"The ride quality is just super---a timeless blend of solidity and suppleness that speaks of generations of tubing evolution and time-honored construction....This is a pro-quality bike, one you could keep and race for years"
Bicyclist Magazine
The Torelli Countach is the least expensive Torelli frameset that offers truly professional performance. At this level of frame material and design, a rider is fully competitive. Hand-built in a small shop, the Countach already employs third-generation improvements over our first oversized tubing Countach.
In years past,the Countach has been built entirely of Columbus SL tubing, the Brain Oversize, and in 2000, Zona. Recent developments have allowed Torelli to dramatically improve the performance of the Countach without changing the price.
The Countach is made of a proprietary tubeset called "Torelli/Nemo 747". The three main tubes are Nivachrome, drawn oversize, with a 0.4mm wall and differentially butted. Please look here for a complete explanation of "747" tubing. We believe it to be a remarkable advance, offering state-of-the-art tubing for an exceptionally low price.
The fork crown and bottom bracket shell are lost-wax (investment-cast).
The fork crown is a Walter Pavesi cast crown that initially looks like a unicrown. At Torelli, we do not use welded unicrown forks because of the harsh ride they give. The Pavesi crown gives extra support to the fork blades, allowing a lighter fork blade to be used. The result is a stable fork that corners well, yet is lightweight. The Pavesi crown also gives a lively, comfortable ride, despite its formidable appearance.
Torelli stocks two brands of carbon forks for the Countach. Torelli Aspect (Aspect with alloy steerer and Aspect SL with carbon steerer) and Reynolds (Comp and Ouzo Pro) .
The Countach is TIG welded instead of lugged, allowing us to bring the frame weight well below 4 pounds. We still use a cast fork crown, however. Unicrown forks (fork blades welded to the steering tube) make a bike ride very harshly. We still continue to attach the rear dropouts the old fashioned way, filling the joint with brass and shaping the end to a beautiful, strong joint.
All Torelli frames have a unique geometry for each size and the Countach is no exception. The Countach is designed with "stage racing" geometry. This geometry evolved in Europe to meet the needs of the racer involved in races day after day over medium quality roads. The bike is designed to be comfortable, stable, and efficient. Just stiff enough to be springy and transmit the hardest effort to the rear wheel, yet not pound and tire the rider over bad pavement.
In keeping with modern design, Torelli brazes the seat stay directly to the seat lug, eliminating the plugs so often used in finishing the seat stays. This saves about a quarter of a pound.
Brake routing is split external for lighter weight and crisper braking.
There is a lot of hand finishing lavished on the Countach. The frame is filed and polished extensively before painting. At Torelli, we believe that a frame's external finish should reflect its inner fine qualities.
The paint is Dupont Imron, applied in the United States; Italian painted frames are also often available.
Frame weight, 56 cm: 3.6 lbs (approx)
American paint: any of the colors on our paint page.
Any Imron color is available for custom paint, the cost is higher. Please inquire for price.
Sizes, measured center to center: 46, 48, 50, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 60, 62, 63, 64.
Suggested retail prices: frame only, $1,115.00; with steel fork, $1444.00; with Torelli Aspect carbon fork $1,298.00; with Torelli Aspect SL full carbon fork, $1,430.00. Details of the Countach frame. Click on any photo (including the one at the top of the page) to see a larger version.
Frame Size
Head Tube
Seat Tube
Top Tube
Chain Stay
48
72
76.5
51.5
40.5
50
72
75
53
40.5
52
72.5
75
53.5
40.7
53
72.5
74.5
54
40.7
54
73
74.5
54.5
40.7
55
73
74
55.5
40.7
56
73
74
56
40.7
57
73.5
73.5
57
40.7
58
74
73.5
57.5
41.3
60
75
72
60.3
41.4
62
75
72
60.3
41.4
64
75.5
72
61.5
41.4
