75+ Years of Radical Cycling Design

From a Milanese workshop to a global icon of racing, design and urban cycling culture, Cinelli has always treated the bicycle as an object of performance and imagination.

​

ORIGINS

1948-1960

In post-war Milan, former pro racer Cino Cinelli begins obsessively improving the tools of cycling. His early innovations in safety, materials, and ergonomics will redefine modern bicycle components and lay the foundation of Cinelli’s design-driven ethos.

​

1948

Cinelli is founded in Milan

Cino Cinelli establishes the company in Milan, beginning a 75-year journey of engineering obsession and design innovation.

1960

Launch of the 1A stem + iconic handlebars

At the Rome Olympics, Cinelli debuts the aluminum 1A stem and matching bar series, featuring a unique parallel-closing safety system and distinctive “milky” anodization. These become the brand’s first true global icons.

1960

Merckx & Gimondi race Cinelli bars

Eddy Merckx and Felice Gimondi both choose Cinelli bars; the “64” becomes known as the Gimondi and the “65” as the Merckx in every European bike shop.

1960

Olympic gold on Supercorsa

Viktor Kapitonov wins Olympic Road Race gold aboard a Cinelli Supercorsa—so sought-after that in Olympic years all Supercorsa production goes to athletes, not customers.

1960

The Unicanitor: world's first plastic saddle

Cinelli revolutionizes saddles with the Unicanitor, replacing leather forever and becoming the blueprint for modern racing saddles. Used by Merckx, Gimondi, and the era’s top champions.

​

RACING & STEEL MASTERY

1968-1980

Cinelli evolves from niche innovator to world-class racing brand. The Supercorsa defines performance steel, while athletes and designers worldwide elevate Cinelli from workshop legend to international icon.

1968

First hour record on a Cinelli

Ole Ritter sets the hour record on a Cinelli Supercorsa for the first time in history.

1979

Cinelli's new logo by Italo Lupi

A bold, modern identity replaces heraldry entirely. The Lupi logo quickly becomes the most imitated cycling logo of the modern era.

1979

CMX: lightest BMX of its time

TIG-welded experimental construction by Andrea Pesenti leads directly to techniques later used on the Laser.

​

DESIGN REVOLUTION

1980-1991

Under Antonio Colombo’s artistic direction, Cinelli fuses radical Italian design with high-performance cycling. Collaborations with avant-garde designers and artists break every rule, culminating in the groundbreaking Laser.

1980

Collaboration with Alchimia design group

Mendini, Guerriero, and Ceccariglia redesign Cinelli’s aesthetic across frames, apparel, catalogues, and accessories—blending postmodern art with performance cycling.

1981

Gran Ciclismo store opens

Italy’s first true lifestyle cycling store, designed by Franco Raggi with lighting by Castiglioni, selling Cinelli and global cult objects (Oakley, Patagonia). Clients include Norman Foster and Eric Clapton.

1981

The first Cinelli Laser is unveiled

A radical aerodynamic concept aimed at hour records and TTT. Only ~300 frames are built over 10 years, many for national teams. The Laser becomes a design and racing icon.

1983

Fornasetti Supercorsa

A limited-edition Supercorsa featuring graphics by legendary Italian design house Fornasetti.

1984

Patent of the "Spoiler" BB shell

An innovative investment-cast bottom bracket that channels airflow to remove humidity; widely adopted by other high-end framebuilders.

1985

Rampichino: Europe's first mountain bike

Cinelli introduces the Rampichino, which becomes Italy’s MTB market leader and pioneers the European MTB movement.

1986

Keith Haring paints the Laser

Haring receives a Cinelli MTB and Laser; later he surprises Colombo with a fully hand-painted Laser featuring his signature graphic figures. It becomes a symbol of Cinelli’s art-meets-cycling spirit.

1986

Cork Ribbon is invented

Cinelli mixes natural cork with EVA to create the first comfortable, shock-absorbing bar tape. Andy Hampsten famously wins the Giro d’Italia using Cork Ribbon with no gloves. Still used today in nearly original form.

​

URBAN CULTURE & ICONS

1991-2010

Cinelli becomes the global reference point for the emerging urban cycling movement. Experiments in titanium, CNC machining, graphic worlds, and subculture collaborations redefine what a bike brand can be.

1993

Grammo stem released

The lightest production quill stem ever (110 g, triple-alloy titanium). Lance Armstrong wins the World Championships with it.

