
BIKESRETRO is pleased to announce that, on the occasion of the event GRAN CORSA RETRO ‘CYCLING EVENTS, which will take place on days 14 – 15 – 16 – 17 March 2018, will offer a rental service of historic bikes from the 30s. For more information write to info@bikesretro.com
This restoration has been carried out conservatively, to keep the originality of the bike as much as possible. The “machine” has been completely disassembled, the pieces cleaned. After greasing and reassembling both the frame and the components have been protected with a product to prevent oxidation.
This Automoto was in poor condition. Years of neglect had created much damage, reducing it to a bit of uniform rust. The frame was covered with a dark layer, the components were completely oxidized, the mechanism (hubs, bottom bracket ecc.) were blocked. The first step was to completely disassemble the bike. The parts that were originally chrome have been polished, taking care, however, not to make them too bright not to contrast with the frame that, despite the cleanliness, remained with a worn look. The bike was then greased and reassembled, replacing broken or worn parts. Finally, it was protected with a product to prevent the formation of rust and with gave a bit of brilliance to the whole. Now this Automoto is ready to run again and… to make a good impression!
Water! Cycling’s iconography about this theme is so ample. Many pictures portray cyclists who drink or attempt to cool down in every way you can think of. One need only think of the photo that, no doubt, became an icon of cycling: the transfer of the water bottle between Bartali and Coppi.
Of course, today it has become easier for cyclists. Team cars and motorcycles always ready, vests designed to hold as many bottles as possible by the team’s staff, drinks with vitamins supplements… But in the past, cyclists’ life was certainly more difficult, especially for the assistants who had to worry about caring for and supplying their captains.
Getting water was not that easy, they had to make do. Therefore, they stopped at the fountains to fill the bottles or the audience would make it available. They even stopped in the bars along the way. To cool down, they would anxiously wait for someone to sprinkle some water with systoles or buckets.
Water represented life for cyclists! Ending a race or having to withdraw in a crisis could depend on having quenched their thirst or not. Think of a race like the Tour de France that takes place in July with infernal temperatures, the massive fatigue of climbing the Alps or the Pyrenees!
Water is an essential element that united everyone in the race. If someone ran out of it, someone else was ready to give them what was left in their bottle.
Alfredo Martini said: “So much has been discussed about the famous photography of the exchange between Coppi and Bartali. But the point is not who gave it to whom. The point is that two runners, rivals, have swapped a sip of water. Cyclists who can not meet for ten years, but when they do, it’s as if they had left the day before, because they split fatigue, they split this sip at the bottom of the bottle. Here’s what cycling is, here’s what generosity is.”
BIKESRETRO WILL BE PRESENT AT THE EXCHANGE EXHIBITION IN NOVEGRO (MI) DAY NOVEMBER 10-11-12
SECTOR L, PLACE 309
The exhibition-exchange of cars, motorcycles and vintage cycle is one of the most important exhibitions that take place in the Novegro Exhibition Parck and is permanently located on the top of this kind at national level.
