This week’s biography paves tribute to Wilier bicycles and its saviour Mr. Lino Gastaldello. (may he rest in peace)
Wilier Triestina was established in 1906 by Pietro Del Molin. Than called Ciclomeccanica Del Molin, he began by making basic bicycles and supplying bikes to the Italian army in WWI. The rise in success of Italian riders Bartali and Coppi inspired Italian Cycling and in 1945, Del Molin created a racing team named Wilier Triestina.
In Italian, the W is not used. W is usually used for the word Viva! The acronym goes as follows: W Italia LIbera E Redenta, which means “ Long Live Italy, Liberated and Redeemed.” The Triestina part is a tribute to captain Giordano Cottur’s birth place of Trieste, Italy ( which was still not regained by Italy after the war.) Due to an economic boom in the 50’s, people quickly gave up their bicycles for scooters and motorcycles. Bike manufacturers all over suffered, and in 1952 Wilier Triestina shut down its factory.
Reborn thanks to the passion of the Gastaldello brothers in 1969, the factory relocated to Rossano Veneto, and began sponsoring pro teams again. Since their take over they have facilitated many cyclists to reach records. During the 1990s, while riding for Mercatone Uno, Marco Pantani used a Wilier to set record times for the ascent of both Alpe d’Huez and the Mortirolo, while Alessandro Ballan rode one to World Championship success in Varese the year before last.
On the 23 of January, 2010, the 71 year old Lino Gastaldello was struck head-on by a car while he was on his customary Saturday morning cycle ride. This is tragic. This is wrong. This is the reality for so many people losing their lives whilst they simply go for a daily bike ride.
May he rest in peace. Thank you for all you’ve done for cycling.
there’s a lil’ guy in West London by the name of Charlie Simpson who has raised over 120,000 pounds = 203 000 Cdn dollars for Haiti. He’s seven years old and wanted simply to do his part by staging a 5 mile bike around his local park.
Charlie launched his efforts with a simple message: “My name is Charlie Simpson, I want to do a sponsored bike ride for Haiti because there was a big earthquake and loads of people have lost their lives. I want to make some money to buy food, water and tents for everyone in Haiti.”
It’s quite an impressive amount for a little person’s cycle around a park. Definitely being critical of where and how the money is being used and directed towards this horrendous disaster is needed, but this is quite a moment in cycling benefit riding that could be remembered with good intention and heart.
Here’s a vid of the newest Pake Sponsored rider. Death Pedal 2 is the follow-up to the highly successful Death Pedal fixed-gear film. This movie was filmed and edited by Kareem Shehab (Leader Bikes) and showcases the talents of fixed gear freestyle riders from coast to coast across the United States.
SO. news about Pake.
Pake has come out with some new colours for this upcoming season [Black…White…Lt.Grey…Neon/Black..and…I think Purple is the most exciting. DEEP PURPLE.
Price is 319 $ for just the frame. 119$ for the fork. 420$ for them both.
so the snow is back. with 30 + km/h winds and all. the last week or so has made us soft. It’s been a good winter thusfar. Not too many icy days, not too many super snowy days. it’s been a bonne hiver! For all hose still hesitating getting those bikes on the road and for those of you who have been riding. here’s my top three tips on maintenance:
1. regrease EVEYRYTHING that has a thread/is metal on metal. If you do nothing, at the very least your seatpost, your axles, your stem. If you can get yourself to a shop/co-op get that Bottom bracket out and lubed! These parts get seized very easily with lack of grease and a seized seatpost and or bottom bracket means ruined frame and or hours of 10% chance of success of removal.
2. Oil your chain. Oil your chain. Oil your chain. This is a must must. Your whole drive train ( the heart of the bike) depends on it. To clean it, use more oil rather than degreaser. Buying a cheap bottle of motor oil can cleanse it all out and than you can wipe up the excess and put a nice coat of thick lube(for the once a week lubers) or a light lube ( for the every days).
3. Check your brake pads! There’s alot of grit and grossness outside that is eating away at your brake pads alot faster than in the summer months. Little bits of metal can get stuck in your brake pads resulting in running down the surface of your rims alot faster. It’s this time of year that really take its toll on those rims, so try to maintain them by switching up those rubber pads. They can be as cheap as 5$ and save you much more in possible rim replacements.
if you need some help or want a free wear assessment done. Come on by.
stay warm. keep on riding. and give your bike some love.
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