A Century in Motion
In 2025, Chesini celebrates a hundred years of Italian craftsmanship, innovation, and devotion to the art of bicycle making. Founded in Verona in 1925, the brand has journeyed from the golden age of steel road racing to the modern renaissance of bespoke cycling.
Today, Chesini continues to handcraft custom bicycles in Verona, blending timeless techniques with contemporary performance. For cyclists, collectors, and connoisseurs of design, Chesini remains a symbol of enduring passion and quiet refinement. As we honor this milestone, we move forward on the same timeless path that began with Gelmino Chesini a century ago.
1925 - 2025
100 Years of Chesini
1925–1930
“O Chesini, O Cammini”
Chesini was born in 1925 in the quiet village of Nesente, just outside Verona, when Gelmino Chesini—an accomplished mechanic with a visionary spirit—handcrafted his first racing model: the Chesini Biciprecision.
Praised for its technical finesse and clean, purposeful lines, the Biciprecision set the tone for a brand defined by precision and artisanal excellence.
In those early years, the workshop built lightweight steel frames for local racers, one at a time. But word spread quickly—carried by performance and pride. Gelmino’s motto, “O Chesini, o cammini” (“Either you ride a Chesini, or you walk”), soon echoed through Verona, a bold promise from a rising name in Italian cycling.
1940–1960
Where the Road Widens
In the aftermath of World War II, Chesini entered a new chapter of growth and ambition. In 1947, Gelmino Chesini moved the workshop from the quiet village of Nesente to Via San Paolo, in the heart of Verona. The new space—part factory, part showroom—marked a turning point: from hillside atelier to city landmark.
As Italy embraced a cycling boom in the 1950s, Chesini’s handcrafted race bikes found a broader audience. With demand rising, production quietly expanded, allowing more riders to discover the brand’s signature blend of elegance and performance. By the end of the 1950s, Chesini had become a trusted name across the region—still rooted in craft, but now riding on wider roads.
1960–1970
The Elegance of Speed
The 1960s propelled Chesini onto the international stage. With championship victories in 1963, 1964, and 1965, its racing bikes proved their mettle at the highest level—earning not just medals, but the admiration of cyclists across Europe. Each triumph echoed the values that had shaped Chesini from the beginning: precision, grace, and unwavering spirit.
As the world accelerated, the Verona workshop remained steadfast—devoted to refining its race machines, perfecting every curve and weld. At its heart were Gelmino and his son Gabriele, working side by side, united by a simple belief: when crafted with care, speed becomes a form of elegance.
1970-1980
Precision and Prestige
The 1970s were a decade of refinement for Chesini. As Italy’s passion for cycling flourished, the brand expanded its road racing line and embraced technical advances—lighter Columbus steel tubing, refined lugs, and signature chrome details. Chesini bikes from this era became known for their crisp lines, intricate head badges, and unmistakable flair.
The Olimpiade, a flagship model of the time, embodied the spirit of performance. Built with Olympic ambition and Italian craftsmanship, it became a favorite among serious riders.
As exports quietly grew across Europe and into the U.S., Chesini’s reputation traveled with them—carrying the soul of Verona in every frame, elegant, enduring, and unmistakably Italian.
1980–1990
The Golden Era
The 1980s marked Chesini’s creative peak. Under Gabriele Chesini’s lead, the brand became internationally renowned for its masterful steel frames, bold paint fades, and pantographed details. Models like the Precision, X-Uno, and Arena embodied the elegance and performance that defined the decade.
Chesini also embraced innovation with the Recordman, an aerodynamic time-trial bike reflecting the era’s obsession with speed. As production expanded, so did the brand’s global reach—earning loyal riders across Europe, the U.S., and Japan. Yet through all the growth, Chesini remained true to its craft, with Verona still at the heart of it all.
1990–2020
Heritage Reclaimed
The 1990s opened with the bold Innovation model and a presence in the pro peloton with La William–Duvel. As the industry turned to carbon and mass production, Chesini took a different path—crafting steel with soul.
From the Capriolo MTB to alu/carbon blends and elegant city bikes, the brand evolved with quiet confidence. By the 2000s, it had fully embraced its boutique identity—offering made-to-measure frames from its historic workshop in Verona.
This era brought a refined range: classic lugged road bikes, tig-welded gravel builds, and urban icons like the Torpedo and Vispula. In 2015, Chesini marked its 90th anniversary with the 90th Anniversary Special—a steel road bike blending vintage flair with modern precision.
These decades defined a philosophy: bicycles as chef d’œuvres—crafted to last, and made to inspire.
2020–Present
Cent’anni e Oltre
Now marking its 100th year, Chesini stands as a beacon of Italian cycling excellence—still hand-building steel bicycles in Verona, just as it did in 1925. Every frame carries the spirit of forward motion: crafted by hand, guided by vision, and rooted in purpose.
To honor the milestone, Chesini unveiled the Cent’anni model—a limited-edition masterpiece that blends timeless aesthetics with modern engineering. Like the 90th Anniversary Special before it, the Cent’anni reflects a century of passion distilled into two wheels.
The Strabia series leads the current chapter—gravel bikes like the Strabia OHA and Strabia VIC, built for adventure and performance across varied terrain. On the road, the Norma and Normo models translate Chesini’s signature elegance into modern custom builds—offering carbon or steel forks, generous tire clearance, and disc brakes.
A hundred years on, every Chesini remains a chef d’œuvre—a soulful expression of craftsmanship, beauty, and a legacy built to endure.
Chasing Glory: A Racing Legacy
Chesini’s story has been written in the language of speed, precision, and quiet determination. In the golden 1960s, Flaviano Vicentini rode a Chesini to victory at the Amateur World Road Championship—soon followed by two consecutive team world titles in 1964 and 1965.
A new generation carried the flame into the 1980s, crowned by a Junior World Championship in 1989. By the early 1990s, Chesini had entered the pro peloton with Belgian team La William–Duvel. Riders like Frank Hoste and Luc Colyn brought Chesini frames to Europe’s great classics.
Racing wasn’t just for the spotlight. Throughout the 1970s to 1990s, amateur teams, local clubs, and long-distance riders chose Chesini for their journeys—Gran Fondos, national circuits, and iconic events like Paris–Brest–Paris.
Altogether, four world titles and decades of devotion mark Chesini’s racing heritage. And in 2016, that spirit reached the Paralympic Games, as Michele Ferrarin rode a custom Chesini to silver in Rio—proof that even a century on, Chesini still races with heart.