Come una leggenda.
Ai giorni nostri ha dell’incredibile e dell’irreale il fatto che il giovane diciassettenne Luigi Ganna, tutte le mattine, si recasse in bicicletta da Induno Olona a Milano per fare il muratore, con una sacca fissata sul manubrio, con una pagnotta e una bottiglia d’acqua zuccherata allungata con un po’ di vino. Sole, pioggia o neve che fosse ogni giorno percorreva 100 km in bicicletta attraverso strade di terra battuta e un gran numero di buche. Luigi Ganna a questo suo impegno, alle energie consumate ogni giorno, dà un’altra valenza, usandolo come duro e serio allenamento per l’attività sportiva in bicicletta. Così nel 1905 Luison, detto anche il “gigante buono”, decide che la bicicletta sarà lo strumento con cui giocarsi il proprio avvenire. Sin dalle prime corse emerge il talento del giovane Ganna il quale si rivela ben presto l’uomo da battere in un ciclismo che sta diventando sempre più uno sport popolare. Consegue vittorie sin dal primo anno di attività agonistica, ogni anno che passa è una continua escalation fino alle grandi vittorie del 1909, anno in cui trionfa alla Milano – Sanremo e soprattutto al primo Giro d’Italia. Nello stesso anno grazie ai successi sportivi si compra la casa e una piccola officina. La diffusione delle sue biciclette avviene nel 1912 quando, con la vittoria alla Gran Fondo “La seicento chilometri” su una bicicletta di propria costruzione, si ha una delle più credibili presentazioni del nuovo prodotto. L’ascesa dell’azienda è rapida e in pochissimi anni l’officina diventa capannone e la produzione da artigianale industriale. Lavoratore instancabile dalla ferrea volontà, si impegna per offrire alle masse lavoratrici una bicicletta robusta, elegante e a basso prezzo. Nel 1914 lascia le corse per dedicarsi alla sua attività e successivamente alla costituzione della prima squadra “Ganna” ottenendo numerose vittorie tra le quali è doveroso ricordare la vittoria di Fiorenzo Magni del Giro d’Italia del 1951 in sella ad una bicicletta Ganna. Dopo la prima guerra mondiale l’azienda iniziò a costruire anche motocicli e Ganna divenne ben presto un marchio apprezzato in Italia e all’estero.

Negl’anni la tradizione non ha mai cessato di essere tramandata e oggi Ganna produce una gamma completa di biciclette con oltre 100 modelli suddivisi nelle linee city bike / trekking, hybrid, corsa, mountain bike, special bikes, junior ed ecobike che si contraddistinguono per il design ricercato, la qualità dei materiali e quella cura del dettaglio propri di un marchio che ha fatto storia.

Source: Retro-Ganna

Cecchi, The Giro To Give A Gift To His Children

· 61 days ago

Sulle strade d’Italia
Ezio Cecchi (1913-1984) participated in 11 editions of the Giro d’Italia. Here, during the 4th stage of May 26, 1950, the Livorno-Genoa.

In ’48, surprisingly, with 3 stages to go he was wearing the pink jersey, but it didn’t finish as he had hoped.
The race was won by Fiorenzo Magni, who took advantage of some “help” on the climb.

