Bianchi is one of the most iconic bicycle brands in the history of cycling. Its characteristic blue color, the elegance of its designs, its triumphs in major competitions, Fausto Coppi... Few manufacturers have been as closely linked to the history of competitive cycling as Bianchi. You probably know about their victories as a cycling team in the 20th century, the successes of Fausto Coppi, the epic story of Marco Pantani winning the Giro and Tour in the same year with a Bianchi bicycle. But did you know that Bianchi was the brand that created the first mountain bike in 1915? And the one that designed the first women-specific geometry frame at the end of the 19th century? Up next, we tell you 10 curiosities that you probably didn't know about Bianchi bicycles, but that you'll surely enjoy learning about.
It is the oldest bicycle manufacturer in the world
Bianchi was founded in 1885. Since then it has continuously manufactured bicycles. This makes the brand the oldest bicycle manufacturer in the world among all those still active in the market.
For 70 years it also manufactured motorcycles
Although the brand’s main activity since its founding was bicycles, in 1897 it opened a line for manufacturing motorcycles that remained active until 1967, when it closed its automotive division. Between 1925 and 1930, Bianchi motorcycles achieved great successes in motorcycle racing, including a European championship in the 350 cubic centimeters category.
Bianchi equipped the Italian army with trucks
In 1901, the founder of the company, Edoardo Bianchi, ventured into car manufacturing. This is how in 1903 the first Bianchi automobile came to market. In the 1930s, it also began producing trucks at its factory. In fact, Bianchi became the supplier of trucks for the Italian army during World War II. At the end of the war, it closed its automotive division because its factory had been bombed during the conflict.
Its Via Nirone 7 model is named after the street where the brand was born
One of the most representative bicycle models of Bianchi is the Via Nirone 7. It is named this way precisely because the first Bianchi workshop was located at number 7 Via Nirone in Milan.
Bianchi is one of the most counterfeited brands in the world
Bianchi bicycles have become objects of worship and collection. That is why it is one of the most counterfeited brands in the world. The company has a department dedicated to fighting counterfeits. Every year, more than 4,500 online auctions are intervened where unauthorized replicas and counterfeits of Bianchi are put up for sale.
Bianchi was the brand that invented the front brake and chain transmission
Bianchi introduced major innovations to road cycling. The first was the use of wheels with tires of the same diameter. Until then, it was common for the front and rear rims of bicycles to be of different sizes. Edoardo Bianchi adapted John Boyd Dunlop's idea to replace solid wheels with pneumatic tires with inner tubes. The second major technological innovation was the introduction of caliper brakes with pads on the front wheel. Today, this braking system remains the most common in road cycling and has remained unchanged until the recent introduction of disc brakes. In 1901, Edoardo Bianchi patented a transmission system that connected the pedaling force to the rear wheel via a chain. Thus, modern transmission systems were born. Its founder was dedicated to the manufacture of medical instruments
Edoardo Bianchi opened his first bicycle workshop at the age of 21. Until then, he was engaged in a completely different activity: he made medical instruments. His knowledge of industrial design of mechanical utensils led him to apply it to bicycle manufacturing.
In 1895 he created the first bicycle for women
Currently, the women's versions of the Bianchi bicycle are called Dama Bianca. It was precisely Edoardo Bianchi who was one of the pioneers in manufacturing bicycles with a frame geometry specific for women. In 1895, due to the success his bikes were having in Italy, Queen Margherita summoned him to the Palace of Monza to teach both her and the king how to ride a bicycle. Edoardo Bianchi took the opportunity to design a bike frame that would be compatible with the enormous skirts women wore at the time. Thus, the women's bicycle was born. It is said that the classic Bianchi blue color so characteristic of his bicycles is due to the color of the queen's eyes.
He was the official bicycle supplier to the Italian Royal House
In 1895, King Umberto of Italy decided to appoint Bianchi as the official supplier to the Royal House. This distinction gave the brand the right to use the coat of arms of the House of Savoy. For several years, this was the logo of the bicycles that left his factory, until it was finally replaced by the eagle symbol, which is an adaptation of the old royal crest.
Bianchi invented the first folding mountain bike in 1915
In 1915, the Italian army commissioned Edoardo Bianchi to manufacture a bicycle that soldiers could use to travel along dirt and stone roads and terrain. He designed a special model that had wider tires, suspension on both wheels, and a system to fold the frame. This way, soldiers could fold the bicycle and carry it in their backpack. This bicycle was used by the Royal Italian Light Infantry during World War I. It was the first version of mountain bikes.