FLASHBACK FRIDAY, 2018: ALL IN THE (ITALIAN) FAMILY

Learning the true meaning of fatto a mano with Selle SMP, Ale Cycling, Cipollini, Gaerne and Vittoria

From the Giro d’Italia to legacy frame builders and the multitude of cycling accessory brands, to this day Italy remains the heart and soul of all things cycling. Back in 2018 we had the opportunity to visit a handful of name brand companies, each founded on the principle of family, passion and quality. So, without further ado.

SELLE SMP SADDLES

Selle SMP was founded by Martino Schiavon, but the company is now run by his two sons Franco and Maurizio, along with Franco’s son Nicolo.

More than just a marketing slogan, when Italians say that their products are handmade and the companies are family-run, they really mean it. Selle SMP is the perfect example of this. The saddle-maker was founded in 1947 by the late Martino Schiavon and is now currently run by his sons Franco and Maurizio. The brothers are always proud to point out that Selle SMP saddles are still 100 percent made in Italy while using Italian-only products.

The massive warehouse holds the finished product prior to being shipped out.

The brand began making saddles for the OEMs, but 2004 was a turning point for the company when they introduced a line of their own very unique aftermarket saddles. It was at the Milan trade show that, following three years of research and design, the saddle was first shown to the public. Forgoing the trendy styles of most saddles, Selle SMP had pursued a scientific way to produce a product that they felt could benefit a cyclist better than a traditional shape. According to Franco, the general response wasn’t the most ideal, but they never wavered.

Despite the onslaught of automation, there remains a high degree of hands-on workmanship that goes into producing each saddle.

Most of the factory workers are female, as they have proved to be better at attention to detail while inspecting the saddles.

One of the first-ever Selle SMP saddles sits in stark contrast to the latest generation. Selle SMP now produces over 40 different models of saddles.

To overcome consumers’ initial trepidation about the unique shape, Selle SMP believes the best way for riders to find out the benefits of the saddle is to try it themselves. To make that happen, Selle SMP has over 320 test facilities throughout the U.S. where riders can demo the saddles to discover how they work and which one works best for them. They will also soon be launching an online program to help riders test their saddles if they are not located near a Selle SMP test facility. www.sellesmp.com

INSIDE ALE CYCLING

Few companies have embraced bright colors as enthusiastically as Ale Cycling.

Following a 30-year stint as a partner to another Italian clothing brand, Ale Cycling was formed in 2013. They hit the ground running with a wide selection of cycling kits that stood out not only for their embrace of bold colors and designs but attractive price points as well.

Seamstress sews the garments together by hand.

Ale focuses much of their production on custom wear, where it takes up 70 percent of their business with the other 30 percent attributing to their in-house designs. Following a more traditional vein, Ale produces team wear for WorldTour teams like the French squad FDJ, Bardiani and the women’s Cipollini team. Also, inside the factory you can see that Ale produces clothing for the Vermarc brand used by the Belgian powerhouse Quick-Step Floors team.

The Ale factory churns out over 1000 pieces of chamois everyday.

After being cut into the various pattern shapes, the graphics are then heat-printed onto the fabric.

Given that for years the Ale factory was pumping out kits for Nike in the midst of the Lance Armstrong craze. They definitely know how to keep their sewing machines humming. From a numbers standpoint, over 3000 garments and 1000 chamois are produced daily.

www.alecycling.com

INSIDE CIPOLLINI BICYCLES

If there is one thing that has defined the level of Italy’s cycling fanaticism, it’s been the long list of bike brands founded in the name of its champions. And why not since, as we all know, Italy is home to more great champions who are worth celebrating than any other country. When it comes to Italy’s modern-day champions, none are as dynamic and worthy of veneration as “Super” Mario Cipollini.

Always a bold and proud Italian, Cipollini came of age in the ’90s and will always be regarded as one of the sport’s greatest sprinters. In addition to winning stages in every Grand Tour, he was crowned world champion in 2002. Over the years he rode for a handful of celebrated teams (most notably Saeco/Cannondale) before retiring in 2008.

In 2009 Mario linked up with Federico Zecchetto who was well-known as a central player in all things related to Italian cycling and also happened to own a frame factory. Between Federico’s history as a carbon fiber industrialist and Mario’s legendary renown, the two set out to bring a true top-of-the-line Italian brand to the market.

The Cipollini brand takes the “made in Italy” statement to heart in every single component on every Cipollini bike that is made. Like its namesake, there isn’t a single Cipollini bike that doesn’t offer some level of flair that stands out in the crowd.

www.mcipollini.com

INSIDE GAERNE SHOES

Founder Ernesto Gazzola shows how he used to sew the shoes together by hand when he first started.

At 86 years old, founder Ernesto Gazzola still walks into the factory every day to oversee the production of the cycling and motorcycling footwear brand that he founded back in 1962. From the days when Ernesto sat alone in his workshop making hiking boots, the family-run company has grown to 55 employees and sells close to 80,000 pairs of cycling shoes per year.

There are 109 separate pieces of material that go into the construction of the G.Stilo shoe.

Fabio Aru is one of the most notable pro riders who rely on Gaerne shoes.

Ernesto’s daughter Marta runs the Gaerne ship these days, and like her father, she spends time on the factory floor.

Fabian Cancellara still has one of his personal shoe molds in the factory for any new shoe he receives.

There are a wide variety of different jobs necessary to piece together a new shoe.

An iconic brand throughout the cycling industry, Gaerne is an even bigger fixture in the world of motorcycle racing, thanks to the day in history when Ernesto’s son Guilliano took up racing motocross and Dad decided to make him some boots. The company remains as family-run as you can get, with their factory located next door to the house where Ernesto still lives.

Based in Coste di Maser in the province of Treviso, which is a celebrated district for the manufacture of cycling shoes. Gaerne continues to develop new designs and technology, thanks to the input gained from their sponsorship of the Lotto-Soudal team and Fabio Aru.

www.gaerne.com

INSIDE VITTORIA SHOES

Founded in 1976 by Celestino Vercelli following his professional racing career, the brand was born and is still currently run by Celestino along with his son Edoardo. Fast-forward 10 years after inception and Stephen Roche used his Vittoria shoes to ride to victory during the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and World Championships. During 1998, Marco Pantani pulled off the stunning feat of overall victories in the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in the same season while wearing Vittorias.

Three separate generations of Vittoria shoes show off a variety of colorful designs, as well as their own dial-closure system that predates all the modern incarnations by years.

Before being sewn together, you would never imagine that the final product is a shoe.

A new shoe sits on the line as it gets properly fitted to the mold.

Vittoria relies on a variety of local cyclists, as well as pro riders, for feedback.

The nose of the shoe is pressed to help mold the sole with the upper.

Another step to the process is cutting the excess material around the shoe.

Today, shoe production is still housed in the 10,000-square-foot facility in Vigliano Biellese, Italy, where it all began. Vittoria holds true to their roots of craftsmanship and innovation as found in their latest Vela shoe. Speaking of innovation, spotted in the foyer was a shoe with a dial-closure device that Vittoria designed back in 1992, over a decade before similar systems would take hold in the sport.

www.vittoria-shoes.com