Recognize This Statue?

On the way home from Italy recently, I purposefully made a 'wrong' turn onto the A8 towards the airport, forcing me to turn around at the Legnano exit. With some clever help from the iPhone and my TomTom, I navigated to the Piazza Monumento so I could snap a shot of Alberto di Giusssano. Alberto was the 12th century warrior who formed the "Company of Death" that defended the Carroccio of the League at the Battle of Legnano. This statue in the center of Legnano is the symbol of the city, the Northern League political party and, more importantly, of Legnano bicycles!

Best viewed while listening to Verdi's 'La Battaglia di Legnano'.

1940's Galmozzi... Yeah, I did...

While the wife was away, I did it. I keep telling myself 'last one'. Maybe just to make me feel better about this quickly-growing collection of old Italian bikes. But this one was too much. I ended up speaking with Angelo Galmozzi over the phone for quite some time. I got the whole story, politics, history and all.

I took it over to Ciöcc this morning to strip it and sandblast it. He was impressed and excited enough to give a call to his friend Alberto Masi to confirm a couple of things regarding the dates of such a bike. Best we can guess is late 40's.

Ciöcc got busy with some things while we were stripping the bike, but let me turn the switch on his sanding machine (I'd never run one before) and I got to work!

The rest of the photos are at my Flickr page here.

Museo Storico della Bicicletta, Cesiomaggiore

A while back, I had the opportunity to go to this great bike museum, located not far from the Passo Croce d'Aune (where a certain Tullio Campagnolo dreamed up the quick release and subsequently, the Cambio Corsa shifter). I was blown away by the amount of historic racing machines and snapped as many photos as I could in a short time. My complete set is on my Flickr page here. Here's a preview...

It Must Be Galmozzi Day

After some interesting conversation about whether to rebadge a Gamba to its constructor, Galmozzi (over at the Great Gunnar Berg's site here), it seems I've stumbled upon yet another bike, my size, that I must have...

This time, it's what you might consider a Holy Grail bike of mine. A Galmozzi with Campagnolo Cambio Corsa... conserved, good shape for a bike of its era. I can't say much more about it yet, as I'm waiting for a reply from the owner still.

As Holy Grail bikes go, supposedly, should I acquire this it would mean... that's it! No more! There's nothing better, don't bother looking. Collection complete. In fact, start unloading the others.

My New Galmozzi!

So... here it is... as I got it. I haven't even wiped off the dust with my finger. I'm thinking I'll put Fiamme red labels on it as opposed to the too-new and mildly aero rims that are on there. I'll also try to find a good set of GS or NR brake levers with decent hoods, but I'm not holding my breath on that one. Also, I got a VERY short NR seatpost of the same vintage and the flutes are blue and yellow. I'm thinking of putting that one on the Galmozzi, and use this one on the red/white/yellow Ciöcc.

The rest of the photos can be found on my Flickr page.

Nencini, Gelli and my new Galmozzi!

I had a nice weekend in Florence to celebrate the wife's birthday. She also had some meetings, so I was on my own for Friday and Saturday. With no bike to ride and two nervous wiener dogs to keep placated, I made a phone call to local Liquigas mechanic, Saul Nencini ('Nencio').

I headed to his shop (under his parents' house), where he was servicing a couple of local riders' bikes. Once they were set, we set about going through some of his recent finds, like the mint Campagnolo Grand crankset he found while in Argentina, or the PMP 90 degree crankset from back in the day. Then, he enlightened me to the bag of cork plugs that used to be placed individually into the eyelets of old tubular rims prior to glueing... very cool. After deciding that anything I still needed to finish the Ciöcc was going to be found in his attic at home, we decided to make the short trip.

On the way up, we passed this huge framed photo of Saul's dad... yes, THAT Gastone Nencini. You know, 'my Dad, who won the Giro in 1957 and the Tour in 1960'.

Upstairs, we certainly found some great Nuovo Record parts for my build and then I discovered something I wasn't expecting to find in Tuscany... the first... and second Galmozzi's I've ever seen live! The first was white and labeled 'G. Gelli' who was a local shop in Prato. Nencio really liked this one and wanted to keep it, as it was his size. The giveaway as to its true heritage was given away by the standard Galmozzi stamp on the headtube.

Nencio was a little amazed that I even knew about Galmozzi, let alone that the little known brand has become my Holy Grail of old bikes. When I saw the blue 56, I knew it had to be mine, so we quickly made a deal. I'm now the owner of a Galmozzi! I can't really say 'finally' since I've only become a little obsessed with them recently. I just never knew I'd find one in Gastone Necnini's son's attic in Tuscany!

More photos to come in another post, plus a link to the rest of the photos which are now on my Flickr page.

Introducing the Cane-nondale!

Get Well, Mauricio

I was sad to read the news this morning from Colombia, where Mauricio Soler was injured in a head-on accident with a car while returning home from a training ride. Mauricio has had some tough luck since winning the KOM title and a stage at the Tour back in 2007.

Get well soon, Mauricio!

Better days at the 2007 Tour

On safari with Claudio Corti, Chris Fisher and Paolo Longo Borghini of Team Barloworld in Madikwe Game Reserve near Botswana.

Lunch With Tullio

I was recently in Italy during a state holiday and found THE old bike museum to waste some time at. More on that soon. BUT, being a holiday, I also had a hard time finding some grub for lunch. Driving past a sign for Passo Croce d'Aune proved to be an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

The climb itself isn't too high or steep. At the top is a great little restaurant with great local fare. My quiet table in the back room was eventually overrun by thirty kids from a ski school, but oh well... iPod engaged.

Outside and across the street is the Tullio Campagnolo monument. You see, this is the pass on which Tullio flatted and had trouble opening the wing nuts to take his wheel off. The ensuing idea gave birth to the quick release rear derailleur (and eventually to the Cambio Corsa shifter, my new shifter of choice).

New Year, New Bike Project

2009 had me all interested in old Italian bikes. Particularly, those with Campy's Cambio Corsa.

Imagine climbing a mountain pass with only four or five gears. To change those gears, you have to reach back to the seat stay, open the long q.r. on the rear hub, backpedal while moving another lever which moves the chain, then closing the q.r. only to then resume pedaling! Gino Bartali was the master of the "due leve" and won the 1948 Tour aboard a Legnano with said shifter.

So after much research and bothering of some Italian friends, I've found a Legnano and the matching parts! It seems to be from the late 40's or early 50's (the Cambio Corsa, crude as it was, was used for over 20 years!). There's still lots of work to be done, but hopefully, persistence will pay off and see me toe the start line at the 2010 l'Eroica aboard this beauty.

The frame is in great shape. Color was removed, since the last owner decided it better to slap on a coat of grey. The true Legnano color is a type of olive green lacquer. Purists say that there are few who still know the process to replicate it. I'll come as close as possible.

The rear axle has teeth which allows the rear wheel to move as you shift, taking up the slack of the chain!

Le due leve.

Here's the proof (and also the missing piece). The Legnano headbadge depicts Alberto da Giussano and celebrates the defeat of the German rulers in the 1176 Battle of Legnano.

The rest of the parts are equally sweet. Magistroni crank and bb, Universal brakes, customized Brooks saddle, Ambrosio bars, and original wheels laced to VERY aged Martano rims. I also get a spare set of hubs to lace to wooden rims (riding wheels, the others will be kept for show).

Hopefully, this restoration won't break the bank. I still have to finish the Ciöcc and Atala!