Milan is Back in the Saddle!

The famous EICMA Milan bike exhibition is changing dates and its name as it attempts to transform itself. It is now the Esposizione Internazionale Ciclo e Accessori. The following is the latest press release:

"Milan is back in the saddle!

In fact, the 69th International Bicycle Exhibition (www.eica.it) will be held in Fiera Milano City from 23 to 25 July.

An unmissable event, which is not just deeply rooted in the Milanese DNA, but also in the history of our country.

As well as looking back, it is primarily focused on the future, with the ambitious objective of restoring the love and passion for bicycles to the Lombard capital, in keeping with the growing desire to respect our cities and help protect the environment.

Many of the sector’s most representative brands will be present, once again choosing Milan as the place to present a wide range of their most exclusive and eagerly awaited new products.
And there is more.

There will also be Test Ride areas, as well as areas set aside for a number of exciting and exhilarating events.

Eica 2011 looks forward to seeing you…with lots more surprises in store!"

Related story: EICMA Bici is Transformed into EICA

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,000 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.

EICMA Bici is Transformed into EICA

The famous EICMA Milan bike exhibition is changing dates and its name as it attempts to transform itself. It will now become the Esposizione Internazionale Ciclo e Accessori and will be held from July 23rd to July 25th, 2011. The new date now precedes all the other major European cycling exhibitions. The exhibition will also place more emphasis on B2B.

A new strategy committee will guide the plans for the new exhibition. The committee includes Marino Bartoletti, sports journalist; Renato Di Rocco, Presidente of the Italian cycling federation (FCI), and Angelo Zomegnan, Director of the Giro d’Italia.

Related story.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, watching and touring during the Giro, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,900 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.

EICMA Breaks Attendance Records, But....

The EICMA's 68th International Bicycle and Motorcycle Exhibition, November 2-7, surpasssed all attendance records. There were more than 500,000 visitors for the combined show. But, the annual bicycle and motorcycle show in Milan turned out to be a motorcycle party only this year with the majority of the renowned Italian bicycle brands opting not to exhibit at the show. The ones who did exhibit were difficult to find as they were spread all over the fair grounds with their stands between the motorcycle brands and the accessories suppliers.

EICMA General Director, Costantino Ruggiero was very clear in his remarks regarding the disappointing turnout of the Italian cycling industry: “We seriously regret the absence of many bicycle manufacturers, including some who cancelled their booths very late. They upset many cycling enthusiasts who came to Milan, even though the news about this situation had been clearly spread through the website and any other available media.”

Prior to the show the EICMA indicated that the Milan show requires more to retain a leading position on the international market of bicycle shows. This consideration has prompted them to develop an undisclosed "highly innovated project" whose implementation has been scheduled for 2011.

The EICMA show has seen challenging times in the last few years due to the success of Eurobike (Germany) and EXPOBICI (Padova, Italy). To make matters worse, Eurobike is now set to launch a new, open to the public, bicycle exhibition in Berlin in 2011.

VELOBerlin will take place March 26 to 27, 2011 and will ring in the 2011 outdoor season at the Messe Berlin exhibition grounds, premiering as the new hub for everything to do with bicycles and urban mobility. “VELOBerlin is set to become the cycling industry’s main public exhibition, generating consumer interest in bikes and cycling at the start of each new season, and with an emphasis on urban mobility,” says Klaus Wellmann, CEO of Messe Friedrichshafen.
Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,600 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also an Italian weather widget along the right side and a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. What I'm riding.

2010 ExpoBici Success; Rumors About EICMA Bici

This past September 20, after three show days Expobici 2010 closed its doors. It was only the third edition, but already Expobici is regarded as being the number one bike fair in Italy. However, EICMA Bici (of Milano)is rumoured to fight back with a remarkable new show concept at an even more remarkable timing.

Despite the fact that some of the biggest names from the Italian bike scene were not at the Padova Fiere for Expobici 2010; the Colnagos, Pinarellos, and the bigger import brands were hardly missed as the show broke all records. With the number of exhibitors more than doubling compared to the first edition and a visitor total increasing by over 60% this year, the show was in every aspect a mature bike event. Overall, Expobici doubled in floor space in order to host its 356 exhibitors. According to show organizer Padova Fiere, 35,650 visitors were recorded, a big increase on the 25,000 that attended last year.

One of the reasons spurring the success of this year’s Expobici is the fact EICMA cancelled its stand-alone bicycle show. For this year EICMA Bici is integrated into the Moto show. The 68th EICMA International Bicycle and Motorcycle exhibition will take place from November 2 to 7, 2010 at the new fairground in Milan.

When EICMA announced the cancellation of the 2010 stand alone EICMA Bici for September the show organizer stated: “Pending the launch of a new concept of the Italian EICMA bicycle show, the organizers have decided to move this year’s dates. The Milan bike show requires more to retain a leading position on the international market of bicycle shows. This consideration has prompted the development of a highly innovated project (for) which implementation has been scheduled for 2011.”

At Expobici rumours were circulating regarding how EICMA is to ‘retain its leading position’ as well as how this ‘highly innovated project’ will look like with which EICMA will respond to this year’s success of Expobici, and to changes at the US Interbike show.

It was said at Expobici that next year EICMA is to organize a bike event that is to take place in July. It was also rumoured that it will be a completely outdoor event at the Imola race circuit – a perfect venue for testing road racers and e-Bikes while the surroundings also offer ample tracks for MTB testing, as well as for the outdoor exhibition.

