This Saturday, his titanium wheels rolled through the streets of Belgrade for the first time. Beneath the ugly and inconspicuous exterior — made of almost indestructible chromoly forged into muscular Columbus tubes — only fellow cycle-tourers will recognise the physique built for long journeys, all the way to the end of the world (and maybe) back again. Everyone else will look at him with disdain, wondering who still rides such a wreck. But those who know — know.

So, here is my mountain bike Bottecchia 883R, model Oasis:

With a smile I keep repeating it: “Bottekia Oaza” — melodious names that irresistibly remind me of imaginary places, passionate operatic arias, the endless open seas, adventure and chivalric novels…

Isn’t it symbolic — and at the same time full of promise — that the very first foreign tour on this bicycle will be in Sicily?

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