TORPADO SUPER RACING - INTRODUCTION

The Torpado bicycle is one of those sleeper bicycles, so to speak.  Though well made and thought out, the bicycle never seemed to attain the popularity of other rides, such as Colnago, Pinarello and Bianchi.  A bit of a shame since the Torpado bicycle has a long and prestigious history, its hay days consuming much of the nineteen thirties and forties.

Several Torpado bicycles have entered The Old Shed over the years, but all were of sixties or seventies vintage.  From an near drop dead gorgeous Torpado Luxe to its near identical, all chrome five speed cousin, the old road bikes had proved to be something a bit out of the ordinary.  Though anything but high end, all of the Old School examples of the bicycle were ornate, fitted with decent components and fun to ride.

The 1984 Super Racing was the first newer generation Torpado to find its way into the collection.  Perfectly sized and readily available, one could do a lot worse in choosing a fine old Italian bicycle to fix up and ride.

The Torpado name has been around for a long time, reportedly being founded in Padua in 1895.  The Torpado bicycle entered into production in 1908. One cannot help but believe that in close to a hundred years, a company like Torpado would get it right.  Perhaps this lovely, but cosmetically challenged old Super Racing will prove that to be true.

North America saw two hot beds for Torpado importing.  The south eastern US and middle to eastern Canada.  Torpados are very common in some areas in Canada, fanning out from the Montreal based distributor, Baggio Cycles Sports.

NEXT - FINDING THE TORPADO