Basso Loto Columbus SLX

This will be my first fixed gear bicycle.

I fell in love with this 80-90 'ish frame instantly and now the project for summer -13 has been started. Unfortunately this bike will most likely never ride in London but it's proud owner will be living at Greater London area for the next half an year and I thought to give it a try to accumulate some knowledge, strong opinions and maybe even decent parts for this project.

I'd love to hear some comments on the frame and suggestions on the parts issue. So far i have pondered on using drops, white saddle and handlebar tape.

Feel free to contribute... So far I found quite few Basso -related threads on this forum. These are nice bikes, aren't they?

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First comment and suggestion would be that frame deserves gears.

Yes, I concur. However, as I said this will be my first fixie. I have also thought of equipping this with a justified set of era's most delicate gear weaponry but that is not what I'm looking for just now. Maybe later:)

And of course nothing irreversible is going to happen to this sweet frame.

This baby deserves gears! Don't kill it..
I would still give my left pinky for a pink 58 Lotto edition

Strong odds this one is getting gears. mavic cxp30 campy 8 speed wheelset about to be procured, the end shoulda be history then.

So if anyone has 8speed campagnolo bits feel free to contribute,

Nice looking frame that. Post a wanted ad, 8 speed stuff is always coming up. Good luck

Nothing wrong with CXP30s, but if you can get Planet X AL30s for a similar price then I'd go for that; they are lighter, and in my opinion look nicer (I have both rims on different bikes).

Hi, its time to revive this thread.

My Basso needs some work to do, and i would like to do it without compromising the looks, however being reasonable at the same time.. It has a campagnolo 8 speed drivetrain with a rear wheel (record hub with cxp30 rim) that is failing, see the picture on cone damage. It works when not too tight, but the difference between smooth and shitty operation is very small. Even if its running well now I'm not expecting it to last forever. I reckon it is out of question to get hold of those cone parts today.

1st option is to keep the most and build a new rear wheel - i do have a same period rear hub (veloce) waiting to be laced. I’m though a little bit unsure of the continued supply of 8 speed campagnolo cassettes. --> if this would be reasonable, any suggestions on which rims should i build the the new wheel?

2nd option is to make a moderate upgrade and buy new shimano compatible wheelset and (bar end?) shifters for 8-or 9-speed, but then i need also shimano rear der, i suppose? This option would though streamline my maintenance needs. I do like my deore/a719 wheels and ultegra bar-ends in my touring bike.

3rd option is to obtain new wheels and new groupset, such as veloce 10 sp. Nice, but kinda pricey.

Another issue is with the brakes, holders won't accept period correct brake pads (BR-RE600). I think that the holders might be changed - those worn pads were marked "dura-ace". Anybody know off-the-shelf brake holders with pads which would suit 1994 campagnolo record brakes?

Any advise would be appreciated.

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