Category: Bicycles and Equipment

7-Eleven’s Eddy Merckx bikes

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date November 2, 2013
1 Comment on 7-Eleven’s Eddy Merckx bikes

A 7-Eleven Eddy Merckx bike (photo: classicrendezvous.com/Benelux/Merckx/d_shelor_7-11.htm)

In the late 1980s, an American team has started to shine in the European cycling scene: the 7-Eleven Cycling Team.

The 7-Eleven team founded by Jim Ochowicz, a former U.S. Olympic cyclist, in 1981. A few high-profile cyclists including Ron Kiefel, Sean Yates (former directeur sportif of Team Sky), Andrew Hampsten (1988 Giro d’Italia winner, also King of the Mountains, with the 7-Eleven team), Davis Phinney (father of BMC Racing Team rider Taylor Phinney) rode for the American team. The team lasted 16 years (from 1990 to 1996 under the sponsorship of Motorola).

History and Legends Bicycles and Equipment Classic/Retro bicycles Races Special Bicycles Tour de France

Greg LeMond’s 1989 Tour de France winner Bottecchia

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date October 28, 2013
2 Comments on Greg LeMond’s 1989 Tour de France winner Bottecchia

Greg Lemond's Bottecchia — Bottecchia is a historical bicycle company that started as a small cyclery of Carnielli and improved in 1924 by Ottavio Bottecchia, the first Italian Tour de France winner (1924, 1925). A new company with a new name “Bottecchia” was born after the death of Ottavio Bottecchia in 1926. In 1940 the work force of Bottecchia was 100 people and the company became an outstanding race firm with the historical name of Ottavio Bottecchia and under the management of the Carnielli family. The bike was equipped with Mavic wheels and Mavic groupset: it was the only victory for Mavic as a groupset supplier in history of the Tour de France.

The advertisement of Greg LeMond’s 1989 Tour de France winner Bottecchia (in Italian). A beautiful and extraordinary bike. LeMond was racing for the AD Renting-W-Cup-Bottecchia team.

During the 1980s and at the beginning of the ’90s, the size of the front wheels of the time-trial bikes was 650c, unlike today’s bicycles.

Tags Laurent Fignon, Scott, Tour de France 1989

Special Bicycles Bicycles and Equipment

Sak_art design

Chesini Florentia MMXIII, designed by Sak_art — Chesini Florentia MMXIII

Sak_art is a motorcycle & industrial design company founded in 2010 based near Pisa, Tuscany, Italy. They design motorcycles, helmets, and bicycles. Sak_art design wants to create synergies with the greatest frame builders, Each fine frame becomes their unique painting work that displaying their aesthetic creativity and passion that have roots in the beauty & culture of their land, Tuscany, Italy.

Tags sak_art design

Special Bicycles Bicycles and Equipment

Pinarello celebrates the World Championship 2013 title with a special frame

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date October 9, 2013
No Comments on Pinarello celebrates the World Championship 2013 title with a special frame

Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Think2 2013 UCI World Champion special edition

Last September, Rui Costa of Portugal became the new UCI World Champion. Costa was a member of the Spanish Movistar team, so he was riding a Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Think2 (he moved to Lampre-Merida for the 2014 season).

To celebrate Costa’s victory in the UCI Worlds 2013, Pinarello produced a special frame: “The World Champion’s frame” – Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Think2 2013 UCI World Champion special edition.

Tags Rui Costa

Bicycles and Equipment

Cannondale CAAD8 2014

Cannondale CAAD8 2014 shares the same proven race geometry of its more expensive brother, the CAAD10, but with a slightly taller head tube (+1.5 cm) for a more relaxed riding position. It also built of a lesser quality aluminum than the CAAD10. But it is still a great entry-level road bike. As Cannondale claims, “This is the bike for people who’ve been inspired by the peloton and are ready to start being a ‘cyclist'”.

Special Bicycles Bicycles and Equipment

LeMond Limited Edition Series

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date October 2, 2013
No Comments on LeMond Limited Edition Series

LeMond Limited Edition Series: Greg Lemond, triple Tour de France winner (the only American to win the Tour), and twice UCI World Champion, teamed up with the French frame manufacturer Time to relaunch his signature brand.

The first three models are limited editions and different only in cosmetics, named after Greg LeMond’s three Tour de France victories: TDF 1986, TDF 1989, and TDF 1990.

Tags LeMond Bikes, Time, Tour de France 1989

History and Legends Bicycles and Equipment

The rebirth of Legnano

Gino Bartali's Tour de France 1948 winner bike — Gino Bartali (Legnano) shifting the Campagnolo Cambio Corsa during his 1948 Tour de France win. A Legnano equipped with Campagnolo Cambio Corsa groupset.

The Italian Bozzi family has once again moved ahead to revitalize the historic Legnano brand. In 2010, they resolved a licensing agreement issue with Bianchi, who had acquired the famous brand after the assassination of Emilio Bozzi in 1974. The new Legnano models were introduced in September 2013 at ExpoBici.

The history of Italian bicycles starts with the “L” of Legnano. Few if any marques can boast a legacy of success in the competition thanks to champions like Alfredo Binda, Giovanni Brunero, Learco Guerra, Gino Bartali, Fausto Coppi, and Ercole Baldini.

Tags Ercole Baldini, Frejus, Gino Bartali, Legnano

Bicycles and Equipment

Cannondale Caad10 2014

Cannondale is producing the award-winning CAAD (Cannondale Advanced Aluminum Design) series of road bikes since 1983. CAAD10 is the current generation of the American bike manufacturer’s top aluminum frame.

CAAD frames are legendary because they’re lighter, stiffer, and smoother riding than many elite carbon frames. Cannondale claims that the CAAD10 is the most sophisticated, highest-performing aluminum race bike ever made.

Bicycles and Equipment

Colnago Cyclocross and Mountain Bike series 2014

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date September 29, 2013
No Comments on Colnago Cyclocross and Mountain Bike series 2014

Colnago cyclocross series: Prestige 2014 — Colnago Prestige 2014: Prestige Disc Carbon Frame And Fork, Shimano Ultegra Di2 11-speed Group, Shimano Ultegra 46x36t Crankset, Trp Spyre Brakes, Dt Swiss 444D Wheels, Kenda Kwicker 700x32c Tires Prestige is the top-of-the-line model of Colnago cyclocross series. Developed with input from cycle-cross legend Sven Nys, the Cross Prestige is the ultimate carbon-fiber cross frame. A monocoque front triangle makes it tough and light, while lugged seatstays and chainstays maximize the tire clearance. The unique support between the top tube and seat tube developed at Sven Nys's request to increase carrying comfort when on the shoulder.

Winter is coming, and off-road training is a good way to stay fit during winter. Here are Colnago Cyclocross and Mountain Bike 2014 series by the legendary Italian frame builder Ernesto Colnago.