Vintage Ladies Steel Road Bicycle 55 cm
Gelmino Chesini crafted the first racing bicycle which carried his name in 1925, not far from Verona in Nesente. Shortly after the end of WWII Chesini purchased the Valletti bicycle factory, and opened a bicycle shop in via Francia, Verona. Not content with merely manufacturing bicycles with his name on them, Gelmino Chesini invented a word to describe his products, combining the words ‘bicicletta’ (bicycle) and ‘precisione’ to create ‘la biciprecision’. The headtube insignia and Chesini company logo incorporates the famous local landmark, the Arena di Verona, a Roman Coliseum.
In the 1960s Chesini steel racing bicycles were ridden to notable victories at the World Amateur Championships, taking the Solo 100km title in 1963, and achieving back-to-back wins in the Team 100km race in 1964 and 1965. It was during this decade that Gelmino introduced his son Gabriele to the family business, which he would later take over.
By the 1980s Gabriele Chesini was awarded a prestigious “Ercole d’Oro” award for his contribution to Italian industry. In this decade he opened a prestigious new Chesini store in via San Paolo, Verona. Catalogue photographs from the period depict a spacious floodlight showroom of striking modernist architectural design, with a large selection of bikes, equipment, clothing and accessories, as well as a well-stocked storage area full to the rafters with rims, tyres and Campagnolo equipment.
This particular listing is for a Chesini Precision vintage ladys bike, complete with a Dura Ace I.Gen, black groupset.
Painted in an elegant and classic white. the bike displays many nice touches – all of the lugs are nicely worked, and headtube lugs are reinforced in the style of Masi. The top tube slopes gently down from the stem to the seat tube,
the classic mixte shape
The Shimano Dura Ace first generation groupset is in top condition, and is running nicely with a matching Shimano Dura Ace 5-speed freewheel.
The wheelset consists of Dura Ace hubs, matched with dark anodised Ambrosio rims – perfectly trued and running straight. Tires and handlebar tape are new.
We’ve set the bike up according to our taste, with a view to preserving the classic look and style. In saying that, if you would like to make some small changes (saddle, bar tape etc), then often this is possible.
We have a large inventory of classic components acquired over the last 15 years.
‘In good, stunning, used condition. It’s as good as new. Original, very well preserved paint!
The wheels have been replaced for clinchers and the complete bike has been overhauled’.
Geometry & Specs
Seat tube: 55cm c-c
Seat tube: 54cm c-t
Top tube: 53cm c-c (horizontally)
Handlebars: 44cm c-c (grip area)
Head Tube: 150mm
Rear End: 126mm
Stem: 105mm
Wheelbase: 100cm
Gears: 2×5 speed
Components
Frame: Chesini / Columbus tubing.
Crankset: Dura Ace I.Gen, custom coloured
Rear Mech: Dura Ace I.Gen.
Front Mech: Dura Ace I.Gen.
Brakes: Dura Ace I.Gen.
Shifters: Dura Ace I.Gen. black
Freewheel: Dura Ace I.Gen.
Brake levers: Dura Ace I.Gen.
Seatpost: LaPrade, non-fluted
Saddle: Selle Italia Anatomic
Rims: Ambrosio – dark anodized, clinchers
Hubs: Dura Ace I.Gen, black
Tires: Panaracer Pasela 28mm, skin wall, NEW
Stem: 3TTT, 25.8mm
Handlebars: Cicli Berlinetta, classic shape
Headset: Dura Ace, I.Gen., black
