Bianchi Fulmine Classic Road Bike 1950s

Bianchi is one of the oldest bicycle brands in the world, manufacturing high-quality performance bikes from as early as the 1890s. In 1885, when he was 21 years old, Edoardo Bianchi started manufacturing bikes in his shop in Milan, Italy. Edoardo had previous experience hand-making medical tools, so he had an acute understanding of how to manufacture precise instruments; a skill that translated into meticulously crafted bicycles.

When one thinks about the golden age of cycling, the images of Fausto Coppi ascending mountain passes on a Celeste bicycle are some of the most iconic. Coppi rode Bianchi Bikes to numerous victories during the 1940s and 1950s era. One of those models was the so called Bianchi Folgore which was subsequently replaced by the Campione del Mondo which made the usage of more modern componentry possible.

The bike we present here is technically placed just between those latter models. It is a Bianchi Fulmine. Its frame is pretty much the same as the one of the Folgore with small changes like the dropouts and rear stays, which allow for a 'modern' rear derailleur. Yet it still shows the Bianchi crank with a single chainring which the Campione del Mondo had already changed for a double chainset.
In the 1950s many owners of the Fulmine tried to tune the bike a little by replacing the original Sport derailleur with a Gran Sport. We did not, of course. The bike has been thoroughly checked and cleaned and is now ready to go for some vintage cycling action.

If you are looking for a really cool 1950s bicycle to add to your collection, look no further. A racing bike with great pedigree.