See what a wheel upgrade can do?.........
The first thing most people say when discussing modern Italian bikes is "Is the frame actually made in Italy?" and the answer is a resounding YES! Basso is one of only a few brands still producing bikes in Italy. I was lucky enough to get approval from the owner to take the bike for a test ride and race to truly appraise the bike.......
For the first ride, I went to Mt Dandenong to test the bike's climbing and descending capabilities and there was a lot to like!
Next I turned out at a club race on a 10 lap, seven kilometre undulating circuit that had one slow climb on a dead road and then a short "out of the saddle pinch" to contend with, each lap.
The initial impression of the bike is that it is super tough, the ideal bike for solid riders that want stiffness and strength, but the bike also felt really harsh. On many tests the way the bike is set up will dictate what the bike will be ideally suited for. Tyres, wheels, gear range and position on the bike will affect the balance and ride and I felt that this was also the case with the way this Basso Astra has been built.
In particular, with such a stiff frame, the choice of Campagnolo Eurus wheels with 23 mm tyres transmits every pothole and bump back through the saddle, bars and stem and yet when you drive hard out of the saddle it felt like the wheels had sideways flex. I needed to change the wheels to a known quantity to get a better understanding of how the bike could perform and what its true potential really was.
I had my son's S Works Tarmac handy and I'd borrowed his Roval CLX 32 wheels a couple of times before so putting them in would give me some feedback on the bike's true performance. I couldn't believe the transformation! The ride was smoother, power transmission was substantially better and the bike as a package was fantastic! The Campy Record is beyond reproach and true to form each aspect of the drivetrain performed faultlessly. The whole bike has been meticulously maintained, and performs as though it has rolled straight out of the Basso factory in Venice.
I'm probably not going to please the owner of the bike with the next comment but I wouldn't buy this bike with the Euros wheels in it, I'd invest in some Zipps (As Pictured), Reynolds, Enve's or Rovals to finish the bike properly but with the wheel upgrade you'd be hard pressed to find a better bike for the price. Speaking of which, with the Eurus Wheels reviewed, $3250, but we have a range of the best wheel brands to get you rolling for a total package of $4000.
Nigel Letty
