Officina Battaglin: The Most Beautiful Bikes - Factory Tour

"Officina Battaglin is an Italian brand of custom steel bikes. Founded by Giovanni Battaglin, the legendary cyclist capable of winning the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana in just 48 days, Officina Battaglin is dedicated to ensuring that every creation is truly bespoke." - https://officinabattaglin.com

"In our workshop in Marostica, Italy, we build custom steel bikes to the owner’s specifications, with comfort as a constant. Each frame we make bears the founder’s signature, thanks to exclusive Italian finishes and custom geometries designed by Giovanni Battaglin in person."

In this video, JOM of the Gravel Cyclist crew is joined by Alex (Alessandro) Battaglin, co-founder of Officina Battaglin for a comprehensive tour of the showroom and production facility. We also meet the legend behind the name himself, Mr Giovanni Battaglin. It was an absolute honor meeting this humble legend of cycling.

For those unaware, Mr Battaglin won the 1981 Vuelta a Espana (this race used to happen in April) and just three days later, lined up to race and win the 1981 Giro d'Italia. In other words, over the span of 48 days, Giovanni Battaglin won back to back Grand Tours. Incredible.

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:31 Battaglin Trophy Room
1:25 Battaglin Timeline
2:24 Battaglin Portofino G with Alex Battaglin
4:27 Giovanni Battaglin
4:43 Battaglin e-Bike
7:29 Battaglin Endurance Bike
8:58 Battaglin Portofino Classic Rim Brake
9:46 Paint Shop
12:10 Campagnolo Super Record Wireless Unboxing
13:05 Frame Building - Geometry Chart
13:30 Frame Building - Jig Setup
13:53 Frame Building - Welding
14:11 Frame Building - Alignment
15:00 Frame Building - Internal Cabling
15:00 Frame Building - More Welding
15:55 Frame Building - Shop Machines
16:56 Frame Building - Seat Stay Cutting
17:09 Customer Experience
17:35 Workshop Overview
18:02 Closing

Continued from Above:

Why Steel?
"In the era of bicycle technology's obsession with lightness and stiffness, carbon seems to be the only choice when it comes to finding a new bike to explore new road feels."

"But is shaving weight the only thing that matters? Giovanni Battaglin asked himself this question in 2014, after 12 years of professional bike racing and more than 30 as a bicycle manufacturer. In 1981, right after the Giro-Vuelta double, he launched the first racing bicycle models built in a small workshop in his hometown of Marostica, in the North-East of Italy, and bearing his name on the down tube."

"In the following years, Stephen Roche's Triple Crown and all the victories of the Carrera riders endorsed by the Battaglin steel bikes made the brand world-famous. The bike industry is always hungry for new technologies, and the company started experimenting with lighter materials like aluminium and carbon."

"The factory finally put steel aside. But after a few years, Giovanni Battaglin felt that his expertise and legacy were lost. So, in 2014 he decided to go back to brazing custom custom steel frames, dusting off the old machinery that was still in the workshop. With the new Officina Battaglin brand, he returned to his roots. He returned to the exceptional craftsmanship that made his name known all around the world."

"Officina" is the Italian word for "workshop". It's the place where Giovanni Battaglin is reviving his legacy as the only Italian steel maker that is also a Grand-Tour winner.

Links of Interest:
Officina Battaglin - https://officinabattaglin.com

Gravel Bike Tyre Pressure Guidelines - https://wp.me/p4V4se-6m3

Tailwind Nutrition (JOM's choice of on-the-bike hydration) - https://bit.ly/3eVogDT

Gravel Cyclist's Route Library - https://www.gravelcyclist.com/gravel-...

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