Basso at Cycle Show

Basso Diamante

As promised in my last posting about the Wilier’s on display at the Cycle Show, here is the next installment about the awesome Italian racing machine, Basso. There are quite a few versions, which have recently become available to the UK market, thanks to the team at Moore Large.

Basso Diamante

Above is the Diamante which is Basso’s only unique hand-made frameset built in limited quantity. So pretty much means an expensive buy either way you look at it. But if you want that something special made just for you, then this is the way to go.

Basso Astra

Now this is one beautiful racing machine. I used to own a steel version (Columbus EL OS for all you old school folk) of this now carbon monocoque only frame, and used to love riding on it everyday. Seeing this frame at Cycle Show brought back so many memories for me, the training, the racing and the winning. The day will come when I will purchase one, even if it is just for the sake of nostalgia.

According to the company website, the following is said about the Astra – the company’s flagship frame:

A new star is born in the Basso R&D department. It is dedicated to the most demanding riders. It has a full monocoque T700 3K carbon fibre frame and its front and rear triangle tubes have visible longitudinal lines that remind us of a four-leafed clover shape. The new Astra has a maximum flexion of 0,21 mm on the BB shell and a maximum torsion of 2,3 mm on the head tube; on both tests we apply a weight of 50 kgs at 40 cm distance from the fulcrum. It can be driven in long distance races in a very smooth and comfortable way, but it is very reactive and precise in fast accelerations or very winding roads. 7 colour combinations will let you choose your personalized look.

I have to confess though, when I purchase one of these, it will have to be kitted with Campagnolo. An Italian frame deserves to be ridden with complimentary Italian equipment.

Basso Astra

Basso Astra (with Campag)

Basso Astra

Basso Astra

Basso  Laguna

Now the remainder of the range in the form of the Laguna, the Reef and the Devil.

Basso Laguna

Basso Reef

Basso Reef

Basso Devil

Basso Devil

Basso Konos

Last but not least from Basso is the Konos, the company’s time-trial frame. I’ll be honest when I say that I’ve seen beter looking time trial frame’s but at least this is something to build and improve upon.

Basso Konos

I know this is going to sound like I’m working for Basso (or Moore Large), but if you have time this weekend, get yourself down to your local bike store and make some enquiries about these bikes. Xmas is just around the corner and this would make a great present, either for yourself or your partner.

And to my darling wife, if you are trying to find the perfect gift for me this xmas, then may I suggest the Blue Astra (pictured above). It would be the perfect gift .

Then again, if I can’t get it as a gift, I wonder if the guys at Moore Large will let me review an Astra for a few weeks (or months)?

[UPDATE] I am now selling my Basso Astra – if you want to get details and see more pictures of it, then check this post out.

Porno Patches at Cycle Show 09

Knog's Porno Patches

So it’s been a full year since I was at the Cycle Show and showed you some of the coolest racing bikes on earth. Man, time really does fly past. I do wish it would slow down a bit, or maybe I’m just doing too much.

The Cycle Show in London opened today (well, actually yesterday but that was for the the trade). We (The Tour of Britain) have a stand there too this year and opposite us are the guys and gals from Moore Large, distributers in the UK for amongst other things, Basso Bikes and Knog. More on Basso to come over the course of this weekend, but for now I’ll tell you about Knog.

Knog are not your conventional type of cycling equipment manufacturer. Not by any means!  I saw a few months back the press they were getting about their ‘Porno Patches’ – see image above – due to them calling their puncture repair kit a porno patch. Serioulsy clever marketing as it had every one talking about it.

Anyway, so thanks to the guys at Moore Large, I was able to get my hands on a Porno Patch. Even the packing makes it look like it’s a condom. That was also the first thing my wife said when she saw me with it – “what are you doing with a condom?”

The best part of the packing is the text on the back. It says:

A lab test revealed that if you give these kinky self -adhesive patches to girls they’ll fix their bike puncture quick smart and ride away with a bike as sexy on the inside as the outside, and that if you give them to boys they’ll stick them on their nipples. Nuff said.

So if you want to get your own Porno Patch and see what the fuss is all about, get down to the Cycle Show and visit the Moore Large stand. And I’m sure if you ask nicely, you might even be able to get your hands on Knog’s Skankers 2009 (see image below). Now you’ll have to get your own to see what these are about

Knog Skankers