Private collection

Bianchi

Folgore

Catalogue
IUS–0021
Category
Bicycles
Reference
Road racing bicycle
Year
1948
Italian steel road bicycle — In Use Since collection study
IUS–0021Bianchi / FolgorePrimary view

The object

The Folgore looks quick before it moves. That impression comes from narrow steel tubes, a curved fork and the economy of its fittings rather than from graphics or exaggerated shapes. Close up, the bicycle is less about nostalgia than about the confidence of skilled, economical construction.

On the road the frame feels lively but not fragile. The steering responds immediately, and the contact points place the rider in a position that makes sense once speed rises. Older gearing asks for more anticipation than a modern system, which changes the rhythm of a ride in a way I enjoy.

I have treated preservation and safe use as separate questions. Paint loss and old marks remain; bearings, cables, tyres and braking surfaces receive attention whenever they need it. A bicycle cannot explain itself fully on a stand, and originality has little value if it prevents the machine from being ridden responsibly.

Why I keep it

I keep the Bianchi because its lightness is an experience rather than a specification. Skilled fabrication, simple components and the movement of the rider meet without anything unnecessary between them.

Provenance

Acquired from an Italian collection; the bicycle’s competition and ownership history is not documented.

Sources

Reference notes

  1. Bianchi records the company history and the development of its Italian bicycle tradition.Bianchi: 1885–1930 ↗