Correct spelling is Boifava. My wife says I suffer from too much oxygen intake from riding and come home a little crazy...I'm beginning to think sh e is correct. Thanks Sergio of Pisa for the correction; Sergio says also that Boifava was a well known racer.
Angel Garcia Verona, Italy
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Angel Garcia <veronaman@gmail.com> Date: Apr 9, 2006 2:02 PM Subject: Biofava Bike, Raduno(s), and how "localized" bikes are To: CLASSIC RENDEZVOUS <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Today at a "raduno" (more later), I spotted a nicely built Biofava bike. It's the only one I've seen. The rider wasn't the original owner but the th e original owner happened to be participating in the event so I was able to ask about it. The Biofava was built in San Massimo which is part of Verona. It was built in the early 80s; nice sloping all chrome fork with a big B; Cicli Biofava on a decal on the headtube; near-heart shaped cutouts in the lugs.
A raduno is a fairly casual event with an easy touring pace on the first, short, part of the course (usually about 20KM or less). At some poin t on the course riders split off for the long course (40-50KM); the pace pick s up and you can motor along very nicely. What makes radunos fun is that they have motorcycles and a van with speakers ahead of the riders closing the road off at intersections. At the end, there is food, wine, etc. Prizes are awarded based on the number of club participants and every club wins a trophy of some sort plus all kinds of goodies. The point is for everyone to leave happy. Of course, EVERYONE wears their respective club kits. There is a full schedule of radunos and clubs collect points during the raduno season. As for size, it appears that about 500 riders is typical from what I have seen thus far. I should add that a raduno is a lot different than a granfondo in which everyone wears a timing chip and is racing.
These radunos present a good opportunity to check out bikes. One of the mor e interesting things I have observed is how localized bike brands are. Bike age aside, there were tons of FONTANA, GRANDIS, CHESINI bikes. These are al l Verona area builders. I saw one Pegoretti (only the second I've seen since I've been here), 1 DeRosa, a couple of Colnagos, 0 Pinarellos. As the radun o was in San Massimo I guess I shouldn't be surprised that that Biofava showe d up.
Ciao,
Angel Garcia
Verona, Italy