San Diego Custom Bicycle Show...

The list of exhibitors for this show has been growing, and I have been eagerly watching each addition. Among the many I intend to check out are Bilenky Cycle Works, Waterford Precision Cycles, Soulcraft, Wolfhound, Ahearne, Vendetta, Santana, and Dean. Now, I find out today, that Basso will also be present.  You may know of my affinity for Basso bikes, and how I detest the fact that there is no distributor of them in the states. Perhaps this will be a first step toward finding them in local shops again sometime soon. Click on the link for the show (Upcoming events, at the right) for more information.

photo from the Basso website

Our three Italian "B"s...

that's "B" as in beauties, not the other "B". If you have been following, I have been rebuilding a 1970s Bottecchia since July, and it has finally been completed. It joins my Basso (early 90s) and my wife's Bianchi (80s?) as new elder statesman of the trio (and stable, for that matter). I rode it up and down the street, but wasn't able to really give it a proper test. Never-the-less some things were clear. It is certainly different. Much heavier than anything else I ride for one thing. It is also slower and less nimble. I am also going to have to reacquaint myself with downtube shifters and toe clips, neither of which I have used since the early 90s (late 80s for the toe clips).

I was not able to build it out quite as I wanted, Nuovo Record where ever possible, and ended up simply cleaning and reinstalling some of the original components. But I may keep looking, and maybe some day it will be all Campy. Until then I am satisfied, and will bring it out for local vintage rides.

Final tally:

1970s Bottecchia frame
DEA rims with Normandy high-flange hubs (original when bought)
Nervor Sport cranks and chainrings (original)
Campagnolo Nuovo Record pedals
Ale toe clips with Christophe straps
Dia Compe brakes (original)
Nuovo Record brake levers with Cane Creek hoods
Cinelli bar and stem
headset is unidentified
SR Laprade seatpost
leather saddle is new, make not known
Panaracer tires
Serfas bar wrap

nient'altro...

Well, after many years of faithful service, the Campag headset on the Basso drew the short straw, gave up the ghost, went under. It was the last of the original components added when I built the frame and fork set. The threads on the top lock nut were stripped, and rather than try to find a replacement, I decided to purchase a new King headset colored to compliment the green paint of the Basso 'B' stamped into the fork crown and seat stays.

It...

is just early summer still, no?

So what was with all the autumn leaves yesterday? I had stopped against the curb to snap a photo, and only then noticed all the golden and yellow leaves arrayed in their windblown repose, a compliment to my bike.


"The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold"


Johnny Mercer

The yellow Basso...

Found some old photos of the Basso from approximately the early 1990's when I bought the frame and built it up. The frame itself, I have been led to believe, is a 1990 model Paris Roubaix. The story of the yellow Basso: My history with the Basso began in 1992, maybe 1993, when it was brought into service to replace a short-lived Bottecchia which had been destroyed as a result of a high speed colision on a mountain road. I had stopped in to a shop at which an old high school (and earlier)  friend worked, and there it was, up on the wall a beauty to behold. As I was racing with the Chevrolet / L.A. Sheriff squad at the time, a club whose colors were green and yellow, I knew at first sight that the Basso was for me. We raced together for another couple years during which we were steady performers lacking in significant results. By 1995 the Basso was stripped down and shoved into a corner, replaced by a new model GT.

Here we are at the Red Cliffs Mall Criterium, Tour of St. George, probably 1994.

And the latest incarnation. It has been retired from service, stripped down to the frame, and then brought out of mothballs at least four times over the years. Though other bikes have taken its place, it has always been willing to wait for it's chance to comeback.

Monday's mural...

Of all the murals in Claremont this is the prize, the grand-daddy of them all. It is actually a series of nine panels painted along the interior courtyard wall of the Margaret Fowler Garden, Scripps College. The murals date to 1947, and were painted by Mexican muralist Ramos Martinez. More information here.

What makes this series of murals especially unique is the setting in which they are found, the Margaret Fowler Garden. Here the yellow Basso leans against a column almost completely entangled by a massive wisteria vine.

Monday's mural...

Almost perfect camoflage for the yellow Basso is this minimalist mural on a wall of Mead Hall at Pitzer College. I do not have an information on it, but if nothing else it certainly provides a nice backdrop for the blooming aloe in front of it.

With this...

I could become the oldest victor of the Giro di Lombardi this coming autumn.

So why, oh why does Basso not have a dealer in the states, let alone one locally?

Another...

wet morning commute but, this time with gears.

People seem to disappear on nice soft days like this. Only saw two other riders, during the whole ten mile ride.

Berries and bikes...

A trio of classic Italian beauties; Dale holding an orange Colnago, recently acquired and for sale; his just refinished Bianchi, which I got to take for a spin - smooth; and my yellow Basso. Photographed outside the Velo.

I have mentioned before how riders just like to drop by the Velo to say hello, talk bikes, or whatever. Case in point, this is Charles with his newly refinished Trek, late 80's I believe it was, beautiful new paint job especially the lugs and details.

Hey, the blueberries at our plot in the community garden are ready, well some of them are.

The strawberry plants are huge, but no berries; meanwhile the corn and tomatoes in the background are progressing nicely.

Commute season...

The beginning of daylight savings time ushers in bike commute season. Though I have participated in the year-round bike commute, it has been a few years since I last did, and so lately I have been suffering the winter months in anticipation of DLS time. I don't particularly enjoy waking before light breaks through the blinds, but being able to hit the road before the sun ascends the mountains on the horizon makes it worthwhile. A bit of chill still in the air, drivers not yet in the morning rush, witness to the southern California sunrise, and eavesdropping on the crows gathering for their morning meet and greet, when they plan the day's raucous adventures, are among the highlights. Everything just seems slower, more relaxed at this time of the day.

the Deer Creek section (one of my little shorcuts that Google maps doesn't know about) with a little snow remaining on Cucamonga Peak

the yellow Basso has arrived.