Battaglin C12

Battaglin is a name that will be well known to older riders, but to anyone newer to the sport it is yet another Italian brand with a heritage.

The founder, Giovanni Battaglin, won both the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta Espana in 1981. After retiring he went on to found the bike company in his hometown of Marostica in Italy's cycling heartland, Veneto.

Battaglins should become a more regular sight on the roads this year as internet retailer Wiggle has gained exclusive retailing rights. The C12 is the highest spec bike in the range for 2011 and like all Battaglins, is entirely designed and manufactured in Italy.

As befits a bike aimed at the entry-level racing cyclist, the frame and fork both comprise of T1000M, high-modulus carbon-fibre, all wrapped together to create both a frame and fork of monocoque construction.

While the geometry is racy, the lay-up of this (mid-range in Battaglin's terms) frame is such that a compromise between comfort and ultimate race stiffness was the goal, so it should have broad appeal.

The build of this £1,799 ride is suitably Italian. Full Campagnolo may not be a regular sight, but the Athena groupset will shift and transmit power plenty well enough and the 970g frame looks worthy of upgrade.

Sure, there are some own-brand parts to keep initial pricing down, but this Battaglin looks every bit the Italian bicicletta and we have high hopes for the C12.

Contact: www.wiggle.co.uk