LEGNANO GRAN PREMIO - INTRODUCTION

One of the better known road bicycle to come out of Italy would have to be the Legnano.  The long standing company built both entry level and top draw steeds, this Gran Premio (best guess at the time of this writing) falling closer to the top of the line than the bottom.  I should also warn that I am not  positive this is the Gran Premio model.

There is some controversy as to when Legnano bicycles were first introduced, with one school suggesting 1902 and the other 1908 when Emilio Bozzi started the Emilio Bozzi & Company business.  That name, in the mid 1920's was changed to Legnano and with that change, the Legnano bicycle seriously threw its hat into the racing scene of the day.  For the next fifteen years bicycle racing legends, including Alfredo Binda hired in 1924,  Gino Bartali in 1936,  and Fausto Coppi in 1939.  A head to head competition developed between Legnano and Bianchi, a much older company who experienced frustration at the hands of the youngster, Legnano.  This rivalry was to last for the rest of the Legnano bicycle's life.

Legnano captured other world records at opportune times to allow for health marketing of the bicycle.  Well made and targeting a wide selection of customers, the bicycle's popularity grew until the fateful day when the old timer, Bianchi, bought the Legnano brand.  Though still a production bicycle, it was never again to receive the support it perhaps deserved.

Today, both the Legnano and Bianchi brands are housed under the same corporate umbrella - a bicycle brand consolidator called Cycleurope.  Though Bianchi has continued to do well in the market place, Legnano has been relegated to a lesser realm.  None the less, the Legnano bicycle is a highly respected vintage road bicycle that probably has not come into its own just yet.  Time will tell in the vintage road bicycle world, but it would not surprise this writer to see Legnano bicycles become highly collectible examples of the gender.

NEXT - FINDING THE LEGNANO GRAN PREMIO