No candy -- COOKIES!

Here's Heather hard at work making BACI (kisses) in the CycleItalia test-kitchen. We enjoy these in Piedmont as "baci di dama", sugary pillows of dough with a chocolate/hazelnut connecting two of them sort of like an Oreo cookie -- but of course much better! The board she's making them on has seen a lot of use lately as our semi-annual ravioli party was last week. We cranked out (yours truly makes the pasta while other guests fill and crimp the ravioli) around 500 of the tasty morsels before calling it an afternoon and enjoying some vino and snacks.

More Eye Candy

Another Mondonico, this time it's Lorenzo's in the classic tricolore paint scheme. Jim Allen has one more to paint and I asked for a horizontal tricolore rather than vertical as on this one. I'll wait to see 'em both before deciding which one to put together though I have to admit to being more fond of the "fastback" style seat lug/seat stay junction on the first bikes Mondonico built for us than this version with larger diameter stays. All the lettering is under the clearcoat with the exception of the black Campagnolo logo on the top tube.

Eye Candy Completed

Snow's melted and Heather's bike is complete but as yet unridden. This Mondonico is around 7-8 years old now but of course looks wonderful with its fresh red paint-job and new wheels. Heather wanted the same parts she's ridden with in Italy since Antonio and Mauro Mondonico along with Torelli's "Chairman Bill" McGann so kindly provided bikes to us. Yours truly purchased another later and we commissioned Mondonico/Torelli to include two bikes for us when the 20th Anniversary Torelli bikes were created - which now reside in Italy. My bike like this one is at painter Jim Allen's CycleSmiths shop now, photos of that one when it arrives.

Eye Candy

There were a lot of gorgeous bicycles at Interbike, make no mistake. There's nothing more beautiful to us than one of these--made by Antonio Mondonico himself. This is Heather's, just back from painter Jim Allen of CycleSmiths after many years of life in Italy in the original Mondonico "aranciata" color, now resplendent in red. She likes the Campagnolo Veloce 9-speed triple stuff that was originally installed so it'll go back on with freshly rebuilt Ergopower controls and a new set of Campagnolo Record/Torelli Triumph wheels. It's supposed to snow here tonite so who knows when this beauty will be back on the road again?

Interbike Expo 2009 Finale

Ciao Bella (twice)! To wrap up the Interbike posts I couldn't resist this one as the nice ladies manning the Campagnolo booth were only too happy to pose for this photo. Models like these are always looking for more work so they're as interested in free publicity as the next person. Athena 11 is the big news as an addition to Super Record, Record and Chorus while Centaur and Veloce continue as 10-speed offerings. Our beloved triple sort of lives on as Comp Triple for 2010 though none of the 2010 "Ultrashift" Ergo levers will work it--you'll need to go back to '09's "QS" (which are still available according to tech-wizard and all around nice-guy D. Large at Campagnolo North America) We're happy to continue with them as "Official Suppliers" for 2010.

Interbike Expo Part 4

We've always been Bianchi fans. We still have a couple of them residing at Heather's folk's place in Santa Barbara to ride during our visits there. It doesn't hurt that one of our Italian cycling friend's family is very close to Felice Gimondi, who remains a celebrity spokesman for the brand. Recently Bianchi's been through a rebirth of interest in the US via the hipster/fixter fad--their Pista models are highly coveted by those folks. In the past few years I've thought they have way too many models with little difference between many of them. This DOLOMITI model is special though--steel with chromed headtube lugs, room for fatter tires and even fender eyelets! They equipped it with Campagnolo's new Athena 11-speed group as well. There are a few components I'd change if one were to find its way into my collection but overall it's a beautiful homage to their heritage and history that can be ridden every day.

Interbike Expo Part 3

If I still managed a large volume, high-end pro bike shop, one of these would be on its way from Italy! 100% Made-in-Italy of course and specifically designed to wash bicycles indoors without making a mess. Jugs of degreaser, soap and water are stored below and connected with flexible hoses so you can easily clean bikes before service. A compressed air connection makes blow-drying easy. We use some BiciSupport equipment in Italy including a wash-stand I've had for almost 20 years. It was great to see Italian companies new to the show coming to Interbike's Italian Pavilion. As you can see they're proud to be Made-in-Italy. Too many cycling products these days have Italian names on them but are actually made elsewhere.