Vintage Bicycles - Alan - Pinarello - Eroica Bicycles - 1990s-2000s Bicycles

Information

• Country: Italy
• Founder: Falconi Lodovico
• Founding Year: 1972
• Website: www.alanbike.it

A History of ALAN

ALAN was founded in 1972 by Falconi Lodovico, naming the brand after the names of his sons; Alberto (AL) and Annamaria (AN). Falconi wanted to create something new amongst the wave of Italian frame-builders who used steel to construct their bicycles. After much research, Lodovico discovered the possibilities of aluminium and created a new patent for his construction methods, one that revolutionised the industry.

Instead of simply welding tubes together like traditional steel frames, he created threaded tube junctions, where various elements of the frame would screw into each other before being bonded together. This unique method also used a special glue from the aeronautical industry, and ALAN frames quickly became known for their structural integrity and quality of construction.

ALAN bicycles dominated the cyclocross scene for the following 20 years, and many professional riders on the road also used ALAN frames. The sporting successes of Lodovico's brand are astounding - 20 World Cyclocross Championships, 5 World Track Championships, wins of the Spring Classics and stage victories in the Grand Tours.

Such was the prestige and respect for the brand, many bigger companies sought help in designing their products from ALAN (Guerciotti and Colnago to name but a few). ALAN were also the first pioneers of carbon fibre technology in cycling, constructing frames that combined carbon and aluminium as early as 1976. Professional cycling only saw carbon fibre bicycles take off in the 21st Century, thus the forward thinking approach of Falconi appears to be particularly special.

Information

• Country: Italy
• Founder: Giovanni Pinarello
• Founding Year: 1953
• Website: www.pinarello.com

A History of Pinarello

Cicli Pinarello S. p. A. is one of the most recognisable names in the history of cycling. Founded in 1952 by Giovanni ‘Nani’ Pinarello in Treviso, Italy, Pinarello is responsible for some of the most important and revolutionary frame technologies in cycling.

Before starting the Pinarello legend, Nani was a successful cyclist himself. Between 1946 to 1953, he won the Giro delle Dolomiti and Rome-Naples-Rome. However, he gained infamy for being the winner of the 1951 Giro d’Italia maglia nera, the black jersey, awarded to the final finisher.

The following year, his team expelled him from the Giro squad at the last moment, compensating him with 100,000 lire for his troubles. Using the very same money, Giovanni set up and opened a workshop to begin building his own bicycles. The Pinarello shop opened in 1953, achieving a few small successes as a team sponsor during the 60s.

It wasn’t until 1975 before the great history of Pinarello’s palmarès would begin, as Fausto Bertoglio won the Giro d’Italia. From here, the heroic stories would begin. Miguel Indurain’s hour record. Jan Ullrich’s Tour de France victory. Multiple successes and grand tours with Team Sky. Bradley Wiggins’ hour record. All achievements conquered aboard a Pinarello.

10 Tour de France victories have involved a Pinarello bicycle, and models such as the Monello SLX, the Paris and the Dogma are evidence that Nani’s legacy is one of the most successful stories in cycling.