Thursday, December 27, 2012

Team Lampre's Merida Scultura SL

In September came the announcement that beginning in 2013 Wilier would no longer be the bike supplier to Team Lampre, ending a 10 year relationship. Beginning next year the bike sponsor is Merida, it will be the Taiwanese company's first venture into the top tier of professional road racing. The team is renamed to Team Lampre-Merida.

Team Lampre will be using a newly launched Merida frameset, the Scultura SL (scultura is Italian for sculpture). The Lampre version is pictured above. road.cc had a short review with many photos of a Sculptura SL here if you want for information. As pictured above the bike is equipped with Shimano Di2; we'll have to wait for the official announcement to learn of the complete configuration of the team bikes.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

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Sunday, December 23, 2012

Juliana Buhring, 152 Days Around the World

Juliana Buhring has just completed a round the world, 18,000* mile solo road, trip in 152 days.  Her journey began in Naples on July 23, 2012. She has submitted her accomplishment to the Guinness World Records as the first woman to circumnavigate the the world solo.

From her website, Wanderlust:
"From the beginning, everybody told me I wasn’t ready. Without a sponsor or money, without a technical and medical support team, with only eight months of training on a bicycle, I was not ready to leave and should delay the entire endeavour for at least another year. I got a lot of laughs in the early days. Nobody believed I would make it, certainly not all the way around the world, averaging 200 km a day without rest. I was not an athlete and not a cyclist. In fact, there was nothing to qualify me for such a huge undertaking. Nothing but willpower and the determination to finish no matter what. I was out to prove everything is possible. That we can do things that are greater than ourselves.

If I had waited for the perfect level of fitness, the perfect cycling techinique and mechanical know-how, the perfect weather conditions, the support, the money, doubtless I would never have left at all. I believe that many people put off making their dreams a reality, waiting for the right time or the right conditions. There is no such thing. The right time is now. ‘One day’ is just another way of saying ‘never’.

So I hopped on Pegasus, and pedaled out of Naples on July 23rd, 2012. From the get-go, there were problems. My shifter broke and I cycled 2 weeks in either the highest or lowest gear. My iPhone fell, the screen smashed in. The first month involved a lot of adjusting to just being on the road, ironing out all the inevitabile kinks and problems that are impossible to predict. Before I knew it, I’d crossed America. The further I got, the more people began following my endeavour. Soon I was being literally propelled along by an international support team of friends, strangers and well-wishers who kept me going morally and financially and without whom the journey would have been far more difficult and failure a real possibility.

And the difficulties were numerous. I joke that I may be one of the most unlucky people in the world, but if everything I encountered in the 5 months on the road are anything to judge by, there may be some truth in this:

Twenty-nine flat tires, gear/shifter problems, 6 broken spokes, broken pedal. There were four serious falls (involving blood and bruises). 70% of the journey was against strong headwinds; between 100 – 160 kmph in New Zealand (No joke, I had to walk, it knocked me over twice and actually lifted Pegasus in the air, bags and all). Crossed 6 mountains, the Australian Nullarbor, got diaharea and throat infection in India, cycled four days through a cyclone, dog attacks in Turkey, magpie attacks in Australia and to finish, -9 degrees and snow upon re-entering Italy.

As I’m writing this, I’m just under 400 km from the finish line. It feels like 10,000. Every day is a fight just to keep pedaling. The moment I stop, all I can think of is curling up somewhere and sleeping. It’s hard to believe the journey is almost at an end. Some days it feels like it will never end. Even my dreams involve planning routes and pedaling…endlessly. Pegasus is pretty tired too. We’ve conquered many challenges together.

More often than not, I wondered whether I had what it took to see this endeavour through to the end. I guess I have my answer. And I guess too, I’ve proved my point: we can do things that are greater than ourselves. You don’t need to be rich, famous, talented, or anybody at all to do something extraordinary. The sky is NOT the limit. There are no limits, only social, cultural, religious and self-imposed limitations. If we can break through those, I believe humans are capable of going much further both as individuals and as a species."

* Travel by sea and air is allowed to achieve 24,900 miles but a minimum of 18,000 miles must be ridden.

