Living in an age of pop out and handmade bicycles, it’s refreshing to step back and remind ourselves of how these two anomalies came about. Many reasons can be traced back to Europe in the 40s and 50s: Edoardo Bianchi, Pietro Casati, Cino Cinelli, Ernesto Colnago, Giuseppe Daccordi and their contemporaries. Marcello Faggin was another Italian racer who started building the frames he loved racing, 67 years ago. The family Faggin celebrated with a book called Milestones. And a big party.
All of the men listed above, and countless others, helped develop the industry that we appreciate today. But the Faggin family is a little different, in that Marcello’s daughters, Maria Rosa, Gianna, Carla and Cristina, are still operating the family business. In Cristina’s case, that means actually brazing frames together. Milestones is an inspiring read for those of us with any appreciation for Italian racing bicycles and handmade bicycles in general.
It’s also an attractive read, a stylish layout with a flamboyant, graphic flair. The story is described in both Italian and English, tracing the history of the brand from its beginnings in Udine and the move to Padua, where it still exists today. The reader is swept along with the increasing interest in Italian bikes from the overseas market, racing victories, logo developments and the embrace of new frame materials such as aluminum and carbon fiber.
Unfortunately, Milestones has old out, but keep an eye on the Faggin web shop for a reprint. In the meantime, you can follow them via their Facebook page and Instagram feed.
