Cinelli and design, Cinelli and art — two sides of the same coin. This is how Antonio Colombo, patron of Columbus — the historic Italian cycling brand — and owner of Cinelli for over forty years, described the brand in an interview with Bikeroom TV. A born creative, his DNA has always echoed that of Cino Cinelli, winner of the 1938 Giro di Lombardia and the 1943 Milano-Sanremo, and founder of the brand now recognized worldwide for its iconic bikes — an expression of style, art, passion, and elegance, the four pillars of the Milanese brand. "I'm pleased that so many young people recognize in Cinelli the same values I hold," said Antonio Colombo, "because it makes it easier to convey the history behind a bicycle." But when did the story of Cinelli bikes begin?
Cinelli Bikes: A Manifesto of Creativity and Redemption
The history of bicycles has been shaped by countless cultural influences — from women's emancipation to groundbreaking innovations in design — turning the bicycle into a true manifesto of life and creativity, as well as a work of art and a collector's item. Cinelli bikes have always stood out for their ability to blend all these elements, thanks to the flair and boldness of their founder, Cino, and the creative, international vision of Antonio, a forward-thinking leader.
Cino Cinelli was a professional road cyclist from 1937 to 1944 and president of the Italian Cyclists' Association, which he founded alongside friends Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali to represent cyclists' interests with the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) and the Italian Cycling Federation (FCI). After experiencing the frustration of losing races due to mechanical failures, he decided that once his cycling career ended, he would devote himself to studying cycling component technology, convinced there was significant room for improvement. In 1947, three years after retiring from racing and having already launched a marketing company (Cinelli & C), he began his journey into the commercial side of handlebars and stems produced by his brothers, leveraging his road cycling expertise. This led to a series of innovations still in use today: aluminum handlebars, plastic saddle shells, toe straps, and the first quick-release pedals.
From the Rome Olympics to the Hour Record
The first 30 years of Cinelli, from 1947 to 1977, were filled with pivotal moments that marked crucial turning points for the company based in Caleppio di Settala, just outside Milan. The first of these came in 1960, during the Rome Olympics, when Cino Cinelli, sharing a stand with his friend Tullio Campagnolo, presented what would become the brand's signature product: the 1A aluminum stem accompanied by its matching handlebar series.
Right from the start, the 1A stem stood out for its technical superiority and safety: unlike other models of the time, which used a simple nut and bolt, the 1A adopted a proprietary system of tubes and bolts which, when paired with Cinelli handlebars, ensured a perfectly parallel clamp, eliminating the risk of "pinching" the bars. These, along with the handlebars, also underwent a sophisticated anodizing process that gave the aluminum its distinctive "milky" appearance. The complexity and high cost of this finish not only made Cinelli products instantly recognizable compared to competitors but also protected them from imitations, turning them into a true hallmark and symbol of quality. Thus, the first true icons of Cinelli's production were born. One of these, the Cinelli Supercorsa, would soon become a global style icon.
Cinelli Supercorsa, a style icon
1968 marks the year of the first Hour Record set on a Cinelli bike — the second would follow 17 years later. Ole Ritter, a Danish road and track cyclist, broke his record riding the Speciale Corsa road model, which for a time was mistakenly sold under the name "Super Corsa" due to a supplier's misinterpretation when producing the decals. This small error turned into a clever marketing opportunity, leading Cinelli to intentionally create "Speciale Corsa" decals for their bikes in the following decade. Eventually, to avoid further confusion, the model was officially renamed Supercorsa — a name still used today for what is considered one of the longest-running bicycles in Cinelli's history. For over 70 years, the Supercorsa has embodied all the secrets and innovations gained throughout its evolution.
1978: The Antonio Colombo Era Begins
Antonio Colombo took the reins of Cinelli in 1978, when the company was already a leader in steel tubing. His passion for bicycles and creativity — qualities that won over Cino Cinelli — gave the brand a more vibrant and international outlook. Colombo's first step was to redesign the Super Corsa, also commissioning a logo restyle from a young architect, Italo Lupi. Lupi would later work for Prada, Fiorucci, and the Turin Olympics. The advertising campaign at the time boldly stated: "After 30 years of cycling, we are still young. With a great tradition behind us and a future ahead." The new, now-iconic Cinelli logo became the most imitated in modern cycling — one of the first to move away from the heraldic symbol created by Cino, which featured a knight's helmet inspired by one his father kept at home, resting on a crest with a red lily (symbolizing Florence, Cino's birthplace) and a green snake (representing Milan, the city that adopted him).
Antonio Colombo’s era was marked not only by technological innovations but also by creative international collaborations. From the bold, artistic atmosphere of '80s Milan to the present day, Cinelli embraced art, fashion, and design — both influencing and being influenced by them. This open-minded approach led to several firsts:
- the first handlebar tape;
- the first brand catalog;
- the first Cinelli clothing line;
- the first mountain bike in Europe — the Rampichino — which helped Cinelli become the Italian leader in the MTB sector a few years later.
Then came Gran Ciclismo, Cinelli's first lifestyle concept store, which also sold outdoor brands like Oakley and Patagonia. Among the clients of this groundbreaking Milanese cycling boutique? None other than Eric Clapton.
Milan, 1987. Eric Clapton receives a Cinelli Supercorsa from Antonio Colombo.
Cinelli's "Gran Ciclismo": A Blend of Style and Innovation
Cinelli's gran ciclismo is not just about marketing — it's about groundbreaking design and production. From the mid-'80s to the mid-'90s, the brand launched a series of bold and forward-thinking projects, some even considered "controversial" at the time.