Finish interview:


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Friday, December 21, 2012

358 Surviving Italian Tour de France Finishers

Interesting article in cyclingnews.com about the Tour de France celebrating the 100th edition of the race with an invitation to every rider who has ever finished the Tour to the final stage on the Champs-Élysées in 2013.

"2,060 of the 8,339 riders to have finished the Tour are still living, and L’Équipe reports that it is hoped that at least a quarter of them will be able to make the journey to Paris next July, where they will be feted in a ceremony as the “Giants of the Tour.”

The riders will be seated in a special tribune on the Place de la Concorde during the final stage of the Tour on July 21, which takes place in the evening, with the floodlit finish on the Champs-Élysées expected at 9.45pm.

The “giants” will also be presented to the public in the Tuileries Garden on the eve of the Tour’s entry into Paris, and ASO is expected to announce full details of the project in February.

France has the most surviving Tour finishers, with 491, followed by Italy (358), Spain (301) and Belgium (256), while a further 37 nations have had at least one Tour finisher.

The oldest surviving Tour finisher is 98-year-old Pierre Cogan. The Frenchman rode his first Tour in 1935, when he was just 21."

Great idea!

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Deda Elementi: Superleggero Stem & Superleggera Handlebars

All new for 2013 from Deda Elementi are the Superleggero stem, Superleggera 31.7 mm diameter and Superleggera 35 mm diameter handlebars.

Superleggero Stem:
Deda Elementi's all-new Superleggero Stem is the result of their search for the ultimate functional shape, stripped of any excess. Made in 7050 3D forged aluminum alloy and using Ti screw fitments. Deda claims that it is the lightest production stem available; 99 grams at 110 mm length (80-90-100-120-130-140 mm, all in 31.7 clamp size). Available in Black Anodized and Black on Black.


Superleggera Handlebars:
Superleggera handlebars use a "revolutionary" new type of carbon fiber that allows Deda to shave every excess gram of weight. HR40 Tonne carbon fiber and a proprietary new hi-strength nanotechnology resin with a unidirectional carbon layup create a compact composite material that allows Deda to achieve a weight of 180 grams for a 42 cm (measured outside to outside). These handlebars will be available in 42 - 44 - 46 cm for 31.7. Finish in Carbon UD, Black on Black.


Deda's "35" handlebars (see Andre Greipel's setup here) will also be available in a Superleggera version. Same weight, sizes and finish available as the 31.7 handlebars.

You can read an interesting story about Dedacciai and Deda Elementi (both owned by the same owners) from pezcycling.com here.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Win Trip to Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubiax

BMC has a nice contest you can enter now:

"Sign-up for the trip of a lifetime! Winners will receive a BMC granfondo GF01 Ultegra Di2 and an all-expense-paid trip to Kortrijk, Belgium to see the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix. You'll spend several days as BMC's VIP learning the cobbles and bergs of the most storied roads in all of cycling alongside the 2004 Tour of Flanders' winner, Steffen Wesemann. You'll then have the chance to compete in the legendary Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix granfondos on your very own BMC granfondo GF01. All this, and you'll take your favorite authorized BMC dealer along for the ride!

Winners will receive a BMC granfondo GF01 Ultegra Di2, round-trip airfare to Brussels, Belgium, food, lodging, full BMC Racing Team replica kit, guided rides around Kortrijk, BE, complimentary entry into the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix amateur races, and the chance to meet with riders from the BMC Racing Team. Sign-up here for this once-in-a-lifetime experience, and start training now!
"

Sign-up here.

Keeping it Italian related here is a photo of friend Eros Poli riding a RockShox equipped Eddy Merckx in P-R in 1997. We used the RockShox because it served to damp the vibrations on the pavè, on the smooth road portions we closed it to zero and it became rigid. It was much too heavy and did not give great advantages. They were replaced with forks with more inclination to the front (more rake) which damped and tracked better, they also responded better to attacks on the pavè or from a curve."

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

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Monday, December 17, 2012

Chris King Espresso Tamper


Limited edition espresso tamper by cycling components legend Chris King, $120. Details here.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

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Graphene Technology for Vittoria Tires

The partnership between Directa Plus SpA, a technology start-up firm based in Lomazzo (CO) which aims to the development, marketing and use of innovative processes for the nano materials generation and Vittoria Industries Ltd, the world leader in the production of premium bicycle tires dedicated to all levels, was presented last week to the media and to a selected audience of more than 150 guests.

