot.

repechage

Looks worthy of further review in person.

Wordwreckin

Yeah, but...... It's older than the new cranks! (I always knew I secretly hated that Mavic crank.....)

John E

I still think most 4-bolt crank spiders are ugly. Odd numbers of arms -- 3 or 5 -- just plain look better. I can see the engineering justification for the bulbous look, which I likewise do not care for aesthetically.

SJX426 

The fork is bent! Not to mention the valve stems!

gomango

I really like it.

I've seen Potenza on two brand new De Rosas and it really has grown on me.

I also like the fact older guys like me can get some relief with gear ratios.....

repechage

That big ring could really use some pantograping...

repechage

Looks like $2000. For the frame set, $3600. For the bike.

Wildwood 

Bike is beautiful.
Yea for those companies building to a better aesthetic with steel. The field is filling up blending 'old with new'.


here's the link: https://www.bottecchia.com/en/modelli/2017-leggendaria


Check out the geometry chart. Frames sizes for every centimetre - warms the soul. Make mine 60cm please, but I could squeeze into a 59 or relax for a 61.

AngryFrankie

That's a very good point about the cranks. They are similiar in more ways than different.
That Campy Potenza group is really getting some buzz BTW.

kingston 

Those silver potenza cranks are the least ugly modern crankset from the big 3 for a steel frame since athena was discontinued, but they're still ugly. Although that Deda wouldn't have been my first choice, I like it that they went with a quill stem, as threadless stems look even worse than a bulbous crank on a steel race bike. The bottecchia seatpost is just about perfect. Curious what wheels they have on that bike. They look pretty good too.

gugie 

Now THAT"S Italian! Chrome leggings, all shiny, two tone paint job, big bold decals...wow!

T-Mar

I really like the Potenza crankset, on most modern bicycles. The aesthetics fit well together. Modern bicycles tend to have more surface area courtesy of deep dish rims and oversize, profiled, frame tubes, which often have bold graphics. The chunkier design of the Potenza crankset complements this style. I also think they would look fine on some vintage frames, along the likes of a Cannondale, Kein or Kestrel.

DMC707

I wonder how Columbus Spirit compares to classic tubesets like SLX or TSX

I would like for someone to send me this bike for a week or 2 in the spring so i can compare it to some of my older iron��

This is not a bike for me-- as for this price, i would rather find , restore and assemble my own from a genuine vintage classic, --- but that said, its a great choice for someone who does not want to deal with all that, and its at a price that wouldnt even raise an eyebrow if it was on a dealer floor sandwiched between a couple of big dollar carbon bikes

crank_addict

No argument the chainset is a performer but the aesthetics don't match the rest of this bike. Fat 4 arm spider, wide circumference rings seem odd against the other ingredients. At least the old Mavic 'starfish' had a tapering thin spider and rings.

Again, just a little nit picking and when it comes down to it, rarely is one buying this bike for competition events. Its a nostalgia tripper right out of the box. Get the crank right and its a knockout for this day and age.

T-Mar

IMO, the Ergo shift levers are a worse offender. They're just as "fat" for this frame and the black paddles make them stand out more. Oh yeah, they're also not L'Eroica compliant, if that matters to anybody.

repechage

Made me wonder if the earlier silver shift levers could be exchanged…. The black rear mechanism parts are carbon filled plastic.

I threw the geometry into a CAD program and while had to guess a few numbers, the bike I think will handle like some of the Waterford Paramounts.

For the record, I would have hidden the valve stems behind a chain stay and fork blade.

johnnyace 

Good point, and they're using long-stem presta valves, which are really for aero rims. Slap those guys in marketing!

gomango

Photoshop is our friend.

Fwiw I use whatever tube, since my wife's tri bike used aero rims. I'll use them up and then worry.

clubman 

I know a couple of large shops that have stopped carrying standard length presta valves. This bikes demonstrates why that is.

johnnyace 

Oh yeah, I completely agree with you, for us, use what ya got. But from a marketing and advertising perspective, image is everything. I used to be a graphic designer in a advertising and marketing company, and we lived and died on these minute details. Photoshop, like you said.