Testimonials
Here's what our fellow cyclists said about riding the Officina Battaglin custom steel bikes
Back to the testimonials"I can ride the Portofino for hours, so much so, I have ditched carbon entirely for the past 6 weeks"
After about 1500 kms of riding my new Battaglin, here are my impressions.
This is the finest steel bike I have ridden and considering I have owned dozens of steel bikes, this is a remarkable achievement.
However, when I compare it to carbon fibre, it only lacks by being a few hundred grammes more in weight.
However, the ride is unbeatable….much better than carbon fibre.
I was concerned the oversized tubes would be harsh, or at least deaden traditional steel’s liveliness, but I should have not worried.
The stability of the bike is amazing, as it absolutely glides over class B pavement.
I can ride this for hours, so much so, I have ditched carbon entirely for the past six weeks.
I wish I had this bike back in the days I was riding a couple of TTs a week.
I only have to expend energy getting my legs around, as one totally forgets the effort normally required by other bikes trying to keep riding your chosen line, through wasted energy and concentration negotiating around the asphalt cracks and potholes.
It’s a sublime mix of stability and reassurance, with the rider still being in control.
Workmanship is superb and those chrome lugs look amazing.
I love the fact it has a look of a modern carbon frame, especially at the headtube/downtube junction, yet the elegance of steel.
I am surprised that so many people mistake it for carbon! (Although how a frame with chrome lugs could ever be mistaken for carbon is beyond my comprehension!)
The only downside is that it does not accommodate 28mm tires. The roads where I live in Northern Ontario are terrible, broken by frost heave every Spring and never repaired until the
Summer is almost over, so the larger tires would have helped against pinch flats.
That being said, 25mm tires do feel fast.
In two words … “Amazing bike !”
Thank you Alessandro.
The hands-on design process was amazing and your passion shows.
Read more stories:
My name is Andrew Binks. I live in Harrogate, in the UK. My cycling background was originally mountain biking… I didn’t ride a bike for 20 years, and when we had the Grand Depart in Harrogate, I started riding road bikes again. I ride 150-200 miles a week regularly with two or three clubs. I…
“I have ridden my Battaglin Portofino for 7 rides ranging from 20 miles to 72 miles. First, let me confirm the build. I purchased the complete package from you, which included: Campagnolo Record groupset (172.5 crankset); Deda handlebars/stem; Deda setback seat post; Look Keo carbon pedals; Fizik Antares R3 saddle (regular size); Bora WTO 45mm…
“Dear Alex & Dario, I have received the Power+ EVO safe and sound, and I’ve just finished assembling it. I put on the Ultra WTO 45 with GP5000 continental 25-mm tires, bike computer mount, carbon bottle cage, and Xpedo pedals. Surprisingly it weighs 8.13kg… Which is not bad at all for a steel bike. Wow……
“My first encounter with Officina Battaglin was a post by BabaVelo. Battaglin gave me an experience of a lifetime where I could tailor-make the bike in terms of size and colour. I made the experience more memorable by actually visiting their facility in Marostica, where I was welcomed by the entire Battaglin Family. I have…
I have had an appreciation for Italian made bikes, ever since I bought my first one in 1989. So when I saw the release of the Collezione Speciale I immediately expressed my interest. My experience dealing with Alex and the rest of the team at Officina Battaglin has been fantastic. Waiting for the frame to…
Gran Turismo… That is the term I use to describe the most incredible bike I have ever owned, my Officina Battaglin Portofino Disc. I fondly remember first seeing the Officina Battaglin Portofino when it was introduced, in rim-brake version, with cromovelato lacquer in Italian colours. It immediately struck me as a piece of cycling art, a gorgeous…