The agreement aims to create, within the first few months of 2013, a joint venture for the production of tires containing Graphene, in the manufacturing facilities own by Vittoria Industries in Thailand, whose new R & D global center of excellence will be opened in January 2013.

The agreement was presented by the CEOs of the two companies, during the meeting entitled “Graphene: an Enabling Material for a Smart Future” held in Milan. Organized by Directa Plus, this event aimed to raise awareness of the huge potential application of the G+ process that they developed in the first European industrial plant for the production of nano graphene plates (opened last year in Lomazzo).

“With this agreement, Vittoria aims to take advantage from the revolution that will be certainly brought in raw materials by the use of Graphene, thanks to the unique Directa Plus patented process G+. We will test and adopt this new technology and apply it to the cycling field, " says Rudie Campagne, Vittoria Industries Ltd President and CEO. "The benefits will be countless, in terms of weight and performance, and we will announce them whenever we introduce to the market a new product powered by G+.”

“At the basis of this agreement there is a common vision which we share with Vittoria: nanotechnologies will soon be the key to improve the traditional materials used by bringing an added value to the entire production process and to consumers, " explains Giulio Cesareo, Directa Plus President and CEO.

Photo (L-R): Rudy Campagne, President & Ceo of Vittora and Giulio Cesareo, President & CEO of Directa Plus

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

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Saturday, December 15, 2012

Bianchi Café & Cycles Opens in Tokyo


The second of Bianchi's "Bianchi Café & Cycles" has opened in Tokyo. The first Bianchi Café &Cycles opened in Stockholm, Sweden, in May, 2011.



Located in the Jiyugaoka shopping area the two-story store has a complete line of Bianchi bicycles on display on the first floor, and along the staircase leading to the second floor. The coffee area is located on the second floor, where visitors can enjoy a real espresso and taste typical Italian dishes such as pasta, panini, and dolci in a large room with 38 seats.




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Friday, December 14, 2012

Florence's Bid to Host 2014 Tour de France Start Fails

Florence's bid to host the start of the 2014 Tour de France in honor of Gino Bartali, 100 years from his birth, has failed. Italy has never hosted the start of the Tour de France.

Today's Tour de France announcement said, "The organisers of the Tour de France are pleased to announce that the Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2014 will take place in the United Kingdom in the county of Yorkshire, before heading to London for a stage finish.The Grand Départ of the 101st edition of the Tour will take place on 5th July in Leeds in the county of Yorkshire."

Bartali won the Tour de France in 1938 and 1948, the only cyclist to win before and after WW II and holds the record for the longest time between two titles. He also won the Giro d'Italia three times, 1936, 1937 and 1946.

Related stories:
Coppi, Baratli and the Legendary Photo
Bartali - Tribute to the Italian Champion on Holocaust Memorial Day 

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

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Thursday, December 13, 2012

Best Moments in Giro d'Italia History

The most popular entry responses in a survey of journalists by the Giro for best moments in Giro d'Italia history:

1. Which are the most dramatic moments in the history of the Giro d’Italia?

On 30th June 1946, during the 12th stage of the Giro from Rovigo to Trieste, some anti-Italian activists who wanted Trieste to be part of the newly formed Yugoslavia stopped the Giro 2km east of the village of Pieris, blocking the road with cement blocks and throwing stones and nails at the riders. The Giro organization had already decided to declare the stage end in Pieris and neutralised the general classification for the day, but some of the riders, lead by the Trieste born Giordano Cottur insisted on riding to Trieste anyway.

2. Which are the three best Giro d’Italia’s of all time?


The Giro in 1949 won by Fausto Coppi, the Giro of 1988 won by Andy Hampsten after the epic stage on the snowy Gavia Pass in the storm, and the Giro d’Italia 1998 won by Marco Pantani.

3. Which are the three best stage victories of all time?

17th stage of Giro d’Italia 1949, from Cuneo to Pinerolo (254km) which had the fantastic solo ride by the ampionissimo. Coppi earned the Maglia Rosa after going on the attack for 192 km, climbing the Col de la Madeleine, the Col du Vars, the Izoard, the Monginevro and the Sestriere alone, finally arriving in Pinerolo with an 11'52" advantage over Gino Bartali and almost 20’ on Alfredo Martini.

