I am currently trying to catch up on the blog posts with everything happening. I am going to try to get one back post up a day from here on.
This is a Bottecchia in for restoration. I know very little about the Bottecchia other than its is Italian. The best part of the Bottecchia is the beautiful frame, most of the components will be replaced. I don't know if the plastic Simplex crap is original or installed at some other point but it will be replaced. The stem, handlebars and brake levers will also be replaced with something more appropriate. The Bottecchia already has some very nice replacement wheels with cartridge bearings and nice rims so the wheels will stay. This is the type of bicycle I find to be the most interesting and the most cool, take something beautiful like the frame and build up from there. Can't wait to test ride the Bottecchia!
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle After Restoration |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before
Handlebars |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before
Head Tube |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before
Badge |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Brake Caliper |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Hub |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Rim |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before
Stem |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before
Head Tube |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before
Crap Simplex Shift Levers |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before
Down Tube |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before
Seat Lug |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before
Seat Tube |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before
Made in Italy |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before
Crank |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before
Crap Simplex Front Derailleur |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before
Rear Brake Caliper |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before
Crap Simplex Rear Derailleur |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Before
Rear Wheel Hub |
The frame is dirty and dull but I believe it will polish beautifully! I could not remove the drive side bottom bracket bearing cup so I will polish the cup in place and use an extension to clean and polish the inside of the cup. I could have probably removed the cup with drastic measures but the likely hood of paint damage goes up exponentially and not that import to remove the cup.
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before
Fork |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Crown |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Crown |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before
Fork |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before
Fork |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Before
Fork |
The Bottecchia frame polished just beautifully! This is why I love doing this! I couldn't be happier with the results (Well, if the frame was orange I guess I could be happier!). The yellow is just perfect, the decals are in descent shape and the chrome just shines! I love it!
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Polished |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Polished |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Polished |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Polished |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Polished |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Polished |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Polished |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Polished |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Polished |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Polished |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Polished |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork Crown |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork Crown |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork Crown |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork |
The new Google Photos App I use makes it difficult to get the photos in the order I want so I am now putting photos up in bunches, the before photos of the components and then the after in a bunch.
Over all I am very pleased with the way the components turned out. Some where rough but came back beautifully, some where just replaced. The crap plastic Simplex derailleurs and shift elvers are being replaced with Sun Tour. The Sun Tour Cyclone rear derailleur just seems right for the Bottecchia and someone already put an axle hanger on it. The stem that was on the Bottecchia was just to short and doesn't look right, I think someone replaced it at some point to make a shorter reach and also installed brake levers with suicide levers. I think the replacement choose is perfect for the Bottecchia.
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Headset Before |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Bottom Bracket
Before |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Simplex Derailleur Crap
In the recycling bin! |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Original Stem & Handlebars |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Original Stem & Handlebars |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Replacement Stem & Handlebars |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Replacement Stem & Handlebars
|
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Replacement Stem & Handlebars |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Replacement
Stem & Hanldebars |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Replacement Handlebars
Before |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Replacement Stem
Before |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Replacement Stem
Before |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Replacement Stem
Exploded View |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Replacement Brake Levers
Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Brake Levers Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Brake Levers Exploded |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Crank Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Crank Exploded |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Seat Post Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Pedals Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Seat Binder Bolt |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Stem & Handlebars
Polished |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Handlebars Polished |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Stem Polished |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Stem Complete |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Stem & Handlebars
Polished |
This is one of my favorite photos. I learned a few new techniques for polishing and the handlebars and stem really show it!
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Stem & Handlebars
Polished |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Brake Levers
Polished |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - New Brake Lever Hoods |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Brake Levers Installed |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - New Handlebar Tape |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Handlebar Tape Installed |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Crank Polished |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Crank Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Brake Calipsers Polished |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Brake Calipers Complete |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Polished |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Pressing
Headset Cups |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Headset Cups
Pressed |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Headset
Complete |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Headset
Complete |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Complete |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Front Brake Caliper
Installed |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Rear Brake Caliper
Installed |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Brake Calipers Installed |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Cockpit Installed |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Cockpit Installed |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Stem & Hanldebars
Installed |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Crank Installed |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Crank Installed |
The wheels where surprising replacements. The hub bearings are cartridge bearings and the rims are very nice. I spent some time cleaning and polishing and then installed new tubes and Panaracer 1 inch tires. I really like the looks of the wheels and tires installed.
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Rear Wheel Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub BEfore |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub
Before |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Rear Wheel Rim
Before |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Front Wheel Before |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Front Wheel Hub
Before |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Front Wheel Rim
Before |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - New Panaracer Tires
& Tubes |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Front Wheel Complete |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Front Wheel
Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Rear Wheel Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Rear Wheel Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Wheels Complete |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Seat Post & Saddle
Installed |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Saddle Installed |
The Sun Tour replacement components. Just nice bullet proof components.
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Replacement Shift
Levers |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Replacement Front Derailleur |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Replacement Front Derailleur |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Replacement Rear Derailleur |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Shift Levers
Polished |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Front Derailleur
Polished |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Rear Derailleur
Complete |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Shift Levers
Installed |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Front Derailleur
Installed |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Rear Derailleur
Installed |
 |
Bottecchia Restoration - Chain & Freewheel
Installed |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
When I took the after photos we where still in late winter so no outdoor photos. I did brave a test ride in 18 degree sun light. The Bottecchia was very nimble dodging black ice and snow, it was also very fast, it shocked me a little bit how fast it was, or maybe that was hypothermia setting in??
I really love how the Bottecchia turned out, it is truly a beautiful bicycle and now the frame has the components it deserves.
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| Bottecchia Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
Thnaks for looking!
John Z.
Ahhh mayyy zing. How do you get the steel so shiny? Wish I could make my ole Trek Pro Series 1986 look so beautiful. Nice.
ReplyDeleteLovely Job as always that Bottechia really gleams and the Suntour was a great pick to replace the breakable derlin Simplex drive train.
ReplyDelete