Bianchi is the world’s oldest bicycle-making company still in existence, founded in 1885 by Eduardo Bianchi in Milan, Italy. No doubt, Bianchi is the pioneer of bicycle development since the beginning:
In 1930s, with 50 years of history and experience, Bianchi was a huge company, the absolute leader of the Italian market, producing over 70.000 bicycles a year. Bianchi’s successes in the sport went along with those achieved at industrial level when Bianchi relased their top model Saetta and the ‘celeste’ bicycles kept winning all around the world.
In 1920s changing gears meant stopping and removing the rear wheel and flipping it around to use a different size cog. But in early 1930s, the new Vittoria Margheritta gear system was released, which used a sprung tension arm, mounted on the chainstay and placed the striking fork above the chainstay, so requiring back-pedalling to change gear. Alfredo Binda had used the Vittoria Margherita system when he won the World championship in Rome in the fall of 1932 and many pros mounted the system on their bikes for the 1933 season. The Tour forbade the use of derailleurs until 1937. But unlike the Tour, the Giro d’Italia allowed their use before.
With this extremelly rare milestone of cycling history, Premium Cycling reached the top of what we can offer to bike collectors worldwide – Bianchi Bovet, (No.409579), dates back to 1935, thanks to special Bianchi register. Extraordinary details of the bottom bracket&hubs oil braze-on, internal seat tube chain oiler and seat post clamp with serial number makes you understand that Edoardo Bianchi was a medical tool engineer, before he started with bike manufacturing. Equiped with original Vittoria Margheritta – Tipo Giro di Francia gear system, Bianchi cranks, hubs , wodden rims and Universal brakes. If you wish to go 1920s style, just flipp the rear wheel and go fixed gear.
With this milestone you can get an incredible experience how cycling heroes rode back in the golden era of cycling history or just to get a lot of attention at any historic cycling event. Very special catch for any collector.
Frame & Fork: Bianchi Bovet, steel (No.409579)
Size:
– seat tube (c-t): 57 cm
– top tube (c-c): 57 cm
– headset tube: 12,2 cm
Gearing system: Vittoria Margherita, Tipo Giro di Francia
Crankset: Bianchi (170mm)
Bottom bracket : Bianchi
Brake Levers: Universal
Brakes: Universal
Hubs: Bianchi
Freewheel: 16/17/18 or 18 fixed
Rims: Wooden
Tubularss: Vittoria 28mm (new)
Headset: Bianchi integrated
Stem: (5 cm)
Handlebar: vintage
Seat: Brooks
Handlebar Tape: red, cotton
Pedals: Bianchi
Condition: Used, but good condition. The frame has been refubrished and restored several years ago. The bicycle participate at L’Eroica event in the past. All parts are working fine.
Era: mid 1930s