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Histories, timelines, guides, build sheets and galleries: 136 articles on 46 makers of classic lightweight bicycles and the parts they were built with.

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Ranked by what readers opened in the last 30 days, one per maker.

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The 12 makers with the most articles. Each shows its articles below, with its Timeline and archive.

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Threads that run across makers.

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Four formats also have an index of their own.

Histories46

Long-form maker histories and profiles

Timelines35

Every dated event in a maker’s life

Timelines
Guides14

Identify, date, care for and repair

Identify and Date
Build sheets27

One bicycle, measured and photographed

Tech Specs
Galleries14

Pictures first: galleries and photo essays

Galleries

By country

Where the makers worked.

Eight more range across makers, such as How to Date a Vintage Bicycle by Its Components.

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136 of 136 articles

Bridgestone: Beyond the Dream

Bridgestone bicycles in the US, from tabi sandals and tires in Japan to the Grant Petersen years and the RB, MB, CB and XO model lines.

15 min read43 images

GitaneHistory

Gitane: The Dark-Eyed Wanderer

Gitane from Marcel Bruneliere's farm-parts trade at Machecoul in 1925 through the bike boom and Renault years, with Anquetil, Hinault, Fignon and LeMond.

8 min read21 images

BianchiHistory

The Eagle and the Bianchi Bicycle

Where the Bianchi eagle came from: the 1901 trademark, the Savoy arms added in 1905 and a 1927 short story in which an eagle concedes to a Bianchi bicycle.

3 min read5 images

FujiGuide

How to Identify and Date a Vintage Fuji

Date a vintage Fuji from the serial number stamped with its build month and year, then confirm it against the model, decals, components and catalogs.

11 min read5 images

Cycles Alex Singer: Ageless Grace

Cycles Alex Singer of Levallois-Perret since 1938: lightweight tandems, the Csuka succession, a frame in 60 hours and the constructeur's whole bicycle.

7 min read33 images

LegnanoBuild sheet

Tech Specs: 1964 Legnano Pista

Legnano Pista Frame & Fork, Magistroni & Fratelli Brivio Drivetrain, Cinelli & Italia Cockpit, Fiamme & Clement Wheels

37 photographs1 min read

De RosaHistory

Ugo De Rosa: Father of the Future

Ugo De Rosa, from his uncle's Milan workshop and his own firm of 1953 to the frames he built for Merckx and the steel and titanium his sons still refine.

10 min read53 images

BrooksHistory

Brooks England: The Eternal One

Brooks England in depth: its history and the whole saddle range, from chassis, springs and seat tops to military and motor saddles and the sub-brands.

39 min read63 images

CaminadeHistory

Caminade: The Circle of Cycle

Pierre Caminade's Caminargent bicycles of the 1930s: aluminum frames with cast lugs, octagonal tubes and take-apart couplings, decades ahead of their time.

11 min read82 images

LegnanoHistory

Legnano: The Warrior’s Wheels

Why the warrior of the 1176 Battle of Legnano rides on the head badge: Emilio Bozzi, the Wolsit patents, Binda, Bartali, Coppi and a quiet retirement.

5 min read9 images

ColnagoGallery

Ernesto Colnago Photo Gallery

Photographs of Ernesto Colnago from 1940 on: the young racer at Gloria, the Cambiago framebuilder and the mechanic beside Eddy Merckx and the Molteni team.

27 images1 min read

Stronglight: Eyes on the Future

Stronglight from Haubtmann and Verrot Perrin's square-taper crank through the 49D, the bike boom and the 1990 bankruptcy to the company reborn in 1993.

9 min read38 images

LegnanoBuild sheet

Tech Specs: 1951 Legnano Tipo Roma

The build sheet of an original 1951 Legnano Tipo Roma in olive green: Magistroni crank, Campagnolo Paris Roubaix gears, Universal brakes and Fiamme rims.

19 photographs1 min read

BianchiBuild sheet

Tech Specs: 1964 Bianchi Specialissima

The build sheet of a 1964 Bianchi Specialissima in original green: Columbus tubing, Campagnolo Record, Universal brakes and Fiamme Red Label rims.

13 photographs1 min read

AutomotoGallery

Cycles Automoto Poster Gallery

All 16 Cycles Automoto posters from 1899 to 1950, by Mich, Roger Broders, Cappiello, Lajos Marton and others, each transcribed in the Poster Archive.

17 images2 min read

TerrotHistory

Terrot: Forging the Way

Terrot of Dijon, from Charles Terrot's textile workshop of 1887 through bicycles, motorcycles and racing wins to the end of its own production in 1961.

9 min read30 images

RivendellHistory

Rivendell: Against the Wind

Rivendell Bicycle Works around 2006: Grant Petersen's small maker of practical lugged bicycles, at odds with the industry and loved and scorned for it.

10 min read7 images

IdéaleGallery

Idéale Saddles Image Gallery

Idéale saddles in pictures: the Pont-Saint-Pierre works, advertising from 1894 to the 1970s, catalogs, Marcel Berthet's records and the duralumin No. 90.

78 images1 min read

Rene HerseBuild sheet

Tech Specs: 1951 Rene Herse Concours

The build sheet of a 1951 Rene Herse Concours randonneur: Reynolds 531, Herse cantilevers and triple, Le Cyclo gears, Maxi-Car hubs and Lefol fenders.

