Given that I have been spending quite a bit of time in hospitals and doctors' offices lately, I have also had quite a bit of reading time. One my most interesting reads has been the 1938 cycling yearbook put out by the C.O.N.I. (Italian Olympic Committee and in charge of all bicycle racing in Italy) The yearbook is over 100 pages long and goes over all the various aspects of cycling: describing all the pro race results, the major bike companies, the history of the world championships...
While I think that the whole book would be of interest to anybody having any interest in the pre-WWII period, there are a number of interesting facts that I thought might be of general interest to all:
In 1938, there were only 68 licensed Italian professionals, a further 204 licensed independants and 2944 licensed amateurs. There were only 23 Italian professional races in 1938, a record number. From 1930-38 there were indeed only
When you look at all the winners of all the professional races held between 1930-37, you will see a very large percent of them stayed in the business in one way or another. Here is a list of ex-pros from the 1930's whose names I recognise as having gone on to a later bicycle business involvement: Bartali, Binda, Camusso, Chiappini, Cimatti, Cinelli (both Cino and Giotto), Guerra, Magni, Marchisio, Martano, Masi (yes, Faliero!), Olmo, Pesenti and Zucchini. These winners alone account for one third of all race wins in this period. Just imagine what it would be like if this trend had continued to this day. We likely wouldn't see as many names like Trek, Cannondale, Seven.
Another interesting part describes the history of some of the premier Italian racing bike companies of the time, including: Olympia (founded in 1893), Legnano (founded in 1908), Edoardo Bianchi (founded in 1885), Giovanni Maino (founded in 1896), Cicli Gloria (founded in 1922 by Alfredo Focesi), Cicli Ganna (founded in 1910), Umberto Dei (founded in 1897) and Frejus (founded in 1896). When I get time, I'll try and transcribe a translation of these articles to be included on the various CR pages.
Another area of note are the advertisers who appear in the yearbook. The inside front cover was taken out by Clément (tubulars), the inside rear by Zucca (rhubarb aperitif), the rear cover by Alfredo Focesi (builder of Gloria bikes, distributor of D'Alessandro tubulars, Regina chains and freewheels, De Vecchi saddles, Macchi rims, Universal brakes, FB hubs, and Columbus tubing). Inside there are adverts of varying sizes for: Pirelli Tubulars, the Albergo Ambasciatori (hotel in Milan), Vittore Gianni (clothing), Umberto Dei (bicycles), Stabilimenti Artistici Fiorentini (trophy and medalion maker), A. L Colombo (Columbus and Aelle tubing), Martini & Rossi (China elixir as used by Bartali!), Società Italiana Industria Gomma (Aquila tubulars), Stabilimenti Erlotti (Confalonieri handlebars), Stabilimenti Artistico Industriale Casatelli-Gerosa (trophy and medalion maker), D'Alessandro (tubulars), Fabbriche Riunite Industria Gomma Torino (Superga and SPIGA tubulars and tires), Fratelli Brivio (FB hubs, chainsets), 2 ads for Fabbre & Gagliardi - Velox (bicycles and carts), E. Gardiol & Co (Gardiol and Union tubulars, innner tubes, rubber parts, masticand raincoats for cyclists and everyday), Fratelli Nieddu (Vittoria gears and freewheels), Fratelli Pietra (Universal brakes), Banca Commerciale Italiana (traveler's cheques), Bosch (cycle lamps), G. Ruini & Figlio (Littoria chains), Lucioni & Giudici (grips, pumps and hoses), Metallurgica Riccardo Faini (Stella spokes, Eterna coat-spoke guards), Michelin Italiana (tires), Dextrosport (dextrose tablets) and RIM (diuretic as used by the Bianchi professional team).
Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