Exhibition "Quei temerari sulle macchine a due ruote. L'età del biciclo 1870 - 1890"

From 1 November 2025 to 2 November 2025, From 8 November 2025 to 9 November 2025, From 15 November 2025 to 16 November 2025, From 22 November 2025 to 23 November 2025...

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SHORT HISTORY OF THE BICYCLE AND ITS DEVELOPMENT: 1870-1890

Loosely based on the title of a famous film of the 1960s (Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines", which also starred Alberto Sordi), the AcdB Museum - Alessandria Città delle Biciclette presents an exhibition dedicated to the beginnings of European bicycle history. The 1870s and 1880s coincide with what we can call the short bicycle season.

Following the introduction of the first pedal operated bicycles - such as the michaudine brought to Alessandria by Carlo Michel - the search for greater speed quickly led to the creation of front drive wheels with increasingly larger dimensions, arriving at bicycles which were as tall as a person.

The maximum size was reached by the so-called Grand-Bi, such as those designed and built in the workshop of the Parisian mechanic Victor Renard, or by the High Wheeler produced in English speaking countries starting from 1868: in 1870, the Englishman James Starley patented the first bicycle, called "Ariel", which was built in partnership with William Hillman. To make the bicycle go as fast as possible the dimensions of the front wheel were gradually increased - between 90 and 150 cm in diameter - to cover a greater distance with each turn of the pedal. The rear wheel was used to keep the bicycle balanced.


The English name, penny-farthing, recalls the dimensions of old coins: the penny, with a large diameter, next to the smaller farthing. The first competitions are held on bicycles which saw the first winners of national championships emerge, particularly in the 1880s.

This is the case of Giuseppe Loretz (1860-1944) from Milan, winner of the Italian speed championships held in Turin in 1884. Loretz is the first Italian champion in the history of cycling, but also the first winner of a national championship in the history of Italian sport. He also wins the National title in 1885, in the "resistance" category, and in 1866 in the "tricycle" category. During his career he competes in 53 races, winning 31 and arriving second 11 times.

This exhibition, dedicated to the bicycle and its daring protagonists, has been made possible by the generosity and availability of several people we wish to thank: Marco and Lorenzo Albera, passionate collectors from Turin and descendants of Giuseppe Loretz, as well as the family of Giovanni Gerbi (Giovanni Barbero, Michela Barbero and Davide Maddaleno), who lent the bicycle owned by the champion from Asti.

At the start of the museum exhibition is a Grand-Bi model, made in America, a gift from Anna and Nicoletta Vogogna. That bicycle was constantly used by the Vogogna family for the entire first half of the 20th century.



Inauguration

Friday 31 January 2025 - 6 pm
Conference room of Palazzo Monferrato
via San Lorenzo, 21 - Alessandria.
Free admission


The exhibition is open on Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Check for any variations on Public holidays.



Free admission.

The exhibition will run for all of 2025.

Palazzo del Monferrato - ACdB Museo - 1512x Alessandria

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