Basso Astra "Pink Panto" EL

The typical story. A not too poor guy in the south of Munich went to the LBS and said: I want the best value for my money, I want a bike with the best technology available. It was in 1992, and the owner of the shop came up with a brand new Basso Astra, then a steel frame with Colombus Extra Leggero (EL) tubing, the top end of Basso steel frames range (only two carbon frames were more expensive and extremely ugly, nearly as ugly as every carbon frame built ever since). The buyer was in his early 50ies and thought he could start doing some sports - however, when he sold it to me, it had not done more than 40 miles on tarmac during the last 10 years. It needed a period correct saddle, as the original Flite was followed by some plastic junk. Apart from the saddle, everything is original down to the pink coloured Dura Ace pantos, violet chain wheel bolts and the brake pads. The wheels were built with expensive Aero spokes and then brand new ceramic rims. It is of the very good steel bikes money could buy at this time, and certainly one of the most, er, colourful bikes. In fact, to paint over some little chips here and there (paint is a weak point of most earlier steel Bassos) I simply go to the drug store and buy the cheapest nailcolour. Metallic pink and violet do the job. Some say it`s downright ugly. However, this was THE dream bike of the early 90ier, and I like it very much.