We had a sneak peak at the new Basso Astra racing bike recently and it’s a beautifully finished Italian marque that we can’t wait to get our legs over.
The company manufactures a wide range of frames from the luxury to the practical, priding themselves on the quality of their paint jobs and their ‘made in Italy’ exclusivity.
The T700 3K monocoque carbon fibre frame used for the Astra is treated with anti-UV resin, which also protects the bike from superficial scratches that could damage the fibres. The frame then receives three coats of high quality paint.
The front and rear triangle tubes are shaped to resemble a four-leafed clover, adding to the strength of the frame and improving handling. Strength is also added by using oversized chainstays for optimum power transfer during the pedal stroke.
The Astra also features a 1 1/5” headset that's designed to improve power as well as reduce stress on the headtube.
The likely retail price of the Astra (frame only) is around £1,599. The bike is distributed in the UK by Moore Large.