Finotti began producing racing bikes in 1999, starting from a small shop in the heart of Tortona in the province of Alessandria before moving a few years later to larger, more modern premises with a large showroom.
Following the current trend that sees Gravel constantly growing, Finotti presents today the Gravel GR1 with disc brakes, a model completely Made in Italy, both in the choice of components and in the paintwork that recalls the tricolour of the Italian flag.
Tricolour pride
"The choice of color," says Fabio Finotti, owner of the company, "is not accidental. We wanted to further emphasize the fact that we are talking about an Italian productOur bikes can in fact be completely customized using exclusively Italian components."
The GR1 uses Campagnolo's Ekar groupThis is a drivetrain created specifically for gravel. The Zonda wheels are also from Campagnolo. The saddle chosen instead fell on the Shortfit model by Selle San Marco.
Campagnolo rear derailleur, completing the Made in Italy GR1 The GR1 crankset Part of the rear carriage with disc brake
Campagnolo rear derailleur, completing the Made in Italy GR1 The GR1 crankset Part of the rear carriage with disc brake
Resistant and compact
The frame features a sloping geometry. This is a non-random choice as Fabio Finotti himself wanted to underline: «We wanted to create an extremely competitive model despite being made of aluminum. The sloping geometry allows us to offer an extremely responsive product».
The horizontal tube has a thin section in the area where it joins the seat post and then increases in volume as soon as it joins the steering head. The down tube, on the other hand, is solid, giving rigidity and compactness to the bike. Looking carefully at the rear triangle, we can notice a slight narrowing in the central part of the horizontal stays, an aspect that improves rideability, especially on off-road sections, and at the same time allows for the quick disposal of any mud build-up.
«One of the advantages of the GR1 – Fabio Finotti wanted to add – is that we can also use it on the road without any problemsCompared to a carbon bike, it weighs just one kilo more. If I had to define it with an adjective, I would say that it is versatile.It has no limits, it's suitable for any terrain. Our ultimate goal is to convey the message that our bikes are always made with the utmost attention to every detail."
The Gravel GR1 is available in sizes S – M – L – XL. The recommended retail price is 3.490 euros.
