This beautiful bike is in time warp, museum quality condition. It has only been ridden on 3 short, dry road rides and every single part is in either as-new or pretty close to new condition. You will never see another like this for sale.
Postage is expensive due to size of box needed and insurance. If you can get better rates you are welcome to arrange a collection from me and I’ll box her up for you for free. Collection from Worthing, West Sussex is most welcomed though if possible and I can meet you at a local train station such as Goiring by sea, West Worthing or Worthing, always happy to help in any way.
The pictures do not do it justice. The metallic purple paintwork has a sparkly gleam to it, the last picture in the sunlight shows it quite well, while the other pictures in duller light don’t particularly show how beautifully rich the colour is, but you can clearly see how incredible the condition is.
Everything apart from the tyres and the saddle is completely original and as per the original build by The Bike Store, Worthing in 1994 - even the bar tape is the original.
The original tyres were Specialized (The Bike Store were a Specialized dealer who offered Bottecchia as part of their more boutique, custom build range), but although hardly worn, the rubber had degraded with age and would probably not be safe to ride so I replaced them with the beautiful skinwall Vittorias which as well as being far better tyres in like-new condition, they suit the character of the bike perfectly and are a better match than the Specialized items.
The original saddle was again a Specialized item (although made in Italy by Selle San Marco). It is hardly worn and I still have it if you would prefer it to the later San Marco Regal I have fitted in its place, although I do feel that the Regal is far nicer and suits the bike far better and compliments the white bar tape nicely, but the choice is yours! As stated the Specialized saddle is hardly used. It is in excellent, as good as could be expected condition for a 1993-manufactured saddle and has a nylon base, steel rails and a black perforated leather top.
The frame is of early 1990’s manufacture. It is marked 3TG on the BB shell which might denote 1993, which would make sense being purchased new in 1994.
Size is marked as a “59” on the BB shell.
Measurements:
Seat tube 59cm ctc/61cm ctt
Top tube 57.5cm ctc
Head tube 18cm (approx 22cm including headset stack)
The Columbus Gara tubeset is for cyclists who demand stout, lightweight racing frames. Cr Mo Steel. Weight: 2300g approx. It is a little heavier than SL and SLX but is noticeably stiffer, stronger and more durable so is especially suited to heavier riders and/or larger frame sizes.
Proper riveted Bottecchia head tube badge, ALL original decals, paint, chrome etc.
She rides absolutely beautifully - typically classic Italian quick but balanced handling. I have had several other 1990s steel bikes with Columbus Brain, Reynolds 653 and Columbus SLX and this beautiful metallic purple Bottecchia rides sweeter than all of them. The generous head tube length and long fork steerer gives the option to have the handlebars quite high and comfortable, which is a very welcomed trait. I’m 6’2” with quite poor flexibility and it fits me very well. I guess the rider height range is around 5’11” to 6’4” depending on how you like your setup.
I also have a slightly later 1990’s Bottecchia 989 made of Columbus SL in my collection, with near identical design and geometry and the purple Bottecchia rides almost identically to that. In fact this Gara tubed bike actually feels noticeably tighter and more assured than the SL tubed version - it’s stiffer and more suitable for a heavier rider on a larger frame size than SL or SLX… remember, lighter is not always better, especially with steel frames.
It really is a gorgeous bike, both to look and and to ride. The ridiculously incredible original condition actually deters me from keeping and riding it… it probably should be on display in a cafe, shop or museum. I can safely say it will be the best of its kind anywhere in the world, it’s very close to like-new with only the slightest mark or signs of use as pictured.
The Campagnolo Veloce parts are the rare metallic silver painted items which tend to wear/age better than the polished aluminium finish items which are exposed metal and tarnish easily. The wheel rim brake surfaces are in excellent condition having hardly been ridden (see pics: one is lightly marked, one is close to new), the brake pads are of course the originals too. Time warp.
Full spec:
Frame: Bottecchia by Carnielli, made in Italy, Columbus Gara Cr-Mo, hand built, lugged, Gipiemme adjustable dropouts, beautiful metallic purple paintwork with fluro yellow lettering
Fork: Bottecchia by Carnielli, lugged and chromed, classic 1” threaded
Headset: Campagnolo threaded
Stem: HL Cr-Mo steel quill, 110mm
Handlebar: SR Sakae Custom Modolo Anatomic, aluminium, 40cm ctc at hoods/41.5cm ctc at drops
Seatpost: Kalloy Uno UL System aluminium, 27.0
Saddle: Selle San Marco Regal
Wheels: Handbuilt by Martin @The Bike Store, Worthing in 1994 (as was the whole bike assembly)
Rims: 32h Campagnolo Omega 19
Tyres: Vittoria Open Corsa Evo Classic, Corespun 320 TPI, ISO Grip, Servizio Corse, 23c, tan wall
Spokes: DT Swiss Champion stainless steel, laced 3-cross, DT brass nipples
Hubs: Campagnolo Veloce
Derailleurs: Campagnolo Veloce
Cassette: Campagnolo Veloce 8 speed
Chainset: Campagnolo Veloce, 53/39T, 172.5mm
BB: Campagnolo Veloce ISO square taper
Brakes: Campagnolo Veloce
Brake Levers: Campagnolo non-Ergo (Pan-group, Record quality, dual cable operation for both vintage external top-exit and modern hidden aero cabling). These still have their original production sticky tags on them - this bike has never seen water!
Shifters: Campagnolo Syncro 8 downtube (Pan-group, Record quality), 8 speed indexed with switchable friction mode
Seatbolt: Campagnolo, Pan-group, Record quality