Officina Battaglin has unveiled its latest steel frame called the San Luca, which extols the virtues of old-world Italian framebuidling with modern-day materials.
“The San Luca is an artisanal steel frame with a clean and essential modern look. It blends the Italian frame building tradition with modernity to deliver what you would expect from a steel road frame coming out from the Officina Battaglin workshop: a comfortable ride that doesn’t make you feel beaten up after a long day in the saddle while allowing you to push harder and faster when you want to”, says cycling legend Giovanni Battaglin.
The San Luca name draws its inspiration from the small village where the former Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España Grand Tour winner was first exposed to cycling.
“One day, together with a friend of mine, we went to see a cycling race near San Luca, the small village where we lived.” “As we followed the race, which was taking place on a challenging climb, we said to each other ‘well, we can ride just as fast as these riders!’” “That winter we enrolled in a team, the Velo Junior Nove, which would be my first team ever. “And after 3 years, we both turned pro.”
The San Luca frame is handmade using oversized, triple-butted Columbus Spirit Omnicrom tubing, which not only gives the frame a more contemporary look, but most importantly, allows Officina Battaglin the freedom to devise preferred geometries that are otherwise limited by traditional lug joinery.
Other features include traditional external cable routing, a threaded BSA bottom bracket and a 27.2mm seatpost, along with enough clearance to accommodate 28mm tires.
The San Luca is further modernized by the use of a full-carbon monocoque fork, adding strength, rigidity and precise handling that inspires confidence during all riding conditions thanks to the oversize 44mm headtube and 1.5in tapered steerer tube.
Like every frame offered by Officina Battaglin, the San Luca is made to order after the maestro himself, Giovanni Battaglin, gives each request a thorough assessment before approving the final design.
According to Officina Battaglin, the San Luca sells for $1420, which is very reasonable given its provenance.
You can learn more about the new San Luca by visiting their website here.
Squisito!
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