Bianchi (bicycle manufacturer)
F.I.V. Edoardo Bianchi S.p.A is a major Italian bicycle manufacturer.
Edoardo Bianchi started his bicycle manufacturing business in a small shop on Milan’s Via Nirone (#7, Now recognized as one of the city's artefacts) in 1885. Since then, Bianchi has become one of the world's most respected bicycle companies. F.I.V. Edoardo Bianchi S.p.A and it's subsidiary brands (Such as Legnano, Gitane, Puch and Chiorda) has been part of Cycleurope Group, the Swedish company of Grimaldi Industri AB, since May 1997. Bianchi is also considered to be the oldest bicycle manufacturer in the world today, having pioneered the use of equal sized wheels with pneumatic rubber tires in 1885, and the front wheel caliper operated braking mechanism. The company manufactures various types of bicycles, from road, mountain, track, and cruiser bicycles. They are best known for their racing bicycles built by their famous Reparto Corse (Race Department) factory in Treviglio, Bergamo, Italy; which more often than not are equipped with Campagnolo parts.
Bianchi USA is the United States division of Bianchi. Located in Hayward, California, they produce bicycles specifically (and only) for the American market, which are built in Taiwan and Italy. The design director for Bianchi USA is Sky Yaeger. The "Chick Designed" decal on some of the US bikes is a reference to her. In the United States, only the Reparto Corse range are still produced in Italy. Non-Reparto Corse models are not available elsewhere.
Its riders have had numerous Tour de France and Giro d'Italia victories. Several famous riders of different eras have been associated with Bianchi including Fausto Coppi and Felice Gimondi, who still continues his association with the company. Some recent famous riders include Danilo Di Luca, Mario Cipollini, Marco Pantani, Moreno Argentin and Jan Ullrich. Presently, Bianchi is a co-sponsor of the UCI ProTour team Liquigas-Bianchi.
Bianchi bicycles are traditionally painted in the highly recognizable "Celeste", (Pronounced che-les-te) a turquoise colour also known as "Bianchi blue," despite its tendency more towards green. There are two opposing legends concerning the origin of this colour - some say it is the colour of the Milan sky, others say it was the colour of the eyes of the former Queen of Italy, for whom Edoardo Bianchi once made a bicycle. There is also some speculation that the "Celeste" color was the result of surplus military paint.