14 photographs1 min read

MauryBuild sheet

Tech Specs: 1950 A. Maury Randonneur

The build sheet of a rare 1950 André Maury 650B randonneur, frame 3603: fillet brazing, internal wiring, Cyclo gears, Mafac Criterium brakes and Maxi hubs.

13 photographs1 min read

LegnanoGallery

Legnano Bicycles Image Gallery

Legnano produced some of the most celebrated Italian racing bicycles from 1920-1960. Come see why in this colorful overview of the brand through the years.

38 images1 min read

GoëlandHistory

Goëland: Soaring To Lofty Heights

Louis Moire's Goëland of Paris, about 1935 to 1970: affordable cyclotouring bicycles from contract framers, an early Vélo Fédéral and touring trailers.

8 min read8 images

Tech SpecsBuild sheet

Tech Specs: Surly Big Dummy

The build sheet of a 2012 Surly Big Dummy longtail cargo bike: a Jones H-Bar Loop, Shimano XT gears, Avid Elixir disc brakes and a padded passenger seat.

33 photographs1 min read

GoëlandBuild sheet

Tech Specs: 1958 Goëland Randonneur

The build sheet of an original 1958 Goëland Randonneur: Reynolds main tubes, a TA triple, Nivex derailleur, Mafac cantilevers, Maxi-Car hubs and 650b rims.

11 photographs1 min read

BianchiGallery

Bianchi Bicycles Image Gallery

Bianchi in pictures, from an 1880s Milan engraving through catalog covers, advertisements and team photographs to a modern celeste L'Eroica frameset.

72 images1 min read

LefolHistory

J. Lefol: Inventeur – Constructeur

J. Lefol of Courbevoie and its hammered Le Martelé aluminum fenders: an aluminum monopoly from 1936 to 1939, the postwar catalog, the peak and the decline.

8 min read21 images

DrysdaleHistory

Alvin Drysdale: Mid-Century Mystery

Alvin Drysdale of New York, builder of track and six-day bicycles from the late 1920s: the Red Devil, Velox and Alvin, his distributors and his last years.

7 min read31 images

ColnagoBuild sheet

Tech Specs: 1984 Colnago Super Pista

The build sheet of a 1984 Colnago Super Pista in Columbus tubing with clover engravings, Campagnolo Record Pista parts, TTT Pista bars and Ambrosio rims.

35 photographs1 min read

FujiBuild sheet

Tech Specs: 1970s Team Fuji Track

The build sheet of a 1970s Team Fuji track bike in Fuji 331 double butted tubing, from the Japanese track parts bin: Nitto, Sugino, Suzue, Araya and HKK.

16 photographs1 min read

Image GalleryGallery

Marque Logo Gallery

Bicycle and component maker logos from their classic years, about 1930 to 1980, redrawn one by one from catalogs, advertisements, transfers and bicycles.

126 images1 min read

RoutensBuild sheet

Tech Specs: 1950s Jo Routens Randonneur

The build sheet of a 1950s Jo Routens 650B randonneur restored by Cycles Grand Bois: fillet brazing, inward cantilevers, Cyclo gears and Maxi-Car hubs.

5 photographs1 min read

MercierBuild sheet

Tech Specs: 1950s Mercier Porteur

The build sheet of a cream 1950s Mercier porteur: front and rear Mercier racks, a Perry coaster hub, a MAFAC Criterium front brake and Darnault fenders.

44 photographs1 min read

Tech SpecsBuild sheet

Tech Specs: Cannondale Road Tandem

The build sheet of a Cannondale CAAD aluminum road tandem: Shimano Ultegra 10-speed, Avid BB7 disc brakes, White Industries hubs and a child seat.

37 photographs1 min read

Tech SpecsBuild sheet

Tech Specs: 1940s Twin Top Tube Randonneuse

The build sheet of a 1940s randonneuse with twin top tubes by an unknown constructeur: Maxi hubs on 650B rims, Simplex gears and Lefol Le Martelé fenders.

26 photographs2 min read

RoutensBuild sheet

Tech Specs: 1967 Jo Routens Randonneur

The build sheet of a 1967 Jo Routens randonneur in Reynolds 531, restored by Mariposa in 2017: a Routens front changer, Maxi-Car hubs and Lefol fenders.

19 photographs1 min read

Systeme DGuide

Système D: How We Do Repairs of Steel Rims

How the French magazine Système D showed readers in 1926 to straighten a bent steel rim at the roadside, with the original French text and a translation.

5 min read9 images

TerrotGallery

Terrot Poster Gallery

Terrot's posters of the 1890s to the early 1950s, all 21 transcribed: the rider outrunning a train, Tamagno's seven sheets and Dréville's downhill reader.

21 images2 min read

RafaleBuild sheet

Tech Specs: Cycles Rafale

The build sheet of a 1939 Cycles Rafale three-speed ridden by Roger Du Peuty: a Bernard Carré fork, Exeltoo hubs, an S.L.B. derailleur and 650B rims.

1 photograph1 min read

Maxi-CarHistory

Maxi-Car and the Old Roller

A box of Maxi-Car hubs recalls Sid Sawyer, the Pittsburgh neighbor who rode 15,000 miles a year, his 80,000-mile hubs and a ride on his Alex Singer tandem.

10 min read1 image

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