For those who may not be aware of at least part of the Chiorda story: Bianchi bought the rights to the Chiorda name sometime in the late 60s (so my sources have said), and nearly their first frame under the marque was a lovely top-quality racing design, built at the Reparto Corse (apparently), full Campagnolo NR. I have one, just like Brian's (mine's repainted, alas--great paint, but still...and Brian keeps trying to get me to sell it to him ;>). I haven't assembled mine yet, but I can tell just from looking at it that it's going to be a fantastic ride.
The originals were deep metallic blue, white highlights and graphics, and were ridden by the Chiorda team, led by Felice Gimondi, in the early 70s. Supposedly something like under 100 of these frames were ever imported to the US, although I have *no* confirmation of that (anyone know more?)
After that frame, it seems Bianchi destroyed the marque by making a long line of stove-pipe bikes with Chiorda stickers, as has been discussed. I think the marque may actually still be appearing on bikes in Europe, but from what I've seen, they're all low-line junk.
I'm sure someone can tell us the early history of the marque: who was Chiorda? Famous racer maybe? I know there is at least one nice Chiorda from the 50s or 60s illustrated in The World of Daniel Rebour; before Bianchi ruined the name, Chiorda seems to have been a small shop making high-quality custom frames for european teams...what Bianchi did strikes me about the same as if Basso started putting the Pogliaghi name on $99 Huffies (no offense intended to anyone...)..
Charles Andrews
Los Angeles
> -----Original Message-----
> From: youngc@netreach.net [mailto:youngc@netreach.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2000 12:16 PM
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: Re: [Classicrendezvous] Atala and the maligned Chiordas
>
>
> I had a Chiorda in college ca. 1972 that I bought for ~$25 to
> replace my stolen UO-8. It made the UO-8 seem like a dream bike.
> I seem to recall that it had a strange splined steel crankset.
> The bike worked OK around campus but wasn't much fun. Given away
> to somebody less fortunate than myself when I purchased my
> Viscount AP in 1976.
>
> Charlie Young, waiting for snow in Honeybrook
>
> > I think top level Atalas and Bottechias were OK bikes but I
> remember
> > swearing over the low line bikes with things like chainlines
> from hell that
> > would throw chains with any possible adjustment. My first
> impressions of
> > lower line Italian bikes came from these and I summarized the
> attitude as
> > "if you can't afford a good bike then go to hell".
> >
> > The concept from trademark law is tarnishment. Basically they
> tarnished
> > their own brand because of the quality spread across the line
> of bikes.
> >
> > Even worse was Chiorda. I have never heard of a Chiorda fan
> but the top
> > bike was all Campy etc.
> >
> > Joe Bender-Zanoni
> >
> >
> >
> > At 10:29 PM 11/29/00, brian blum wrote:
> > >That was my next question, why are there no Atala fans? They
> were quite
> > >popular back in the late 60's was the quality not as good as
> Bianchi? I
> > >liked the chrome.
> > >
> > >
> > >----Original Message Follows----
> > >From: Richard M Sachs <richardsachs@juno.com>
> > >To: brianblum@hotmail.com
> > >CC: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> > >Subject: Re: [Classicrendezvous] Eugene sloans book /
> Olmo / Mystery
> > > Frame?????????????
> > >Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 17:06:09 -0500
> > >
> > >if i recall, it was an atala 101.
> > >e-RICHIE
> > >
> > >On Wed, 29 Nov 2000 20:19:40 "brian blum"
> <brianblum@hotmail.com> writes:
> > > > I picked up an old repainted bike last night. It had a
> seat cluster
> > > > simular
> > > > to the bike pictured on the back cover of the original
> "The Complete
> > > > Book of
> > > > Bicycling" (it was a blue frame only the rear half
> shown). The bike
> > > > I
> > > > obtained has brazed on cable stops so it has no housing on
> the top
> > > > tube. It
> > > > also has a double slotted BB shell, Campy Dropouts, Short
> rake fork
> > > > with a
> > > > crown profile simular to the Raleigh International with
> the long
> > > > middle
> > > > tougue. Very short lugs sockets hybid head lugs a hybrid
> of Colnago
> > > > lugs
> > > > with extra details (morphing toward Nervex Pro Lugs). I
> could not
> > > > resist. It
> > > > was fitted with non original SR frt and rear derailleurs,
> record
> > > > crank,
> > > > brakes and H/S, Simplex retrofriction levers and jap
> assorted. 70mm
> > > > BB
> > > > fluted chainstays. What could it be? Owner said some had
> > > > speculated Olmo.
> > > > And what is the gorgeous Blue bike on The Complete Book of
> > > > Bicycling? JPEGS
> > > > WILL eventually come.
> > > >
> >
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