1958 Bianchi, Lario. Campione d’ Italia

[cyclingday]

The folks at the museum were gearing up for the madness that will be here in two weeks.
Uggh!
I’ll be in Rome by then!
Oh, well!
I’ve already painted, Go Tadej ! on the road.

I’m sure it will be a thrilling experience for all those rowdy fans lining the road up to the Ghisallo.
Tomorrow we’re off to Florence.

 

[cyclingday]

Are your going to tour the Sidi factory?

No trip to the Sidi factory this time.
I was lucky to convince my wife that the cycling museum would be interesting for her.
I think the shoe factory would be pushing it.
It’ll just be the typical Roman Holiday type of stuff from here on out.
We met a couple from Chapel Hill, North Carolina at breakfast that brought their bikes with them, and rode the whole route that we did today, by boat and shuttle van.
It must have been a spectacular ride, but one that required extreme fitness to do.
They said they were exhausted when they got back, but loved the experience.
It’s a wonderful place to ride a bike, but the narrow roads and auto traffic seem pretty unforgiving.

 

[Jollyride]

Yes, unfortunately the late Nicky Hayden lost his life on a bke ride there.

Looks like a stunning place to ride with extreme care.

 

[cyclingday]

Not much to add bike wise, as today was a travel day to Florence.
But we did pass a bike shop and a bike cafe on the way to the train station.

I loved this little Fiat van!
Great bike carrier!
I want one!

Meet Milano Centrale.
Spectacular iron work here!

I couldn’t figure out what the year of construction was, as I am not a Roman, so I don’t understand Roman numerals.
If any of you guys have a clue, please inform us of the date.
All I know, is this thing was substantial, and they most certainly don’t build them like that any more.

Smooth as glass!

 

[juvela]

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date marking indicates year nine of the fascist era

the fascists felt that the coming of fascism to Italy was an event of equal importance in world history to the coming of Christ

they decreed that all publications and government documents bear the date of the fascist era

you will find fascist era dates on places like building plaques and monuments even today, a century after the beginning of the fascist era...and eighty years after it ended

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[Jesper]

Photos are above and beyond the call of duty. Thank you!!
I still want to cycle that area before I pass since while in Italy I did not get time to cycle like I did in France.

Always have wondered why Girardengo was not honored with a monument beside Bartali, Coppi, and Binda considering his history.and the loss of competition during WW1.

Noticed that the descriprion of the Merckx Caloi bike stated that it was of aluminium build, but it looks like a steel frame. Am I wrong?

 

[cyclingday]

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View attachment 2114277



date marking indicates year nine of the fascist era

the fascists felt that the coming of fascism to Italy was an event of equal importance in world history to the coming of Christ

they decreed that all publications and government documents bear the date of the fascist era

you will find fascist era dates on places like building plaques and monuments even today, a century after the beginning of the fascist era...and eighty years after it ended

-----

Photos are above and beyond the call of duty. Thank you!!
I still want to cycle that area before I pass since while in Italy I did not get time to cycle like I did in France.

Always have wondered why Girardengo was not honored with a monument beside Bartali, Coppi, and Binda considering his history.and the loss of competition during WW1.

Noticed that the descriprion of the Merckx Caloi bike stated that it was of aluminium build, but it looks like a steel frame. Am I wrong?

That’s some excellent intel there @juvela
I asked an employee if he knew what those numbers meant, and he just said 9 but couldn’t figure it out either.
He said I was the first person he had ever encountered that had asked that question.
The place is a sea of humanity on the scale of Grand Central Station, and nobody ever wondered about that plaque?
I guess everybody is too frantic trying to figure out their train schedules to notice what a spectacular structure it is?
Crazy!
But your explanation sure makes sense now,
Thank you very much for that definition.
Much appreciated!

@Jesper
I agree, that Caloi bike that Casertelli was riding sure looked like a steel frame to me as well.
I’m pretty sure it was.
The bike he crashed on was hanging up in the Sanctuario, and you could see the bend in the fork blade and a slight kink to the frame.
It was definitely steel.

 

[juvela]

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as regards the date marking it seems to have been designated by law on all publications, government documents and any sign where a date was given

it was up to the publication if they wished to post a christian era date as well

newspapers, for example, always showed both dates



thanks from me as well for all of the fine pictures

you certainly have done an outstanding job with them!

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[Jollyride]

Going to chime in once more this is impressive documention keep it coming.

Thank you for everything you post!!!

 

[cyclingday]

Thanks, for the compliments.
I’m glad to hear that there is some interest in what’s going on across the way.
I haven’t seen many old bikes in daily use here, as I did in Sweden last year, but the voyage is still young, so my hope is to see a few classics out there being used as intended.
We got to the hotel in Florence late last evening, so I didn’t get much of a chance to look around, except for what was right around the train station.
I did see these relics, though not very old.
But they did look somewhat vintage sitting amongst all the mass produced garbage that seems to be all too common in society these days.

All of these bikes looked as though they were left for dead, and ripe for the picking.

The streets and city blocks are super narrow here, so I can see why the Vespa/Lambretta scooters won out, as the top choice for daily transport.
Easy to maneuver among the congestion of the old city.
That’s what I’d use if I lived here.
That, or my 1958/59 Bianchi Lario.
Condorino style for dodging the tourists.