E. Cecchi.
“scopino di Monsummano”.

It happened in Cortina d’Ampezzo, in 1948. Friday, June 4, at the start of the third-to-last stage of the Giro d’Italia, against all odds, the pink jersey was on the shoulders of Ezio Cecchi, known as Cecchino, a man who didn’t have the elegance of Coppi, nor the strength of Bartali, nor even the cunning of Magni. But that day the symbol of command was on him, he who had to go around the seven churches to find a team at the beginning of the season. Nobody wanted him, he was too old, what could he do at thirty-five years old? By now he was a tired horse. «Cecchino» was hired by Cimatti, more out of pity than confidence. But it didn’t matter to him: the important thing was to be able to race the Giro and earn a few lira to buy a sailor suit for his son and a gold chain for his daughter. This is what Ezio Cecchi, known as «Cecchino», son and grandson of a dynasty of broom makers from Monsummano, in the province of Pistoia, wanted. Three stages to go and the pink jersey to defend. «Cecchino», who knew his limits, studied the route from Cortina to Trento, identified the points where the road rose and those where it levelled out and then you could rest a bit. He did everything he could, but it wasn’t enough. Coppi set off with his round pedal stroke, he left everyone behind and left the others only crumbs. “Okay,” «Cecchino» said to himself, “if I have to lose to Coppi, I’m fine with that: he’s the strongest.” When he reached the finish line, however, after falling and risking his neck, he discovered that the pink jersey didn’t end up on Fausto’s shoulders, but on those of FiorenzoMagni. But how? They dragged him uphill, he let himself be pushed all the way up the mountains, it’s not fair. The jury had noticed those irregularities and punished him, but with a strange penalty mechanism that allowed him to become the first in the rankings. Incredible! «Cecchino» was indignant. And so was Coppi who didn’t even start the next day, packed his bags and went home in protest. In Milan, «Cecchino» arrived 11 seconds behind Magni, but had the satisfaction of hearing the crowd booing the winner. People always know where justice lies.

- Byline Andrea Schianchi
(translated from Italian)

E. Cecchi.

 

The 90 Year Old Cyclist : Benjamin Piovesan

· 371 days ago

Piovesan engraved stem on an Eddy Merckx frame..

This is a film portrait of Florent Piovesan’s grandfather, Benjamin Piovesan, illustrated through his love of cycling. Benjamin immigrated to France, at the end of World War II, when he was 14 years old (approximately 1947) with his family who were looking for employment opportunities.

Growing up in France, Benjamin’s parents bought him a bike when he was young so he could come home to the family farm once a week from his work some 25 kilometers away. But then, life took over, and Benjamin didn’t ride for many years until his son, Patrick, got involved in serious cycling. Patrick bought his dad a road bike and Benjamin started cycling again.

Florent Piovesan:
“10 years ago I made a short documentary about my grandfather who was 80 at the time and still cycling everyday. The video was very well received and was even Staff Picked! This was my first proper short documentary and of course it was made with limited gear, experience and budget.”

.

The 90 Year Old Cyclist | A life portrait of my grandfather from Of Two Lands on Vimeo.

 

The History Of Cycling

· 413 days ago

For many people, riding a bicycle was something they did as a kid, but it’s not something they did much of once they got into their teen years. For some, it’s because they got a car and could drive places instead of a bike. For others, it’s because they live in an area where bicycling isn’t an option—those out in rural areas with unpaved roads may not always be able to bike places. But with new inventions such as the electric bike and bicycles that are safer, more and more people are turning to bikes as a way of saving money and going green.

The Penny-Farthing, also know as a high wheel, high wheeler or ordinary was an early type of bicycle.

Bicycling was first introduced in the 1800s, and it quickly became very popular. However, the basic bicycle design can be traced back to 1493, when Gian Giacomo Caprotti sketched out the idea. Another version was built in France in 1791. However, what many people consider the first practical bicycle was created in 1817 by Karl von Drais, a German civil servant.

In 1868, the first documented bicycle race was held. Bikers racked 1,200 meters in the Park of Saint-Cloud in Paris.

In the U.S., bicycles were incredibly popular in the early 1900s. The oldest bicycle racing club, the St. Louis Cycling Club, was established in 1887 and continues to host races and other events today. However, by 1920, the practice of cycling quickly died out because of the automobile and the growth of larger suburbs. In Europe, cycling continued to go strong until the 1950s.

Today, though, more and more people are biking to work as a way of saving on gas, getting exercise, and because it’s fun.

Wikipedia: The History of Cycling – Brief history of the sport

History of the Bicycle – Where and how it was created

Cycling Timeline – Quick history of the bicycle and cycling

Fun Facts about the Bike – Including some historic information

Bicycle Museums – List of different museums around the world

source:

Top: Early Bicycle concept from 1534 attributed to Gian Giacomo Caprotti, apprentice to the famous Leonardo da Vinci.

 

RM - "Bicycle"

· 414 days ago

Over a leisurely piano and acoustic guitar, RM talks about his feelings when he went cycling in his hometown during the COVID-19 pandemic. “For me, riding a bike always gives me a thrill, but when I put my feet on the two pedals it always feels a bit sad,” the Rap Monster wrote on BTS’ blog. “Whether it’s because there’s a lot of things that I miss… Even I don’t know the reason.”