Source: Bike Europe

Photos: the Scott exhibit at ExpoBici, Ivan Basso signing autographs for fans

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,500 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. What I'm riding.

Italian Bike Shows: ExpoBici and EICMA Bicycle Exhibition

With the mega-size EuroBike finished attention in Italy will now turn to preparing for the upcoming shows in Italy: ExpoBici and EICMA (International Bicycle and Motorcycle Exhibition).

ExpoBici will be held at the at Padua Exhibition Centre in Padua from 18 to 20 September. The 2009, inaugural, ExpoBici had 250 exhibitors and 25,000 visitors. This is the up and coming bike expo in Italy, challenging the long held International Bicycle Exhibition in Milan. Website: www.expobici.it
Inside the Padua Exhibition Center


EICMA will be holding its 68th International Bicycle Exhibition in Milan at the Milan Fair (Fiera Milano) from 2 to 7 November. EICMA had 45,000 visitors in 2009. EICMA is working towards a new vision for the show beginning in 2011; for this year it will once again be held at the same time and place as the motorcycle exhibition. Website: www.eicma.it
Ernesto Colnago shows Minister Prestigiacomo and EICMA President Guidi his new models at the 2009 EICMA

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,500 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Milan Bike Fair (EICMA), 2-7 November

The "EICMA Bici" bike fair will coincide this year with the motorcycle fair "EICMA Moto" in Milan from 2 to 7 November, 2010.

According to EICMA, the Milan show requires more to retain a leading position on the international market of bicycle shows. This consideration has prompted them to develop an undisclosed "highly innovated project" whose implementation has been scheduled for 2011. In the meantime the show retains the same formula as in the recent past.

Last year the show had 45,000 visitors according to EICMA. The show has seen challenging times in the last few years due to the success of Eurobike (Germany) and EXPOBICI (Padova, Italy).

Photo: Francesco Moser stand at EICMA 2009

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,400 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

San Patrignano

The San Patrignano story is an unusual one. San Patrignano is, first, a community that welcomes all young men and women who have serious drug abuse problems, regardless of ideology, social background, or religion, and completely free of charge, accepting no payment or funding from their families or the Italian government. Since 1978, San Patrignano has taken in over 18,000 people, offering them a home, health care, legal assistance, and the opportunity to study, learn a job, change their lives, and regain their status as full members of society.



Teaching a job to its guests is one of San Patrignano"s fundamental principles. Through the years the community has developed several high quality activities: from agriculture and food production to training championship jumping horses, to breeding show dogs, from high quality printing to information technologies, and craftsmanship such as frame building.



Initially bikes and parts were produced for outside companies. The turning point came in 1999, thanks to the support and of Dario and Gianni Pegoretti. Today, Dario Pegoretti continues as their technical advisor and San Patrignano has its own brand of racing and touring bikes, and it is possible to order a custom frame.



To learn more visit the San Patrignano website: http://www.sanpatrignano.org/?q=en


Photos: a San Patrignano at EICMA 2009 in Milan


Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com. See here for a chance to win a T-shirt for submitting a ride story; contest ends October 31st.

Across the Hall at EICMA, Part II

Back to the cycling pavilion....

Italy's Environment Minister Stefania Prestigiacomo officially opened the show and is seen above visiting with De Rosa and Colnago.

The show had 250 exhibitors and claimed 45,000 attendees over 3 days. Competing with EICMA during the same weekend was the EXPOBICI in Padua, in its 2nd edition, which claimed

25,000 visitors and also 250 exhibitors.

EICMA has announced the dates for 2010: 17 to 20 September.

Photos: Minister Prestigiacomo at De Rosa and Colnago, various images from the pavilion, start of the Pedalata Azzurra ride

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com. See here for a chance to win a T-shirt for submitting a story.

Across the Hall at EICMA, Part I

Let's begin with the across the hall fun at the EICMA 67th International Bicycle and Motorcycle Exhibition, held at Fiera Milano in Rho, which took place this past weekend. Although the organizers have proclaimed the bicycle show a success, with 45,000 visitors, many of the same visitors have noted that the bicycle portion continues to shrink and is now housed in only one pavilion. Not even all the most significant manufacturers attend anymore.

What's a cyclist to do? Well, wander across the hall to the motorcycles.....

In Part II, coming later today, we'll come back to non-motorized bikes.

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com. See here for a chance to win a T-shirt for submitting a story.

Bike Show Season Set to Start

The bike show season is around the corner. Important dates:

September 2 through 5, immediately after the European August holidays, the EuroBike show will take place in Friedrichshafen (http://www.eurobike-show.de/) on the German shores of Lake Constance.

September 18 through 21, the 67th EICMA International Bicycle Exhibition (http://www.eicma.it/) in Milan.

September 19 through 21, the the 2nd annual ExpoBici (http://www.expobici.it/), which will take place in Padova.

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com

Milan, EICMA, 2006 Part II

Photos of the exhibition center complex.

Me and ......WHO??? Milan, EICMA, 2006 Part I

On September 15th Eros Poli, Paolo from Chesini and I headed to Milan from Verona. The occasion was the very big international EICMA bike show.

It was a surreal experience. Here I was meeting Eddy Merckx, Felice Gimondi, me and ....WHO??, the Pinarello and DeRosa families, and some friendly representatives. It was over the top!