The History of the Bicycle Cannot Be Told Without Bianchi
At the tender age of 8 years old the orphan boy Edoardo Bianchi had to start working in an ironworks. In his small carpentry workshop in Via Nirone 7 in Milan, he began building surgical instruments and electric doorbells before later concentrating entirely on the manufacture and improvement of bicycles at the age of 21. Bianchi's first major breakthrough came in 1895 when he received the royal commission to build a bicycle for Queen Margarethe of Italy. The second followed in 1939, when Edoardo took over a technical innovation from Italy. Until then, the wheel always had to be disassembled and reversed for a gear change, but a new gear shift by Tullio Campagnolo enabled cyclists to suddenly shift gears while riding.
Bianchi is also one of the most traditional sponsors of cycling. In 1899 Giovanni Tommasello drove to a very first victory on a Bianchi at the classic Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris. Numerous other successes followed, but no rider is more closely associated with the brand than the Il Campionissimo (champion of champions) Fausto Coppi, who dominated road cycling before and after the Second World War and helped create the legendary reputation of the celeste-coloured bikes. It is still unclear how the famous colour that has long adorned Bianchi bicycles and apparel was created. Contradictory myths say that it is the colour of the Milanese sky, a mixture of surplus military colour or the eye colour of Queen Margarethe.
Countervail (CV) – Integrated Vibration Cancelling System
Bianchi worked with the Materials Sciences Corporation to develop an innovative material for cycling that successfully absorbs up to 80% of the vibration while cycling. The patented blend of unique carbon fibers and viscoelastic resin was christened Countervail. It not only also increases the stiffness and strength of carbon forks and frames, but the space proven material simultaneously reduces muscle fatigue and improves bike control as well.
Bianchi Road Bikes – Unmistakable, High-Quality and Versatile
Purebred Italian road bikes without compromise, gravel bikes for enduring off-road adventures or steel road bikes for vintage lovers: Bianchi combines tradition and modernity like no other bike brand.
The ideal bike for extreme racing performance, the Bianchi Oltre XR3 features an ultra-light, rigid and aerodynamic frame with Countervail technology. Thanks to weather-resistant hydraulic disc brakes, you can follow the ideal line at top speeds in any weather.
Back to the origins of cycling – with steel, chrome and gear levers on the down tube. The L'Eroica road bike, as well as the race that gave it its name, does not only have a lot of charm, but also a lot of modern niceties. Cleverly polished aluminium parts help the vintage look and at the same time provide a modern feeling on the road. In order to have even more than the bicycle in common with the cycling heroes of now and then, there is a whole range of accessories, such as drinking bottles, saddlebags and handlebar tape, as well as matching Bianchi clothing and wristwatches. Often in Celeste. Always from Italian tradition.