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Interbike 2002
Las Vegas, USA, October 5 - 8, 2002
Interbike part 18 - Casati's traditional innovation
By Gerard Knapp in Las Vegas
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The frame-builder-as-artisan approach to the modern bicycle was alive and well on the Casati booth at Interbike this year, with Arkansas-based company EU Imports now distributing the Italian-made bikes into the US market.
EU's managing director Justin Slarks also had Gianni Casati - the son of company founder and Italian champion cyclist Pietro Casati - at the booth, tape-measure at the ready and able to measure up prospective owners in a moment's notice.
The Casati bikes combine traditional good looks with innovative design touches, such as 'hidden' seatpost clamps and internal gear and brake cable routing on the steel models. The attention to detail on the Casati range is exemplary - the bikes are beautifully presented.
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Perhaps the most beautiful of all is the Laser, which is made from Dedacciai EOM 16.5 steel. It combines tradition with light weight, stiffness and ride comfort, by virtue of the steel frame and carbon fibre rear end. Of course, steel can oxidize and to eliminate this problem, the Casati bikes go through a six-step process which provides anti-corrosion treatment, paint, hardening and then the clear final finish.
The internal gear cable routing leads to clean lines, particularly when used with a Campagnolo group set. The gear cables terminate at the head tube and then re-emerge behind the bottom bracket and at the end of the right-hand-side chainstay. Meanwhile, the 'hidden' seatpost clamp is actually inside the frame. The tightening bolt is covered by a small rubber insert which can be easily removed to adjust the seat height.
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Casati also makes the all-carbon Rondine, the all-aluminium M:U2 (made from Dedacciai's U2 tubeset), the Sphera and Dardo aluminium/carbon rear-end models, as well as the Challenge all-aluminium model with sloping top-tube.
Another feature of the Casati range is the seatposts, stems and saddles, which all feature the company's brand name, although made by a variety of manufacturers.
More information can be found at www.ciclicasati.com
Photos
Images by Cyclingnews
- Gianni Casati stands below an image of his father and company founder Pietro Casati
- Gianni Casati with the Laser, made from Dedacciai EOM 16.5 steel tubeset, but with a carbon rear end. Detail to attention and innovation includes the hidden seatpost clamp.
- The Casati Laser's steel/carbon frame allows gear cables to be routed internally
- A closer look at the bottom bracket of the Rondine, complete with Full Speed Ahead carbon crankset.
- Another view of the Casati Laser. Note the stitiched white leather handlebar cover - no cork tape for this beauty.
- The Casati Rondine is the carbon fibre bike offered by the Italian firm - it also features the hidden seatpost clamp and clean lines.
