After almost a quarter of century I find myself in a huge metropolis like Los Angeles, where if you don’t own a car you are pretty much isolated (and marginalized). But even in LA over the last couple of years owning a bicycle has become hip and green. Even the most important fashion designers are launching their two wheelers complete with logos and different options. Little by little the bike is becoming a design object. You can notice this not only on the streets but in department stores windows along side the latest clothing collections.
If you are looking for the perfect bicycle I strongly suggest you to take a look at the unique products that Bertelli Bici (the Italian slang for bike/bikes) has to offer. Francesco Bertelli is a young Italian who moved to New York a couple of years ago. He grew up in a small town like me, and since he was a kid used to ride his bike for everyday life. Now Francesco builds these unique pieces that are conquering the hearts of New Yorkers. It all started because he could not find the design that he had in mind: for Francesco, bike manufacturers nowadays have bad taste and their logos are too big. The Bertelli Bici are assembled by hand with a mix of brand new and vintage parts found at flea markets, collectors and bike shops. The design is very clean and simple with skinny tubes to shape the frame. Another significant feature is the originality of the unusual handle bars that you can see on the Domenica or Performa models. Also I find very intriguing the use of wood for the handle bar and leather for the saddles. Your next Bertelli Bici won’t have logos or stickers, just a great design and selected parts with colors inspired by the army vehicles of the ‘60s and ‘70s. The starting price is $1,500 which include complete installation and fine-tuning. Also it is important to point out that Francesco tests all the bicycles for one day before handing it over to the new owner. I am sure that his bikes now will receive some love, even from the West Coast, I won’t be surprised to see one of his creations on the Santa Monica bike trail.

For more information visit: www.bertellibici.com/index.php

-- By Alessandro Gambaro

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