Toronto, Canada / San Zenone degli Ezzelini, Italy | April 4, 2019 - Basso Bikes welcomes Toronto Hustle to the Family.
Basso Bikes, bespoke Italian frame manufacturer, has partnered with Canadian trade team Toronto Hustle, as they take on the North American Pro Road Tour for the 2019 season. They may be 7,000 kilometers apart, but they both value their local roots and finding ways to make a positive impact.
Toronto Hustle co-founder, Brad Bradford and CEO of Basso Bikes, Alessandro Basso are excited about using bikes to build community.
Bradford reflected on the bicycle as a vehicle for change, and Toronto Hustle’s ability to create new connections the cycling community.
“In our third season, our focus is on ‘Family.’ One of the best things about bike racing is the people you meet along the way. Neighbours that show up to watch the races, families that host teams as they travel across the continent, the volunteers who run this program, the men and women you ride with everyday, training, racing, and spending time together on the bike. Basso has been about family since day one – their operations embody that – and our partnership and collaboration really reflects our shared values.
We believe that cycling is for everyone – the performance side is something we’re both passionate about, but it represents just a fraction of cyclists. For most riders, it’s about discovery, finding what they love on the bike, where it takes them – our journey is about that – and how we can use our platform to get more people on bikes, and make our streets safer for everyone. This is the stuff that really matters. Landing on the podium is always great, but it’s more about doing what makes you happy, and finding a way to make a positive difference.”
Alessandro Basso spoke to the importance of finding new ways to foster community. “When we look at the global landscape, this Canadian start-up is doing something different. Toronto Hustle has uniquely positioned itself as a team with a cause – helping people discover the bicycle, fighting for safer streets, and providing a development pathway for Canada’s next generation of talent. Their story of taking on the giants in the peloton very much mirrors our journey at Basso. We’ve created the Toronto Hustle BASSO Diamante frame to celebrate our partnership and we’re are looking forward to supporting the growth of cycling, together.”
The new Diamante makes marked improvements in both stiffness and aerodynamics, offering a true road bike platform capable of performing across all terrain. The striking new design sees the stem nested in the head tube, providing an aggressive position and enhanced responsiveness. Handmade in Italy, one at a time, the tube shapes flow together perfectly for a truly timeless frameset.
The Toronto Hustle BASSO Diamante includes signature touches that reflect the team and our values. “We work with one of Toronto’s top graphic designers, Karen Ng-Hem, who’s really helped us translate our identity into the brand and products. From the colour pallet, to our new Toronto Icons kit, Karen’s ability to reflect the mission, our city, and identity is something really special. Heart and Hustle is painted across the top tube as a subtle reminder to who we are and how we got here.” The artisans in Basso’s custom paint shop delivered a beautiful iridescent fade from our signature blue to navy. “Blue has always been the hue of Toronto sports franchises and we wanted to embrace this heritage with modern aesthetics.” The frame is offered in an extremely limited run (less than 20) and available exclusively at Toronto’s La Bicicletta bike shop.
Follow the #6IXSQUAD at @toronto_hustle and Basso Bikes @bassobikes on Instagram
BUILD DETAILS:
Frame: Basso Diamante Disc – Toronto Hustle Edition
Groupset: Shimano Ultegra Disc
Wheels: Shimano Dura Ace C60
Tyres: Pirelli P Zero Tubular
Stem/Bars: Basso
Computer Mount & Chain Catcher: K-Edge
Saddle: Reform
Pedals: Shimano Dura Ace
Tool Roll: VeloColour
Bottle Cages: Octto
Contact La Bicicletta Toronto to create a unique dream bike for you.
#prettycoolbici #labiciclettatoronto