4. Which Champions have best represented the values of the Giro d’Italia?

Gino Bartali, Fausto Coppi and Felice Gimondi are the three Champions that have truly represented the values of the Corsa Rosa.

5. Which are the biggest sporting rivalries in the Giro d’Italia?

The greatest rivalry, and the most popular by far, was between Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali.

6. What are the most iconic images (pictures) of the Giro d’Italia?

Fiorenzo Magni riding the Mountain Time Trial of Bologna-San Luca, 16th stage of the Giro 1956. He was unable to push hard on the pedals due to his broken collarbone, a fracture he had sustained on the previous day’s stage, so at the suggestion of his mechanic Faliero Masi he rode biting a tubular knotted to the handlebar to fight the pain.

7. What are the most poignant gestures of sportsmanship during the Giro d’Italia?

On May 10th 2011, during the 4th stage of the Giro 2011, the peloton along with hundreds of thousands of fans lining the route of the 216km stage, paid homage to Belgian rider Wouter Weylandt, who died the day before after a fatal crash.

8. What is the statement or quotation that best represent the spirit of the Giro?

The clear winner is the legendary phrase of the Rai radio commentator Mario Ferretti during the 17th stage of the Giro 1949, Cuneo – Pinerolo, who at the beginning of his program said: "There’s only one man in the lead: his jersey is celeste and white; his name is Fausto Coppi" ("Un uomo solo è al comando; la sua maglia è bianco-celeste; il suo nome è Fausto Coppi").

9. What have been the biggest surprises of all time at the Giro d’Italia?

The Swiss rider Carlo Clerici, racing the Giro in 1954 as a domestique for Hugo Koblet, won the overall race after one of the most famous "fughe bidone" (Italian term meaning a fluke attack, invented by the Italian press after that specific occasion) in cycling history. Clerici attacked with other four riders during the 6th stage from Naples to L'Aquila, gaining more than half an hour on the peloton. No one was able to recover this entire margin over the remaining stages, despite the
fact Clerici was not a great climber.

10. Which are the most impressive sporting feats in more than 100 years of battles on the roads of
the Giro?

The “podium” of the most impressive feats in the history of the Giro d’Italia has some of the greatest Champions of the sport on it: third is Fausto Coppi dominating Cuneo – Pinerolo in Giro 1949; second is Marco Pantani winning in Oropa, the 15th stage of Giro in 1999 after a glorious comeback from a mechanical problem at the base of the final climb; and in first place, the most impressive sporting feat in over 100 years, is Eddy Merckx - winning the 12th stage of the Giro in
1968 from Gorizia to Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

Photos: Hampsten by Sirotti;  Weylandt by LaPresse; all others by Gazzetta dello Sport


The 96th edition of the Giro d’Italia will start on May 4th in Naples and conclude on May 26th in Brescia.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

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Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Italy's TISO Announces 12 Speed Gruppo


I thought "10 speed" (5 in the back) was fine. Then it was 6....then 7....then 8......then 9....then 10 with ten now meaning 10 in the back because no one called them twenty (or thirty!) speed bikes. Surely, it must stop at that point? No, Campagnolo was first to 11, now followed by Shimano. Now TISO announces a 12 speed system.

And, by the way, Campagnolo filed for a 12 speed patent back in 2009.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

UCI Names ProTour Teams for 2013

The big news is that Katusha was not named as a ProTour team for 2013, more below this after the list of ProTour teams:

Astana Pro Team
BMC Racing Team
Cannondale (formerly Liquigas - Cannondale)
Lampre – Merida (Merida replaces Wilier as bicycle sponsor and becomes co-sponsor)
Omega Pharma – Quick Step Cycling Team
ORICA GreenEDGE
Sky Procycling
Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
Movistar Team (UCI decision of 16 November)
AG2R La Mondiale 2013-2016
Euskaltel Euskadi 2013-2016
Former Rabobank 2013-2014 (note: will be known as Blanco Pro Cycling Team in 2013)
Garmin Sharp 2013-2014
Team Argos–Shimano 2013-2016
Team Saxo – Tinkoff 2013-2014
FDJ for 2013
Lotto Belisol for 2013
RadioShackNissan for 2013

