This very special Tipo Roma came to me a number of years back and the post “on arrival” can be found here. Without digressing too much, this is the same Tipo Roma in its original condition, but not “the bike” that Gino Bartali rode to with the 1946 Giro d’Italia. And over the years I […]
To pick up from the last post, here is the Roma as it arrived after getting out of the shipping box and a quick assembly to check it all out before tearing it down for a very gentle restoration. I am still overwhelmed with the near perfect condition of this bike, 55 years after it […]
It’s been a while since I added a new Legnano to the collection, and what an addition this Roma makes. It was recently acquired from a shop owner in Ithaca, New York who contracted me wanting a good home for the bike on behalf of a customer. After seeing a few photos of the bike […]
Updated July 11, 2020 The first part of this article relied primarily on the 335 page parts catalog published by Emilio Bozzi SpA in 1950. As discussed, there was a remarkable similarity in the overall design of steel cranksets for several decades and most people would require a brand engraving to tell one from the […]
Throughout the various posts and pages of this website, I have taken the position that the cranksets fitted to the Legnano corsa models and some of the top sportivo models were produced by Way-Assauto. The conclusion thus far has been based primarily on the chainring design and what would appear to have been a well […]
A writer in Montevideo sent me these photos of a Gran Premio frame that he discovered in the basement of a local bike shop. Still wrapped in the original protective paper, this Legnano was resting for more than 50 years before it saw the light in 2016. Great to see the original ‘verniciatura trasparente verde’ […]
Updated: April 30, 2020 The Legnano brand and the great Gino Bartali are synonymous, with two Tour de France and three Giro d’Italia victories that included a victory in the mountain classification on all three of his Giro wins, and seven mountain victories in all. And all of this was achieved around a five to […]
Another interesting Legnano courtesy of Federico Brozzi from the city of Parma in Italy. It is sometimes the case that Legnano city bikes or Sportivo models have been refinished and refitted as road bikes. Many times this is to the preference of the owner and regrettably at other times it is for the purpose of […]
Each week I enjoy receiving queries from readers around the world as to how old or what model is my Legnano. Please keep these emails coming (info@condorino.com) as I enjoy the opportunity to share what I know and also to add new knowledge for the benefit of all Legnano aficionados. Many of your requests are […]
I have had many inquiries from readers about the large number of new-old-stock (nos) Legnano bikes that have been turning up for sale in recent years. The question is, “Are they real or are they reproductions”? Although I have hesitated to offer a definitive answer, I have generally believed them to be the real thing […]
condorino 