Once Alcide Basso started telling us a story about how, in the 1980s, his bottom bracket press was so forceful that it knocked over gravestones in the local churchyard, we knew we’d arrived. Dave Everett couldn’t get his video camera out quickly enough, whilst Alcide’s second son (and Stardue Marketing Director), Leonardo, rolled his eyes in such a way as to suggest it wasn’t the first (or even tenth) time he’d heard the tale.

The Basso brand (and family) call this beautiful town their home. Further, Leonardo lives no more than 250 metres from the doors of the Bassano Club House, a project in which the Basso brand has invested heavily. The town and its deeply entrenched cycling culture are impossible to separate from Basso’s identity.

Bassano del Grappa is their house, and we’ve just helped them host a house party. As part of a week-long press camp, catalysed by the impending launch of a new bike (more on that later), we were able to bring the world’s leading cycling media to see what makes the place so special. The trip included a peek behind the curtain at multiple Basso production facilities, including their paint shop (which smelled GREAT).

Looking ahead, the Stardue Group (incorporating both Basso and its sibling MTB brand, Lee Cougan), will invest heavily in the existing headquarters. This will see all production capacity brought to a single site, with the first frame production taking place there in mid-2025. We can’t help but get the sense we’ve started working with this partner at just the right time, as they leave other ‘heritage’ Italian brands in their dust and head towards a bright future.