A prime example is the Spinaci handlebar extensions, introduced in 1995. They were hailed by the prestigious Bicycling Magazine as "the only noteworthy change in cyclist positioning in the last ten years." The Spinaci were an instant hit, selling an astonishing 20,000 units per month. Many professional teams — even those without Cinelli sponsorships — adopted them. However, the success was short-lived. In 1997, the UCI issued a sudden and hotly debated ban on the Spinaci extensions.
Team Carrera, 1995: The Spinaci handlebar extensions mounted on Chiappucci and Pantani's bikes.
Antonio Colombo's long leadership at Cinelli has also been a continuous expression of style, elegance, and innovation in cycling components — from the limited edition Supercorsa created in collaboration with the luxury brand Fornasetti to the patent of the "Spoiler" bottom bracket shell, used not only on Cinelli bikes but also adopted by renowned frame builders worldwide.
But it is art that holds a special place in Cinelli's DNA. Born from a friendship between Antonio Colombo and a young Keith Haring in Milan, this creative bond brought Cinelli's work to the art scene. Two Cinelli pieces — an orange mountain bike and a Laser pursuit frame — were exhibited in New York. Years later, Colombo visited Haring in the Big Apple to retrieve the Laser frame, only to find it transformed into a piece of art. Haring had painted it with his iconic interconnected figures, running seamlessly across both sides of the disc wheels. This bold intersection of cycling and art culminated in the Laser Evoluzione winning the Compasso d'Oro, the most prestigious design award in the world.
Milan, 1987: Antonio Colombo poses for artribune.com with the Cinelli Laser painted by Keith Haring.
With his open-minded approach and visionary ideas — from the Bootleg urban and endurance bikes to the Alter stem, the most extreme CNC-machined component on the market — Antonio Colombo proved that beauty and technology can coexist, even in something as seemingly simple as a bicycle. Another revolutionary product was the RAM, the first integrated handlebar and stem made from a single piece of carbon fiber. The RAM was an immediate success, especially among professional riders, and became one of the most imitated designs in the years to follow. In fact, Gilberto Simoni won the 2003 Giro d'Italia with the RAM, later stating that its improved stiffness and grip allowed him to better understand his bike and ride more aggressively.
Giro d'Italia 2003 landed on the Zoncolan Mountain. Gilberto Simoni launches his attack on the climb, rising from the saddle and gripping the Cinelli RAM handlebars.
From the love of the road to the passion for the track
The history of Cinelli bikes is also a visual journey through countless "frames" that have shaped modern cycling standards: from the 64 handlebar that Cino Cinelli developed for Felice Gimondi — smoother compared to Eddy Merckx’s 65 — to Lance Armstrong’s victory at the 1999 Tour de France, the last great triumph of a Cinelli 101 quill stem.
Cinelli's more recent history tells of another great passion — the track. Twenty years ago, the Vigorelli was launched: a simple, versatile, and high-performance aluminum track frame that is still in production today, having become an icon of the emerging urban track bike movement. Loved and used by everyone — from the Italian National Track Cycling Team to students, designers, Kanye West, and champions of the Red Hook Criterium. Cinelli went on to sponsor this famous circuit for five years, with its team winning both individual and team championships multiple times — making Cinelli the first Italian brand to engage in such a bold initiative.
From the collaboration with Barry McGee, the famous American street artist, comes a limited-edition Supercorsa track frame, first showcased at an exhibition in San Francisco — a city tied to Cinelli through its partnership with the MASH collective, a group of urban track bike enthusiasts. This collaboration led to the launch of their first co-branded product: an urban pursuit track frame featuring tone-on-tone grey graphics designed by skateboarding legend Benny Gold. But this was just the beginning. More products followed, and in 2013, the Cinelli-MASH team rode Cinelli-MASH Parallax frames to victory in the first-ever team race of the Red Hook Criterium.
Explore the 2025 Cinelli Bike Collection on bike-room.com
Among the many Cinelli road and gravel bikes always available on bike-room.com, you'll find the two flagship models for 2025: Pressure II and Zydeco King II. Let's dive into the key features of these Cinelli road and gravel bikes.
Cinelli Pressure II 2025 Road Bike
Born for competition. The Pressure II represents the pinnacle of Cinelli's road bike design, where every detail — from the seatpost dimensions to the fully integrated cables — has been re-engineered to reduce the frame weight by 5% compared to the previous model. Moreover, the carbon fiber layup of the Pressure II reflects what the Cinelli R&D team and professional cyclists believe to be the perfect balance between weight savings, race-ready stiffness, and reliability. Aligned with the latest research in aerodynamics, rolling resistance, and, most importantly, the continuous hybridization of road bikes, the Pressure II is the ultimate evolution of the aero model — delivering explosive acceleration and unmatched handling.
Cinelli Zydeco King II Gravel Bike
The Zydeco King II is the fastest and lightest gravel bike ever crafted by Cinelli. It's the perfect bridge between UCI gravel racing, ultra-distance events, mixed and fast routes, winter training, cycle touring, and bikepacking adventures. The Zydeco King II pushes the boundaries of limitless exploration, versatility, and performance across all types of terrain. Featuring a carbon frame optimized for wider tires, revised geometries for extended comfort, and a new accessory mounting system, this iconic gravel model from the Milan-based brand is the ultimate choice for those seeking to tackle adventurous and challenging off-road routes with the stability and confidence only a Cinelli bike can provide.
(Courtesy: cinelli-milano.com e cinellivintage.it)
