LEGNANO Roma Campagnolo Cambio Corsa – Gino BARTALI TdF replica (late 1940s) – SOLD

The name Legnano entered in the world of cycling in 1908, when Emilio Bozzi founded his company “Emilio Bozzi & C”.m based in Milan, Italy. He was a great businessman and had idea was to produce hiqh quality bicycles. In the meanwhile Bozzi acquired several brands like Pearl and Frejus. “The logo of the Legnano brand is based on the warrior “Alberto da Giussano“. Alberto da Giussano was an Italian legendary Guelph warrior during the wars of the Lombard League against Frederick Barbarossa in 12th century. A tradition, probably fabricated by 14th century Milanese chroniclers, attributes to him the deed of forming the “Company of Death” that defended the Carroccio of the League at the Battle of Legnano.

Legnano had his own professional cycling team active from 1908 to 1966. It is ranked as the 6th most successful cycling team in history. Many biggest victories were achieved on Legnano bikes, thanks to biggest champions of the cycling history like Alfredo Binda, Learco Guerra, Gino Bartali, Fausto Coppi and Ercole Baldini. The team participated in the Giro di Italia 46 times, won the team classification 11 times and earned 135 stage wins. From the 1930’s to the mid 1950’s, the top road bike from Legnano was the Tipo Roma.

Gino Bartali (18 July 1914 – 5 May 2000), nicknamed The man of steel, Gino the Pious, Ginettaccio, was one of the biggest champions of road cycling history. He was the most renowned Italian cyclist in mid/late1930s – ealry 1950s having won the Giro d’Italia three times (1936, 1937 nad 1946), the Tour de France twice (1938 and 1948), Italian championship 4 times (1935, 1937, 1940 and 1952), Milano – San Remo 4 times (1939, 1940, 1947, 1950). His second Tour de France victory in 1948 gave him the largest gap between victories in the race.

Bartali was a good climber and a pioneer of using gears and derailleurs. His style was unusual: he rarely danced on the pedals and often stayed in the saddle throughout a 15 km climb. When others attacked, he stayed in the saddle but changed up gear, to a sprocket three teeth smaller. He rode smoothly over the mountains but every now and then freewheeled, always with his right foot lowered with his weight on it. Then a second or two later he would start pedalling again.

Gino Bartali

Bartali earned respect for his work in helping Jews who were being persecuted by the Nazis during the time of the Italian Social Republic. It emerged in December 2010 that Bartali had hidden a Jewish family in his cellar and, according to one of the survivors, saved their lives in doing so. Bartali used his fame to carry messages and documents to the Italian Resistance. Bartali cycled from Florence through Tuscany, Umbria, and Marche, many times traveling as far afield as Assisi, all the while wearing the racing jersey emblazoned with his name. Neither the Fascist police nor the German troops risked discontent by arresting him.

Bartali’s rivalry with Fausto Coppi divided Italy. Bartali, a conservative, was venerated in the rural, agrarian from the south. While Coppi was more worldly, secular, innovative in diet and training, was a hero of the industrial north.

Biggest rivals – F.Coppi and G.Bartali

There are many stories about Bartali that will never be forgotten. In 1943, he led Jewish refugees towards the Swiss Alps himself. He cycled, pulling a wagon with a secret compartment, telling patrols it was just part of his training. Bartali told his son Andrea only that “One does these things and then that’s that”. Even after the war he never boasted his merits, he used to say: “The good is done, but it is not said. And certain medals hang on the soul, not on the jacket.”

Proudly presenting this legendary Italian top class racing machine – LEGNANO Roma which dates back to late 1940s. The frame shines in iconic Legnano paintjob, made of special light steel tubing, Campagnolo Cambio Corsa drop-outs and typical Legnano lugs and seat clamp which has a bolt under the top tube. The cheery on the top of the cake are the parts: Campagnolo Cambio Corsa “Due leve” gearing system, Universal 361666 brakes and levers, Ambrosio Champion stem and handlebar, Martano rims, vintage leather saddle. Gino Bartali won 1946 Giro d’Italia, 1947 Milan-San Remo, 1948 Tour de France on a very similar bike. The bike comes with vintage Merino wool Bartali jersey.

Iconic and very collectible! Nice catch for any vintage bike collector. L’Eroica ready.

Frame & Fork: LEGNANO Roma Campagnolo Cambio Corsa

Size:

-seat tube (c-t): 60 cm

-top tube (c-c): 57 cm

-headset tube: 15.3 cm

-standover: 81 cm

Crankset: Legnano

Gearing system: Campagnolo Cambio Corsa

Brake Levers: Universal 361666

Brakes: Universal 361666

Handlebar: Ambrosio Champion

Stem: Ambrosio Champion

Hubs: Legnano

Rims: Martano

Saddle: vintage, leather

Handlebar tape: cotton, red

Air pump: Silca

Condition: Used, but good condition. Completely restored and refurbished. No cracks, no dents, not bent. All parts are working fine. The bike comes with vintage Merino wool Bartali jersey.

Era: late 1940s

Price: SOLD (May 2023)