The Galetti brand is one branch of the Italian family tree that’s twisted behind the more well known; but just as significant. Like Bianchi, Pinarello, Olmo and Moser, it is originated from a professional racer, Carlo Galetti, who won the 1910, 1911 and 1912 Giro d’Italia.
The name and brand is still alive, continued by a young Max Galetti, who has his finger well and truly on the pulse of modern cycling. The latest model in the 2015 range is purpose-built for the very popular Italian category of single speed cyclocross.
For the country in which the derailleur originated, it’s interesting that eschewing the mechanism is gaining such a foothold. Many Italian custom frame builders are producing single speed-specific frames. The Galetti SSCX one such model, TIG welded from Columbus Life tubes.
A browse through the Galetti Vintage catalog reveals more authentically Italian bikes than their contemporaries, replicas of the same models shown at the 1946 Milan Bicycle Show, fatto a mano in Italy. Max strictly uses Columbus Life and Spirit steel for his frames.
His SSCX is equipped with a Chris King headset, ‘Not 4 All’ hubs and Paragon Machine Works dropouts which, combined with through-frame cable capability, will enable the retrofitting of gears, should the knees require.
It’s rare for such a modern steed be available in the same lineup as such elegant town bikes for uomini e donne. Find out more on the Galetti website.