He added: “Ever since I was a trainee, I always wanted to move the blurry scenery that I couldn’t quite capture while riding a bicycle into a song.”

Rolling with two feet
I face you, who I can’t see
A few centimeters of shaking
Are greeting me as always

Cover Artwork: Sungsic Moon.

[Verse 1]
I wanna keep the bass down low
My mind is already in weekend mode
I don’t see no open cars, no open bars
It’s not bad, I’m all alone in this road
The minds of people are floating like an island
The night that might never come
Walk and roll across the horizon
To the vanishing point that we chose

[Chorus]
If you are sad, let’s ride a bicycle
Let’s put the wind under the feet
Oh, let’s ride a bicycle
With arms opened freely

[Post-Chorus]
Na, na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na

Kim Nam-joon (Korean: 김남준; born September 12, 1994), known professionally as RM (formerly Rap Monster), is a South Korean rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He is the leader of South Korean boy band BTS.

 

Tre uomini in bicicletta

· 474 days ago

Emilio Rigatti

“Dove andate?” Istanbul. Confine di Trieste, ore 16, vento di Nordest. Il poliziotto sloveno confronta i ciclisti sbucati dal nulla con le foto segnaletiche sui loro passaporti. Altan Francesco, 58, vignettista. Rigatti Emilio, 47, professore. Rumiz Paolo, 53, giornalista. I tre matti in mutande aspettano davanti all’autorità costituita, si godono l’effetto della loro risposta demenziale. Sanno che l’uomo in divisa deve calcolare in fretta molte distanze anomale. Primo, tra la lentezza delle bici e la lunghezza della strada, duemila chilometri. Secondo, fra la rispettabile maturità dei viaggiatori e le loro sacche da globe-trotter. Terzo, tra la nobiltà della meta finale e la miseria che c’è in mezzo, i Balcani. Ma soprattutto l’uomo deve inghiottire il dislivello fra la propria domanda di routine e quella risposta fuori ordinanza, scodellata con perfido understatement. “Istanbul” come dire Treviso, Udine, Lubiana. “Siamo curdi che tornano a casa.”

Emilio rompe il silenzio, dimentica che le stellette hanno poco senso del humour. Ma gli va bene, il “witz” buca la divisa, il poliziotto sorride e si decolla leggeri verso le foreste della Slovenia, imboccando all’incontrario il corridoio dei clandestini, dal confine più colabrodo d’Europa alla stazione centrale dell’emigrazione asiatica. Ci andiamo apposta, alla faccia[…]”

Excerpt From: Francesco Altan Paolo Rumiz. “Tre uomini in bicicletta.” Apple Books.

Autori: Paolo Rumiz, Francesco Tullio Altan
Note tecniche di Emilio Rigatti
Feltrinelli Editore, Aprile 2002

 

Bicycle Love

· 479 days ago

“I love the bicycle. I always have. I can think of no sincere, decent human being, male or female, young or old, saintly or sinful, who can resist the bicycle.”
— William Saroyan

 

BICICLETTE IN ARCHIVIO

· 497 days ago

Il ciclismo a Firenze.

L’Archivio in bicicletta

Foto di copertina: Mario Panetti (Firenze 1863- 1955). Corridore al tempo dei maestosi velocipedi, fotografo e poeta in lingua e in vemacolo. “Partecipò, nel 1884 al primo Circuito biciclistico delle Cascine, compiendo ben 120 Km. alla media, veramente fantastica per quei tempi, di 15 Km l’ora.” Net ritaglio di giomale (qui sopra) da lui postillato, lo si vede ritratto durante una corsa in Piazza Mercatale a Prato.