Official statement of Katusha Team regarding their rejection by the UCI:

"At present moment Katusha Team has no information regarding the reasons for the decision of the UCI to reject the request from the team for registration in first division. Team management, riders and staff are extremely surprised by the lack of justification for such a decision made by the UCI. Thus earlier the team, which possesses rider №1 in the world and has finished the season in second place in the UCI World Tour ranking, was informed that it satisfies all possible criteria required for participation in the first division. In fact the only Russian team, where the majority of riders are Russian citizens, has been excluded from participation in races of the World Tour. Thus, this decision of the UCI has suspended Russia a country from participation in cycling competitions of the highest level.

The management of Katusha Team, its riders and staff are surprised by such a quick change of decision, lack of coordination inside the UCI press-service and a complete absence of reasons for such a fast decision.

The UCI which has been established in order to protect the interests of the riders worldwide, on the contrary by its actions completely violates the canons of sports ethics and causes irreparable moral and psychological harm to the athletes before the start of the new season, and the delay in explaining the reasons of the decisions only shows the lack of the significance of these reasons.

In the nearest future the management of the Russian team Katusha intends to investigate thoroughly this incident, first of all in order to give all possible explanations to the riders and staff of the team, as well as to choose a future strategy.

In addition, the Katusha Team is not retreating from the plans that have been made for the next season and is preparing for the official team presentation, which is scheduled for mid-December 2012 in Italy.

The Russian team intends to defend its interests with the help of all possible civilized instruments and methods, including going to court.

Katusha is ready to fight and is stronger than ever."


As referred to in the first paragraph this leaves the number 1 ranked rider in the world, Joaquim Rodriguez, on the number 2 ranked team in the world, without the automatic invitations to the most important races.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

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Deda Elementi Joins the Monolink Revolution


All new from Deda Elementi for 2013 is the Mnlink Seatpost, a full carbon fiber monocoque seat post for the new seat rail standard launched by Selle Italia in 2009.

Deda Elementi 's Mnlink Seatpost allows separate adjustment of the set-back and the saddle inclination, an advantage for the rider who is seeking more adjustability and easier-to-adjust seatpost.

Deda Elementi Mnlink seatpost specifications:

Diameter: 31,6 mm and 27,2 mm
Length: 350 mm
Weight: 188 grams
Finish: carbon UD

Related story:  Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

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Monday, December 10, 2012

Campagnolo Derailleur T-Shirt by PatentWear

This image is on a T-shirt design by PatentWear here (image is much better on their site). PatentWear designs are created from actual patents (this one appears to be one from the patent filing in France, 1954). The story behind this image by PatentWear:


"Tullio Campagnolo established a reputation for meticulous workmanship and innovative, elegant design. Beloved by passionate die-hard Campy fans, Campagnolo components are even today defined by old-world values of artisan craftsmanship. Tullio had always aimed for the simplest, lightest, and most efficient solutions over any fortunes to be made in the mass market. It is one of the few bicycle industry companies that stubbornly resists outsourcing the manufacture of its products: they are still made in Italy.

In 1927 Tullio Campagnolo invented and patented the quick-release mechanism for removing a bike wheel. This brilliant innovation is the same taken-for-granted component that we use today to quickly remove a wheel with the flip of a lever. In 1950 he introduced the Gran Sport derailleur, a breakthrough development based on the parallelogram design first patented in 1937 by the Italian Francesco Ghiggini. Ghiggini sold the rights to Tullio who took the parallelogram concept, refined it, and then made it a brilliant commercial success.

The Gran Sport was the archetype for Campagnolo’s excellent line of single-pivot parallelogram rear derailleurs for the next 30 years and the prototype most copied: almost every modern derailleur works on the same principal. Shifting, compared to any previous derailleurs, was fast, precise and rugged. The Gran Sport went through many changes, with the definitive model, released in 1953, becoming the derailleur of choice for many professional racers. Such legendary names as Gino Bartali, Fausto Coppi, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Greg LeMond, and Miguel Indurain won with Campy components, along with no less than forty Tour de France winners.

