THE LIVING ARCHIVE OF ANTONIO COLOMBO
BICYCLES
The bicycles designed by Antonio Colombo and his team are far more than machines to ride: they are ideas given form. From the visionary Laser — an icon of aerodynamic research and design, awarded the Compasso d’Oro — to the Rampichino, the first mountain bike produced in Europe, and on to Bootleg, fixed-gear bicycles and the “Artist Bicycle” projects, each model begins as a concept before it becomes a product.
Steel, experimentation and visual culture converge in a unique language spanning more than fifty years of cycling history. With Colombo, the bicycle becomes a meeting ground for engineering, art and Italian design: an essential object capable of expressing speed, elegance and freedom.
1972/73 Antonio Colombo begins working in the family business, taking responsibility for relations with Eddy Merckx and Ernesto Colnago in connection with the Hour Record, achieved on a Colnago bicycle built with Columbus SL Record tubing.
1977 Columbus S.r.l. is established as an independent company dedicated to the production and sale of high-technology steel tubing for cycling.
1978 Columbus launches its AIR series of aerodynamic tubing.
Colombo joins Cinelli as majority shareholder, effectively becoming Cino Cinelli’s successor.
1979 Colombo commissions Italo Lupi to design the new Cinelli logo.
He presents CMX, the first European BMX.
1980 Colombo’s vision leads to the creation of the world’s most decorated bicycle: the Laser, designed together with Andrea Pesenti and the friends and collaborators of the Laser Team.
1981 GranCiclismo opens in Milan. Designed by Franco Raggi as a concept store, it presents the bicycle not simply as sport, but as art and design.
1983 Columbus launches SLX tubing, featuring special internal helical reinforcing ribs.
1984 The MAX series: oversized tubing with opposing elliptical profiles.
The Rampichino project: Europe’s first mountain bike.
Colombo meets Keith Haring and gives him one of the earliest examples. In return, Haring customises a “Laser” bicycle for him — a work that would become a symbol of the connection between design, art and cycling.
1986 Cinelli produces its first aerodynamic cycling helmet.
1989 The Passatore is born from the meeting of the road bike and the MTB — an early expression of what would become gravel.
1991 Laser becomes the first bicycle in history to win the Compasso d’Oro. It would go on to collect 28 gold medals at the Olympic Games and World Championships.
1993 Grammo: a record-breaking 110 g titanium stem, used by Lance Armstrong when he wins the World Championships.
1994 The urban Bootleg bicycle line launches with the slogans “Nera Riflettente e Cattiva” and “Are You Ready Bootleggers?”
1995 Spinaci road handlebar extensions become a worldwide success. They are later banned by the UCI despite tests and supporting evidence in their favour.
1995/2003 Antonio Colombo is a shareholder and President of Castelli, the technical cycling apparel company founded by his close friend Maurizio, who died prematurely. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Paola Pezzo wins mountain-bike gold wearing Castelli, and repeats the achievement at Sydney 2000 in the innovative Italian national team jersey.
1996/2007 Cinelli acquires 3T, with Colombo serving as President and Board Member.
Under his leadership, numerous handlebars and stems are patented and brought into production.
1998 Alter: an innovative, customisable CNC-machined aluminium stem.
2001 Ram, the first integrated carbon handlebar.
2005 Bootleg Mystic Rats becomes the first European fixed-gear bike.
2006 Vigorelli, an evolution of the Mystic Rats, becomes an icon of the emerging urban track-bike movement.
2007 XCR: a racing frame made from seamless duplex stainless-steel tubing.
2008 Colombo collaborates with Barry McGee on an exclusive limited-edition Supercorsa created with California streetwear company RVCA.
2009/2019 Cinelli sponsors the California collective MASH, creating co-branded track, cyclocross and fixed-gear bicycles, as well as handlebars, stems and bar tape.
2013 At Sotheby’s RED Auction in New York, a charity sale organised by Bono, Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson, an exclusive “Laser” sells for $50,000.
2015 Hobo is introduced: a long-distance adventure bike.
The Cinelli Art Program is created, led by Alessandra Cusatelli: a series of apparel collections developed in collaboration with Italian and international artists including Futura 2000, Barry McGee, Mike Giant, Anna Benaroya, Massimo Giacon and many others.
2019 To mark Columbus’s centenary, the iconic 100 tubing series is created, signed and individually numbered by Colombo.
2021 Colombo sells his companies and turns his focus to art and the creation of Colombo’s Archive.
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