1993

Bootleg line launches

Cinelli names its previously underground all-black hybrid bikes “Bootleg.” Ridden across deserts, cities, and Ironman courses, with graphics by Alessandro Pessoli (collected by MoMA). Precursor to today’s urban performance category.

1995

Spinaci extensions launched

A game-changing ergonomic innovation selling 20,000 units per month before the controversial UCI ban in 1997.

1998

Alter stem redefines CNC aesthetics

Extreme CNC machining allows huge customizable graphics; Mario Cipollini famously rides a Pamela Anderson version.

1999

Last major race win on a quill stem

Lance Armstrong wins the Tour de France on a Cinelli 101—the final major victory in cycling history on a quill stem.

1999

Cinelli enters the Italian Design Dictionary

Joining Ferrari, Alessi, Vespa, and other giants, Cinelli is recognized as a pillar of Italian design heritage.

2001

RAM: first one-piece carbon bar/stem

The RAM becomes an immediate hit with pros; Gilberto Simoni wins the 2003 Giro citing unparalleled stiffness and tactility.

2006

Vigorelli launches

A simple but high-performance aluminum track frame that becomes a global urban icon—ridden by national teams, messengers, designers, Kanye West, and Red Hook champions. Still produced today.

2007

XCR: first stainless steel racing frame

In collaboration with Columbus, Cinelli releases the world’s first stainless steel race frame. Later, a Rapha limited edition appears.

2008

Barry McGee Supercorsa

A limited-edition artwork frame exhibited alongside interpretations by KAWS and C.R. Stecyk II in San Francisco.

2009

Cinelli x MASH collaboration begins

The world’s first urban-specific performance track frame, the Cinelli–MASH, is released and becomes an instant subcultural phenomenon. The team wins the first-ever Red Hook team classification (2013).

2009

Cinelli x Mike Giant

A series of limited-edition RAM bars and bar tapes featuring the legendary tattoo artist’s graphics become global best-sellers.

2010

Cinelli sponsors the Red Hook Crit

Cinelli becomes the first cycling company to sponsor the event, dominating for 5 years; later continues winning with Cinelli-Chrome.

​

MODERN ERA

2010-Present

Cinelli expands into adventure cycling, limited-edition artist collaborations, and modern carbon performance while continuing to win world titles and influence global cycling culture.

2012

Hobo adventure line launches

Cinelli enters the adventure touring category; the “Tour d’Afrique” film with Lucas Brunelle, Chas Christiansen, and Dario Toso debuts at the Bicycle Film Festival.

2012

Rapha & Supreme collaborations

Limited-edition co-branded products leverage Cinelli’s status as the most authentic brand in urban cycling.

2013

Laser "Nostra" auctioned at Soethby's

The Laser Nostra sells for USD $50,000 at the Red Auction organized by Jonathan Ive, Marc Newson, and Bono.

2014

Cinelli Art Program Launched

A global collaboration series featuring world-renowned artists, expressed across caps, accessories, and products.

2014

Futura2000 custom carbon track frame

Athlete Alfred Bobe Jr wins Monster Track for the fourth time on a hand-painted Made-in-Italy carbon Cinelli. Futura paints a second version as a gift to Antonio Colombo.

2015

Cinelli-Chrome wins Red Hook team classification

The most prestigious team award in track bike criterium racing.

2021

Ayuso wins Giro d'Italia U23

Riding the Cinelli Superstar “Featherweight” team edition.

2021

Baroncini wins U23 World Championship

Becomes world champion aboard the Cinelli Pressure.

2022

Mendini Nemo Gravel released

A Made-in-Italy limited edition created with the Alessandro Mendini estate—continuing Cinelli’s 40-year dialogue between cycling and design.

2024

Cinelli x Larry VS Harry collaboration

Cinelli partners with Larry VS Harry, Danish pioneer Cargo bike company, to create a limited-edition "long john" style cargo bike,  blending contemporary street aesthetics with cycling couriers' technical heritage. The project extends Cinelli’s legacy of cultural crossover collaborations.

2025

Cinelli x Oakley collaboration

Cinelli and Oakley join forces on a landmark collaboration unifying two icons of performance design. The project revisits the roots of Cinelli’s early lifestyle era—when Gran Ciclismo was the first store in Italy to introduce Oakley—while projecting both brands into a new future of cycling culture.

2025

Yinka Ilori x Cinelli

Cinelli collaborates with Yinka Ilori on a bold, color-rich limited edition that merges African diasporic visual language with Italian design craft. The collection celebrates joy, community, and self-expression on the bike, extending Cinelli’s decades-long tradition of working with the world’s most influential artists.