[CR]Binda

(Example: Framebuilders:Jack Taylor)

From: <Hughethornton@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2005 17:38:32 EDT
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Binda

I have recently acquired a late 1940's Italian bike with the brand name Binda but cannot find any record of this brand and wonder if anyone has any information.

The head and seat tube decals are a sort of African shield shape with F.LLI (Fratelli?? = brothers) at the top; BINDA across the centre; and what I deduce to be MONVALLE at the bottom. There appear to be vertical world champion stripes in the background (the colours are quite faded and may have changed, but there are the right number and some appear to be the right colour).

Monvalle is a small town in Lombardy, near Cittiglio where Alfredo Binda was born. In 1950 its population was less than 1,000 and the most common name there is Binda, so the brand may have nothing to do with Alfredo Binda. Obviously Binda cycles were not big business. Doing a search on Fratelli Binda came up with an item suggesting that at one time there were two brother Bindas racing, Alfredo and the other unnamed. Quite possible considering how many brothers he had, but I had never heard of another racing brother, who must have been totally eclipsed by Alfredo.

Binda apparently managed the Italian road racing squad in the forties, so he stayed on the cycling scene and there is still today a women's race named after him.

If I find out more, I will let you know and if you have any information, please pass it on so that we can get the complete picture.

Hugh Thornton
Cheshire, England