If you’re a fan of riding up monstrous mountains, like to be reminded of that time you did or be inspired to do so, our good friend Stefan Amato has just created a couple of prints that will be right up your valley.
The 2015 Eroica Britannia was one of the most memorable cycling events I ever attended, not just for the spellbinding scenery of the Peak District and the plethora of vintage steel bikes on show, but for the friendships forged whilst riding those bikes over those Peaks.
Stefan Amato was one of those new mates made, slung together by an appreciation of classic bikes and heroic cycling. Turns out Stefan was also the editor of pannier.cc, a favorite read of mine for its high-quality reportage, photography and illustrations.
Fast forward five years and Stefan has continuously been forging ahead — and upward — on new adventures, documenting them for Pannier and inspiring others to explore the United Kingdom by the long and great tradition of bicycle touring.
He’s a talented illustrator as well as an adventurer, inspired by the great Frank Patterson, illustrator of Cycling Weekly magazine from the 1890s onwards and The Cyclists’ Touring Club (C.T.C.) Gazette from the 1920s.
Stefan’s style, like Patterson’s, is of that traditional pen and ink technique employed by numerous editorial illustrators during that period as it was easily reproduced by early commercial printers.
He’s already sold other artworks and subjects via his Etsy store, but Northern Italy’s Stelvio Pass is the latest and most breathtaking yet. Seen here disappearing off into South Tirol, it was the site of this year’s Cima Coppi stage of the Giro d’Italia.
Stefan produced a couple of variations on the theme, the bold calligraphic one above and the Patterson-esque version. Christmas isn’t all that far away… Stefan’s Stelvio Pass print could tick a few names off your gift list.
Stefan Amato Etsy Store | Instagram
