Italian Dreams-Benotto & Atala
These two beauties make a cameo appearance in the previous post, but they’re both worthy of special mention. We all have some appreciation for the beauty and flow of the Romance languages, and bicycle makers in those nations have indeed capitalized on the American desire for something a little bit more-how shall we put this-well, maybe just a little prettier. Think Bianchi, De Rosa, Colnago or even (dare I say it) Peugeot. But the Italians seem to have maintained the most cachet, so let’s just focus on them for a minute. It’s also tempting to try and spin a fictional love story for Benotto and Atala; I am sure they do love each other very much, and enjoyed every minute they spent together riding along the cobblestone roads of the Italian countryside…of course now they have both found themselves in San Francisco, are a little lost, and need loving homes!
For Benotto, San Francisco streets should pose no problem. You might find him easily powering up the rolling hills, thanks to a good low-range gear and a comfortable handlebar with some moderate sweep.
Atala is looking pretty in her adopted country, proud of her freshly shellaced cork grips and matching saddle.
Braided gold cable housing nicely complements the flowy font and color scheme.
Benotto’s got a couple of scars on his head tube, but hey, who ever said packing up your life and sailing across the Atlantic to the New World would be easy?
Though they’re set up with different grips and brake levers, Benotto and Atala share the same Soma Sutro Stem and Velo Orange Milan handlebar.
Unlike Atala, Benotto does have a shifter-albeit a simple, original, and pretty classy one mounted on the downtube. Atala sometimes gets a little envious of this here in hilly San Francisco, but she tries not to let it hurt their relationship…
Atala is justifiably very proud of her wheelset. What other recent emigre has the good fortune of having Mavic Open Sport rims laced to Surly sealed bearing hubs? She knows these will stand up to the tough streets of America’s most European city. Who knows, she’s thinking, maybe they’ll outlast even my love for Benotto…
Atala, at 53 cm, would be a good fit for a human about 5’5″ to 5’9″. Benotto’s a little smaller, at 50 cm, and is seeking a rider in the 5’0″ to 5’4″ neighborhood. While both would like to think they’re priceless, the brutality of capitalism and the global marketplace have assigned each of them values of $550.
Univega Viva Sport Single Speed 68cm!!! @Pedal Revolution Refurbished Bicycle Update
Here at Pedal Revolution we like to joke around and say we “play to the margins.” In this context we’re referring to those very special hominids who fall outside (sometimes far outside) the bell curve of human height. To keep costs down and standardize production, most bicycle companies don’t invest all that much in designing bikes for both very tall and very short people. As for me (Todd), I stand around 6’3″ so it’s easy enough to get a bike that works out fit-wise. I could, however, digress for a long time about how frustrating it is to find a size 14 shoe. Like you, the prospective bike buyer who wants to actually try out the machine, I want to try out the shoe…but of course they only go up to a 12 or a 13. Then it’s time to hang my head and leave the store, resigning myself to the joys of purchasing shoes online, sight unseen.
Anyway, if you’re above 6’4″ and want some simple, proper-fitting transportation, this Univega could be your ticket. We’ve outfitted it with some slick parts, including a Soma handlebar/stem setup and some great-looking Soma 700 x 32mm tires for a smooth ride. Quality Tektro dual-pivot brakes provide excellent stopping power. Other interesting touches include a Shimano 600 headset (some real smooth bearings there, folks) and true track cranks by the Italian manufacturer Miche. And to top it off we’ve chosen bar tape that’s the coloration of that nice Chianti…
Like many of our refurbished bikes, this one has nearly all new parts, aside from the frame. You’ll get years of low-maintenance riding out of this machine.
$500