Mario Confente: Passion Personified

Road bike racing likely comes to most people’s minds when they think about sports in Italy. Given this strong association, it’s no wonder the country is birthplace to so many of cycling’s most legendary figures. Mario Confente – in a lifetime shorter than most – gained a prominent place in cycling’s pantheon as both racer…

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Holdsworth: British Reliability, Personified

Like so many other useful things at that time and place, cycling apparel was difficult to obtain after World War One in Europe. The continent had been thoroughly ravished by a half-decade of brutal conflict and matters of sport went largely unaddressed by everyone except for their most ardent supporters.

J. Lefol: Inventeur – Constructeur

As with other French component makers from cycling’s golden era that remain popular today – Ideale, JOS, Maxi-Car and Stronglight, to name a few – surprisingly little is known about the Lefol marque given the timeless familiarity of the company’s fenders. Maybe aluminum just rusts slower than steel, with oxidation resistance preserving Lefol’s legacy more…

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Reparto Corse: Edoardo Bianchi & the History of Bianchi Bicycles

Many years ago, I was strolling through a garage sale early one Saturday morning when I stumbled upon a pile of vintage lightweight bike framesets and parts. There were quite a few nice finds in the mix: A minty fresh Peugeot PX-10, a Carlton with Reynolds 531 tubing, and a newer Raleigh frame and fork….

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Bianchi Bicycles Image Gallery

Edoardo Bianchi and his namesake bicycle, motorcycle and automobile company have helped usher in modern transportation since 1885. That’s because Bianchi and his company’s “Reparto Corse” racing division were first to use several innovations that have since become cornerstone features of these transportation devices. Regarding bicycles, Bianchi was the first large-scale Italian manufacturer to incorporate…

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American Cyclery is For Sale

Established in 1941, American Cyclery is the oldest bike shop in San Francisco. It has a rich, well-established history of providing new and vintage bicycles and components to a large customer base throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Current owner Bradley Woehl has been a friend and supporter of the vintage lightweight community…

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Ugo De Rosa: Father of the Future

“I am a man who goes straight to the point… And, by force of habit, I never look back and count the years I have spent making frames. I prefer to look ahead because, after working for half a century, I am still convinced that the bicycle has room for improvement. And just as I…

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Bridgestone Eurasia: All-in-One Sports Bicycling System

Every now and then, we are reminded of something long forgotten that remains so special it needs to be remembered again. Like the deeply meaningful reasons behind national holidays or their religious counterparts, these things tend to be timeless in nature and transcendent in meaning. They usually come in the form of an obvious offering…

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