Louisville's Relaxed Recumbent Riders' Group

                       Dedicated to the idea that cycling can be comfortable!

Tom's Strada

I've decided to take the plunge and build up a custom-spec Bacchetta Strada.  I could have bought an Aero with the money I've spent on this bike, and probably gone faster, but I wouldn't have the cool custom paint scheme (I don't like the idea of painting Titanium frames).   With a name like Bacchetta Strada, I could not see installing Shimano parts.  I wanted a more European flavor this time, so I used a full Campagnolo Record gruppo.  Triple chainrings, Titanium cogs in  some cases, Carbon Fiber shifters, and the fancy Ergo Brain 10 computer.  I've decided to call it the "Gasato."  According to an Italian student of my acquaintance, "Gasato" is an adjective that means, "ready to go fast--NOW."  In my case, all I need is the motor...

Here's the frame, just as it came out of the box from Bacchetta:

I took it to have it powdercoated the day after it arrived.  This process leaves a more durable finish than most "wet spray" painting methods.  I had no idea what it would cost, and was prepared to have it painted instead.  However, it cost me about $100, which I found quite reasonable.  I was disappointed to find that they only offered one color of silver, but then found it to be a nice shade, almost exactly what I wanted. 

Here it is, after the powdercoat has been done.  Thanks to Custom Powder Coating and Painting, of LaGrange, Kentucky!


Here are a few shots of the front wheel, mounted in the fork.  The 650c rim is a Velocity Aerohead, in their Electric Blue.  The hub is Campagnolo Record, to go with the rest of the parts I am using.  Tires for this bike will be Schwalbe Stelvios, like the one mounted here.

A customer at our store is well-known nationally for his, how do you say, "Low brow fine art."  I've seen some of his artwork, and was excited when he agreed to paint on the flames I had in mind for this bike.  Before I even saw the result first-hand, Jeral sent me these pictures.  I had envisioned things being a little different than this, but Jeral's sense of style is better than mine.  I am VERY pleased with this result.  To see more of Jeral's art, visit his web site.  Jeral has also been featured in our local newspaper for his work.

I met some folks at Waterfront Park for a ride one day, and took a couple of pictures of the completed Strada, which I share below.  Folks tell me the bike looks fast even sitting still.  I am overjoyed with the results of Jeral's work.  The rest of what I've done is almost mundane by comparison, despite the quality of the parts I used.

Now that I've ridden it a bit, I can say that I'm glad I did it.  This thing climbs MUCH better than any other recumbent I've ridden, on a "tighter" cassette than many I've owned.  I have the Campagnolo ErgoBrain10 computer mounted and working, so the bike is complete.  I even figured out a way to have a ride cue sheet where I could see it, although this turned out to be a temporary fix.

The computer has a cadence sensor as part of the package.  On most bikes, this would attach to the chainstay or the seat tube of the frame.  Neither was an option, as the bottom bracket is at the opposite end from the chainstays, and there is no seat tube in the classic sense.  So I borrowed an idea from the folks at Happy Riders Tours, and used a length cut from a large "zip tie" to fashion a band around the bottom bracket shell.  By the way, the "Scheller's" dealer sticker is there because that is where I work.  Got to pump for my employers, you know!

Oh, there will be changes over time, I suppose, like a carbon fork this summer, or another, wilder, wheel set at some point, but I think I'll keep it like it is for a while!