Today, vintage Campy gear has nearly a cult following: fans are notoriously passionate and dedicated in their beliefs in Campy as the best of all choices. The classic 1979 film Breaking Away captured that awe in the character of an Indiana kid spellbound with Italian cycling culture, while his Masi road bike was rigged with Campagnolo gear.

Tullio Campagnolo passed away in 1984, but his legacy as a racer, inventor, meticulous craftsman, and benefactor to the sport of racing lives on. Perhaps Eddy Merckx's eulogy to Tullio says it best: “You will remain with us, riders of all ages and of all classes, as a dear and unforgettable road fellow. A good friend.”

T-shirt Price: $22.00, available in several colors
Also available as a hoodie, $44.50
 

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

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Sunday, December 9, 2012

Gloria

It 's 1922 when Alfredo Forcesi establishes Gloria on Viale Abruzzi, 42 in Milan. He doesn't know it yet but soon the factory will be the source of the biggest talents of Italian cycling, such as Faliero Masi and Ernesto Colnago who begin to work at Gloria in the 1930s.

The racing history of Gloria starts well: after only one year of production Gloria can already boast their own bands of iridescent colors based upon the world championship victory in 1923 by Libero Ferrario. In 1931, Francesco Camusso brings the Milanese brand yet more headlines by winning the Giro d'Italia. Following this Gloria will have other champions such as Costante Giradengo and Learco Guerra.

Until the end of World War II Gloria is considered one of the best known brands in Italian cycling. Since the 1920s Gloria bicycles are recognized by the highest level of finish and their particular lugs. These are details that Colnago and other artisans will begin to employ beginning in the 1950s. The pride of the company is the "Garibaldina" model, considered one of the finest bicycles in the world. The frame is satin nickel and the lugs represent a flower with three leaves. Photos courtesy of www.thevintagebikelife.com, click here for additional photos.


One version of the Gloria logo consists of the letters AMF (Alfredo Forcesi Milan) , the colors of the rainbow (thanks to the world championship won), Gloria the brand, and Milan were the bicycles were produced.


My thanks to the Associazione Velocipedisti Eroici Romagnoli (AVER) which has kindly agreed to a mutual exchange of content with the Italian Cycling Journal. AVER is dedicated to lovers of the "heroic" age of cycling. 

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

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Thursday, December 6, 2012

100 Designs Submitted in Vigorelli Design Competition

The Municipality of Milan has announced that they received, by the first stage cut-off of 12.00 on Tuesday, December 4th, 2012, one hundred designs in the international design competition for the re-qualification of the Maspes-Vigorelli Velodrome. A jury will select ten designers for participation in the Competition stage within 30 days following that deadline.

The ten selected participants will then have until no later than 12.00 on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 to submit their designs. The Jury proceedings will be concluded within 30 days of the deadline for submission of documents; the winning entry will be announced within 10 days of the conclusion of the Jury proceedings.



Related stories:
Vigorelli Design Competition Open
Golden Era Revealed Through An Open Door
Masi History
Giovanni Pettenella, 1943-2010

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

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There are more than 2,600 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.  



Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Liquigas, 2005-2012: Otto Anni di Sport e Passione

"Liquigas, 2005-2012: Otto Anni di Sport e Passione" (Eight Years of Sport and Passion) is a new Italian language book by Pier Augusto Stagi that covers the eight years of the team's history. The team won two Giro d'Italia and one Vuelta a Espana, and hundreds of stage victories.

The book will be available soon at www.libreriadellosport.it and www.teamliquigascannondale.com

Beginning next year the team will be known as the Cannondale Pro Cycling Team.


Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

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There are more than 2,600 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. 

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Gruber Images Cycling Calendar 2013


Jered and Ashley Gruber, whose Stelvio images you recently saw here, have announced a calendar for 2013. Available from Wiggle (note: shipping to USA fixed at $13.00). A calendar that won't disappoint as a holiday gift.

The images below are much better viewed on the Wiggle site where they can be enlarged much better. Before going to the calendar images make note that you buy Gruber images through their website which is www.gruberimages.zenfolio.com

The cover:


May of June:


Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

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There are more than 2,600 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Pistard with Cinelli: "Wear Your Way"

More about Italian cycling urban and road apparel by Pistard at www.pistard.cc.



Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

Follow on Twitter: ITALIANCYCJOURN

There are more than 2,600 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.