Hi All
i ve been asked to sell this saddle ,for a friend of a friend of mine.This guy used to own a shop and buil dhis own bikes.He's/was friend with many of the greats,and Gastone Nencini was dear friend of his.He has been giving the saddle by Gastone,as a present.I believe it to be ,one of the very last Bittini modified saddles made,as,on the canteplate,you can read the following , stamped code: B77.
http://www.cyclinghalloffame.com/
Above a link,to know more about Nencini and his Palmares.You can also see pix of the saddle here:
http://www.wooljersey.com/
I know of only one Bittini saddle in the USA(was sold by me),which is in NY,gracefully adorning a 60s masi special,owned by our very own,MIchael"FALAFEL!"Allison.Unfortunately,most of you dont read italian,so,the article you see in the link,says:
<http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/bees/nencinibrooks/ STP80016.JPG.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1>
COPPI and MERCKX,sat on his saddles
"Mr.Bittini builds bikes since 1947,but nobody is good as him on working on leather saddles,the very same ones that Merckx thought that were kinda expensive......"
One day,a this restaurant called TROIA(still existing)Franco Bitossi,Eddy Merckx and Italo Zilioli wer ehaving lunch,with their respective (desperate)wives.As they were talking,Bitossi had Bittini sent to the restaurant,so he could introduce him to the rest of the group .Bittini built Bitossi's first bike and was a specialist on butcherin saddles.Bittini ,after being introduced,invited them all to his bottega,right around the corner.Bitossi brought Merckx there.where Eddy,picked up th esaddle he wanted.As he was paying for it,he told Bittini that the saddle was kinda expensive.Bittini,paused,and replied:"To a younger,amateur racer,he would have given the saddle for free,but not to Merckx"Merckx gave him the money,and kept winning races.Also Koblet used Bittinis saddles,but he personally never met Bittini,He had a relative that would go to Perugia to visit parents,and would stop at bittinis,on his way back, to pick up the saddles for Koblet.Bittini also made saddles for Coppi,il campionissimo.One day this man,enters the shop with two saddles,becuz he wanted to give them to Coppi as a gift." im a big fan of Coppi,and now,i was working for him!He made saddles for Baroni(coppis teammate) Luciano Maggini,Koblet,Nencini,Bitossi,Poggiali and many others.
Im offerin it to the list ,hoping that soemone will pick it up,becuz this is a truly cool item!Leather is in very good conds,rivets can clean up easily with some steel wool.
Im askin 200 USD shipped.
Thanx
Matteo Brandi Firenze Italia