The new Giro-26ATT. Not a 700c bike but…

One of our customers recently posted some timely questions about a rumored new bike from Bacchetta and we thought we’d post the answers here so everyone could share.

I heard a rumor……that a 700C Aluminum bike was in the works. The rumor that Bacchetta is working on a 700c aluminum bike is false. However, we have been working on an aluminum version of the Giro-26 that should be here in a couple of months. The new Giro-26ATT (Aluminum Top Touring) will have the same spec as our other ATT bikes and, like the steel version of the Giro-26, the 26ATT frame and fork will also accept 700c wheels, but the tire size will be limited to 23c.

My request would be that it has a 1″ 1/8 steer tube so we can take advantage of the many different fork options out there as it is now the standard. My Giro has 1″ and the fork is a beast. The Giro-26ATT will have a 1” steer tube since we want to use the same fork as the steel Giro-26 and because adding another SKU to our inventory really isn’t very practical at this time. Also, while the current fork may be a little heavy, it is what it is for a reason. It’s a custom built aluminum fork that needs to be strong enough for a disc brake and tall enough to accommodate a 700c wheel. It was designed specifically to do those two things and work with the geometry that both the steel and new aluminum Giro-26 frames share. The newest version of this fork will also have canti-posts on it and the posts will be positioned to work with V-brakes on 559 (26”) and 571 (650c) wheels.

The other part of the rumor was that it will be outfitted with disc brakes. I am hoping that it will have a rear caliper mount as well. The Giro-26ATT frame will have mount in the rear for a road caliper brake for use with a 700c wheel. The Giro-26ATT frame will also have canti-posts, positioned for use with V-brakes on 559 (26”) wheels. The bike will ship with AVID BB7 disc brakes as stock equipment.

If this is all true then please let us know what it’s intended use will be…touring, racing etc. The truth is the Giro-26ATT, like the Giro-20ATT, is intended to be a touring bike. Its frame material limits the total load it will carry to 230 lbs. (rider and gear) but if you that fit that criteria you should love this bike. The thing to keep in mind here is that, while the frame and fork on the new Giro-26ATT will accommodate 700c wheels and road caliper brakes, we are not building a 700c specific bike. The Giro-26ATT is a 559 (26″) wheeled bike (with 135mm rear spacing) and it is intended to be a lighter weight, higher spec’d, alternative to the steel Giro-26. But because the Giro-26ATT frame and fork will also allow owners to set the bike up with 700c wheels without a lot of fuss it could also be a weekend racer if you wanted to do that. Again, your 700c tire size will be limited to 23c because the tolerances are tight, like most modern road bikes. Below is a picture of the current Giro-26 with 700c wheels (with 23c tires) and road brake calipers. The fork is the stock aluminum fork. When the bike is set up this way the seat height is about one inch higher. If you’re on your tip toes at stops with the stock set-up than the bigger wheels may not be suitable for you. Only a test ride will tell you for sure and we always recommend test riding any bike you’re thinking about buying.  Originally posted on bacchettabikes.com on June 16, 2009.