BICICLETTE IN ARCHIVIO
L’Archivio in bicicletta

Il ciclismo a Firenze
tra sport e vita quotidiana

Mostra a cura di:
Luca Brogioni, Giuseppe Cuscito, Francesca Gaggini, Barbara Grazzini, Giulio M. Manetti, Riccardo Saettone, Maise Silveira

Si ringraziano Mauro Bendoni e Claudio Villoresi della Sezione Storica della
Biblioteca delle Oblate per le ricerche su: “L’Illustrazione Italiana”

17 – 30 settembre 2013
Orario
Lunedì e Venerdì 10,00 – 14,00
Martedì, Mercoledì e Giovedì 10,00 – 17,30

Archivio Storico del Comune di Firenze Via dell’Oriuolo, 35
https://cultura.comune.fi.it/pagina/archivio-storico

SOURCE
(also in archive)

 

John Hathaway - Cyclist

· 540 days ago

Photo: John Hathaway and Vanessa Bridge riding along on the Champs-Élysées 1983

By 1986 John was getting itchy feet again and he planned another Round the World epic. This time aiming to climb the World’s highest roads en route. He left Vancouver on the last day of Expo and headed east to the Continental Divide and headed south from there. His 62nd birthday on January 13, 1987, found him clambering up the world’s highest road out of Lima, Peru. Unfortunately, in Argentina he was hit by a truck, damaging some vertebrae and was in hospital for some weeks. They have a very good cost saving scheme there. The medical care is free but patients’ families are expected to look after them. John always had fond memories of the Argentinian family that looked after him.

The damaged back left him a good deal more wizened than he had been. But he still managed to cock a leg over a saddle and cover some considerable distances. In 1990 he sold up everything here and headed back to England. But things didn’t work out for him there and before long he was on the road again. He started PBP ’91 having qualified in UK events. But his free wheel packed up on him and he was stranded very early in the event.

—
Passport Theft Sends Cyclist Through SL
By Jack Fenton
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE March 12 1993

If John Hathaway’s passport had not been stolen in Florida he might not have been in Salt Lake City this week.
The journey to get a replacment led the 68-year old Vancouver British Columbia resident to change the route of his latest bicycle tour, a 27000-mile odyssey started in upstate New York in October 1991.
If all goes as scheduled the one-man tour will end at his Canadian home next October.
By then, the man who retains a British accent 40 years after leaving the isles, figures he will have cycled more than 370.000 miles over 50 years.
Mr Hathaway said the challenge is prompting him to record a mileage total roughly equal to circling the Earth’s equator 15 times.
“I’ve seen the whole world from the seat of a bicycle” he said.
To learn about people Mr Hathaway said he parks the bike at a house or farm and asks permission to pitch his tent.
In Salt Lake City Mr Hathaway is staying with Carl Ehrman whose home is listed by the Legion of American Wheelmen as a hospitality house.
“I’ve seen the country, I’ve met the people” he said. The totals: Mr Hathaway has met 150 people and made 150 friends
Mr Hathaway scoffs at the dangers of bicycle travel “An accident can happen anywhere” he said relating the story of a friend who swapped his bike for a go-cart after being hit by a car, “He was killed in a carting accident”.
He’s been in accidents too Mr Hathaway said.
He broke a hip in 1972. And a 1987 collision in Argentina broke his back, compressed two disks and forced him to give up his job — making machine-shop drawings for engineers.
The Passport?
“That’s another story” he said. But Mr Hathaway will get a new one in Minneapolis when the trip continues.
—-
John William Hathaway: January 13, 1925 – June 6, 1997.

Source

 

The Tour du St-Laurent cycliste

· 666 days ago

The Tour du St-Laurent cycliste
For the monthly “No-Click” club (i.e. vintage bicycles related) here in Toronto, I did a presentation on the Tour du St-Laurent cycliste (TDSL). The information is based on a book by the wife of the Tour’s founder: “Le tour du St-Laurent cycliste, Souvenirs d’une épopée…” by Madeleine Barbeau Guillou, la Plume d’Oie Édition, 2001.

The TDSL was a stage-type amateur road race held 12 times in Québec between 1954 and 1965. The race varied in distance between 350 miles and 1000 miles, during 2 to 8 days, and attracted approximately 50 racers on average. It roughly followed the St-Laurence river (north and south shore) from Québec City to Montréal and back.

The founder of the TDSL was Yvon Guillou, a Frenchman from Brittany (born 1927) who emigrated to Canada in 1951. A keen cyclist, he won the Québec-Montréal classic race in 1952 and a few other races. He would participate in the first four editions of the TDSL.

Source
NFB Flim: 60 Cyles

 

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