WIDE WORLD OF ROADIES: MITCH & HIS BIANCHI

By Zap

As a rule, when I’m in need of information for a story, I always do my best not to bother people either late at night or over the weekend. Sometimes, though (as in when a deadline looms), rules need to be broken. And that’s just what occurred when I had to ask Mitch Friedman one last question. It was a beautiful Sunday morning. Would he still be sleeping? Attending church? In the middle of breakfast?

Luckily, it was none of those. But, in typical “Mitch the bike freak” fashion, he had just finished some time-trial training at the Dominguez Hills velodrome. “Yeah, it’s really fun and safe because we ride on the crit course that’s there, and there’s no car traffic to deal with. I like the course and remember it well, because I had a bad crash in a crit race there about a decade ago.”

And so it goes for Mitch, a lifelong bicycle and motorcycle nut who’s traveled the world on both, riding and shooting photos as a professional photographer when he isn’t working full-time for the movie studios. More recently, Mitch became the proud owner of a limited-edition Bianchi Specialissima, a bike that he can’t stop crowing about. “Oh my, do I love this bicycle. You know I own a few bikes, but this is by far the best bicycle I have ever owned.”

A MAN AND HIS BIKE(S)

What is your history with cycling?
I started riding at age 5, which would have been in 1966, then got into BMX or rode it not knowing it was BMX! My first road bike was a Peugeot PX10. It was a little big for me, but I had a lot of learning to race on it. I think my first real race was in 1974 at the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix in the public class. I won a prime, although I didn’t have a clue what that was! The first cycling team I rode for was the L.A. Race Team, then I moved over to the LaGrange team before starting the West L.A. chapter of the L.A. Sheriff cycling team. I ran that for a few years and then joined South Bay Wheelmen, whom I still ride with. I’ve also competed in the Media Cycling World Championships in Belgium and many gran fondos in Italy. Currently, I’m a member of the Pedale Feltrino cycling team in Feltre, Italy.

What was it about Bianchi that caught your attention?
I’ve always been a fan of Bianchi bicycles, and I have covered the Giro three times as a photographer. When Bianchi announced that they were going to make 105 framesets for the 105th running of the Giro, I wanted one to add to my collection of special anniversary bikes that I own, which includes a 50th Anniversary Schwinn Paramount with a 50th Anniversary Campagnolo drivetrain on it. I think the best bike in my collection is the Gios Cinquantenario (50th Anniversary) that I purchased at the Gios factory in Italy.

Alfredo Gios had Aldo Gios measure me for the frame; he said I rode a 54cm. I laughed and told him that was too small. They replied that I should trust them on what size to ride. So, I ordered the frame, and it showed up at my house when I got home from Italy. It hung on my wall until I built it, and I just kept saying it was too small. But, in the end, I was wrong! I took it out when I finished building it and fell in love with it. It was the best bicycle I had ever raced. Sadly, it has a crack in the head tube after years of racing and riding. As this bicycle was made of Dedacciai aluminum 7003 tubing, I could not fix the crack.

Mitch powering down on the group ride.

And that’s what led me to my first Bianchi Infinito 125th Anniversary frameset. Now, Bianchi USA did not bring any into the country, so I had to find one in Canada, but the importer in Canada was new and did not want to make waves with Bianchi. So, they called Bianchi USA, who in turn called me asking if I really wanted one of the frames. They said they would get me one, but I’d have to buy it at a Bianchi dealer. When it showed up and I built it with Campagnolo, as all my bicycles have Campagnolo, this bicycle turned into my favorite bicycle, even though it was a 55cm. From there I got other Bianchis, but then I found out that the Specialissima Giro 105 was coming and I just had to have one. Funny, this bicycle is even better than my Gios or the Infinito. It’s so much fun to ride. It’s like it knows what you are going to do before you do, and it just flows with ease.

To get the bike, you had to sign up for a lottery. Is it true you got bumped off the list?
Well, no, I was not bumped off the list. I wanted a 55cm, but the website was acting slow, so I clicked in for a 57cm to see what would happen. I was put on a wait list for a 57. I e-mailed my friend at Bianchi and was told to get off the list for the 57cm frame and keep trying for the 55. Luckily, in a few minutes, the link for the 55cm frame started to work and said, “Buy now,” so that’s what I did.

How was it that things turned out?
I was able to get the Specialissima Giro 105, and I built it up with Campagnolo Super Record EPS and disc brakes. The handlebar/stem is the new ITM50 aerodynamic integrated and ergonomic HM carbon handlebar. It is the perfect bar, as it is so very comfy. Wheels are Campagnolo Bora Ones with 27mm Challenger Strada tires. The saddle is a Selle Italia Max, and the seatpost is an ITM Kero. I use Look Keo 2 carbon pedals and Tacx carbon cages. All built up, the bike weighs 17 pounds with my Garmin 1040 computer on the handlebars. The bar tape is from Ciclovation, and it’s the same Chameleon Phoenix Red tape as seen in the videos of the bike before it was released.

Do Italian bikes and parts mean something special to you?
I’m not sure what it is, but every time I’ve visited Italy, it just feels like home. From all the events I’ve ridden and photographed, it’s a country that makes it easy to fall in love with.

Whether it’s shooting  race action at the Manhattan Beach GP or Scott Parker showing-off at the Sacramento Mile, Mitch has a knack for getting great corner shots!

What is it about cycling that attracts you to the sport?
You know I’ve been doing it for so long, it’s hard to say. I think between riding bicycles and motorcycles, it’s
just a love of all things with two wheels, but especially with cycling, it’s the exercise and camaraderie. I’ve also found that when you’re riding a bicycle you can do the same ride multiple times, and it seems like you always see something new.

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