Basso Astra Record – There’s just one thing……….
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.......
Rocky Mountains in The Otways
Rocky Mountain Element 950
As the weather closed in, the week before the Otway 300 mountain bike race, and with a forecast of rain for the event I was becoming increasingly nervous about riding a 1 x 11 speed bike in an event that tears at the legs for over 9 hours the first day and close to 8 hours the next! There are a few climbs that are too steep to ride no matter what gearing you’ve got but the majority of the 6000 meters of climbing is 5-10% gradient and 2-10 kilometers in length. The harder you do each climb the harder each climb becomes as you go past the 3-hour mark and you always have in the back of your mind that you need to face up again for Day 2!