Bianchi is Back

By Tecumseh MacGuigan

Photo Editor

The owners of a local bicycle shop are now offering customers unique, world class bikes.

The Italian bicycle manufacturer, F.I.V. Edoardo Bianchi S.p.A, is celebrating 130 years in business. Bianchi bikes are world class racing bikes, having been ridden by Tour De France and Giro D’italia winners throughout history For their 130 year anniversary, Bianchi is beginning to ship out to several new bike stores across North America, one of the first being Windsor’s own, City Cyclery.

Enzo Iafrate, a representative from Bianchi who attended the unveiling on October 18, explained why Windsor and City Cyclery were chosen for the expansion project.

“City Cyclery were looking for a brand to bring that would make them a little more unique,” said Iafrate. “There are a lot of Italians in Windsor. That brings a connection to the brand and so when looking for places to expand into Windsor seemed like a great fit.”

The store has four models for sale, the Pista, a fixed-gear and single speed track bike coming in at $900, and three carbon fibre road bikes, the Intenso, the Infinito Cv, and the Oltre XR.2. These road models range in price from approximately $2000 to $13,000 depending on components. Any of these four models are available in-store and other model can be ordered from the Bianchi catalogue. When ordered the bike will be assembled in Italy and shipped to Canada arriving in two to four weeks.

Traditionally, the only way to get a Bianchi bike would be to drive to Toronto or cross the border and buy one in Michigan and face heavy duty fees, but now anyone in the area has the option of purchasing a Bianchi.

“1994 was the last time Bianchi was in Windsor,” said Stephen Hargreaves, co-owner of City Cyclery. “We have a lot of European brands already in terms of city bikes and Bianchi being the premiere Italian racing bike it makes sense for us to bring them in. The technology they have is incredible, there is a long heritage in the company but they are also extremely cutting edge. We are excited to be stocking Bianchi.”

To promote the launch of the bicycles, the event allowed anyone to come in to see and test ride the new bicycles. Eugene Pugliese, a Windsorite who raced both in Canada and internationally for two decades, came to the event to see the bikes.

“Cycling is my passion and once you get into cycling, you’re in it for life,” said Pugliese. “They have come a long way since my time. We used to ride steel bikes, now they have carbon, but the style has never changed, they are incredibly beautiful. Just to have these bikes here and to see them is an honour.”
Road bikes are traditionally made with high top tubes, associated with mens bikes, but with the variety of sizes available as well as the seafoam green “celeste” livery, these bikes work for any gender.

With the addition of Bianchi bikes, Windsor continues to thrive with Italian heritage.