HELP! 2007 Bottecchia???

[texascyclist]

My DH and I have been shopping around for new bikes and although my DH has already purchased a Giant TCR for himself, he wants me to look at the 2007 Bottecchia for me. I can not find much information on this bike, but he has found a good deal on ebay and really thinks I should consider it. Honestly I prefer the 2007 Giant OCR 1 WSD. Can anyone offer any help as to why the Bottecchia would be a good choice instead. Maybe I'm just not getting it. :confused:

[mimitabby]

do you have a link? I've never heard of the Bottecchia.

[texascyclist]

Actually here is the link for the bike on ebay.......

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-2007-ROAD-RACING-BIKE-SHIMANO-105-FSA-VUELTA-WHLS_W0QQitemZ190077793608QQihZ009QQcategoryZ98084QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item190077793608

[mimitabby]

geez, go with what you know. I have heard lots of good stuff about the Giant OCR. is it worth it to get a "deal" and get substandard components and the rest?

[DeniseGoldberg]

If you buy the bike on eBay and the fit isn't right - what will you do then?

If it were me, I would either buy a bike that I was able to test ride first, or buy from someone who has a "no questions asked" return policy (for a full refund).

--- Denise

[SR500]

I need to check with my DH, but I think that is just another front for Bikes Direct. Mail order bikes are fine, if you know what you want and can build and fit it yourself. If you want a Giant then that is what I would get. Go to a LBS and get fitted, and the bike that is right for you. If your husband wanted a mail order bike, maybe he should have bought one.

I think they are ok for the money, but best to get a bike that fits and you like.

[Pedal Wench]

I need to check with my DH, but I think that is just another front for Bikes Direct. Mail order bikes are fine, if you know what you want and can build and fit it yourself. If you want a Giant then that is what I would get. Go to a LBS and get fitted, and the bike that is right for you. If your husband wanted a mail order bike, maybe he should have bought one.

I think they are ok for the money, but best to get a bike that fits and you like.


It is a BikesDirect bike. They were just offering a deal where you could get a Bottecchia with Campy Record for like $1500, and then send back the frame for a $200 credit, which was basically worthless. Actually, over on BikeForums, the owner of Bikes Direct said the frame is worth $50. Go with the bike you want.

[texascyclist]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions. I rode a bike we bought off of ebay last year in, and around town, and in a few charity rides and had nothing but problems. Of course the bike only cost us less than $200. Which goes to show you get what you pay for. But I just had to have that particuliar one and at that time we were just getting into biking and really didn't know it was not the "RIGHT" one.....at all!!!

This year we have decided to upgrade to newer and much better bikes. So with that, I want to be well informed on what I choose. We have been to several LBS's in our area, and like I said, the Giant OCR stands out, as far as what is in our price range....which is around $1000.00 or so.

I have to admit my DH is wonderful about the whole thing. I mean I am being very picky this time around. And he is only trying to find a bike that he thinks will suit me, but also has the specifics he looks for in a good bike.

As far as the Bottecchia goes, I had never heard of it and didn't want to go down the same road as last year. So I knew if anyone knew, or didn't know, anything about the Bottecchia, TE girls would.

Thanks again...and if anyone knows of another great bike for less than a $1000.00 please let me know. Any suggestions would be very helpful and much appreciated.

[texascyclist]

While still trying to find info. on the Bottecchia, I came across this posting on another site, which goes along with what SR500 and Pedal Wench were saying.........

Kelly.Fisher
I was just browsing through Ebay listings and noticed a "new" brand of bike being sold in mass. The brand is BOTTECCHIA. Sounds exotic doesn't it? Just rolls off your tongue! :) From the look of the postings, I'm pretty sure it's yet another spinoff brand from the nice folks at BikesDirect/Sprtymama/etc. However, the bikes appear to have an even lower price point than the typical Motobecane or Mercier bikes. They've currently got a full Dura-Ace/FSA alu frame bike for just under $1600. Of course there are a lot of "house" brand parts on the bike, and questionable wheels, but that seems to be pretty cheap. Here's a sample auction (http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-2007-ROAD-RACING-BIKE-SHIMANO-DURA-ACE-CARBON-CRANK_W0QQitemZ200004788012QQihZ010QQcategoryZ98084QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Anyway, looks like we're going to have yet another brand of knockoff bikes to contend with.

Pretty interesting, huh?

[SalsaMTB]

For $1000 you have a lot of options. You should go to all of your lbs and test ride as many as possible. Drive a little distance if needed. Get the bike that fits the best. See if they'll let you take it out longer than a spin around the parking lot. Brand wise, when you spend $1000, it doesn't matter if you go to Giant, KHS, Specialized, Trek, or whoever, you'll get about the same bike for the money. Fit should be your number one priority!

[Popoki_Nui]

I was just browsing through Ebay listings and noticed a "new" brand of bike being sold in mass. The brand is BOTTECCHIA. Sounds exotic doesn't it? Just rolls off your tongue! :) From the look of the postings, I'm pretty sure it's yet another spinoff brand from the nice folks at BikesDirect/Sprtymama/etc.
Anyway, looks like we're going to have yet another brand of knockoff bikes to contend with.

Actually -FWIW- Bottecchia is a genuine Italian marque going back to at least the 1960's, probably earlier. Definitely not some spinoff/knockoff brand. I have no idea what their modern bikes are like, but they made a full range of very respectable bikes back then. And they are still in business: www.bottecchia.com

[Trek420]

If you buy the bike on eBay and the fit isn't right - what will you do then?

If it were me, I would either buy a bike that I was able to test ride first, or buy from someone who has a "no questions asked" return policy (for a full refund).

--- Denise

My wrench says "never buy a bike from someone you can't kick in the shins".

I suppose that goes for cars too. ;)

[SalsaMTB]

Actually -FWIW- Bottecchia is a genuine Italian marque going back to at least the 1960's, probably earlier. Definitely not some spinoff/knockoff brand. I have no idea what their modern bikes are like, but they made a full range of very respectable bikes back then. And they are still in business: www.bottecchia.com

You are absolutely correct that back in the day, Bottecchia was a genuine Italian company that made a full range of very respectable bikes. Now though, it is very well documented that Bikesdirect.com has licensed their name for the US market and is using it to sell cheap frames from Tiawan. I have provided a link to a post on bikeforums.net. Post #53 is by bikesdirect.com where they explain the bottecchia line they are selling, saying AT MOST, the frame costs $50. This is not the same quality frame from the earlier days. I do not know if it's the same frame sold overseas.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=257136&page=3&highlight=Bottecchia

Motobecane used to be a well respected company also. Now, bikesdirect has licensed the name and is selling bikes made in Tiawan for very inexpensive.

In saying that, I'm not saying that these bikes are crappy. Many people have been satisfied with the bikes, it's just not the same bike behind the brand it used to be. It's definitely a spinoff/knockoff brand in the US now.

[mimitabby]

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=12441

here's a thread that i started "bikes that fit women under 5'4" "

I included inexpensive and expensive bikes, I hope it helps you.

I bought something on ebay, my bianchi veloce. we already knew Bianchi's reputation, so it seemed like a good deal. The seller said it was lightly used.
In fact; The wheels were out of true and the front wheel hub needed to be rebuilt (it had already been rebuilt by someone who mixed campy and shimano parts inside a campy hub!! It was NOT lightly used.
Since it IS a good bike, after all, it was worth putting the work into it.
But with a cheap knockoff, you are probably going to pay more than what it's worth. so what they say is true, buyer beware.