Following on from our October review of “The Vintage Bianchi Book” here, how better to celebrate the launching of an open edition of the book in softcover but with an interview with collector extraordinaire Carsten Rademacher? The man they call “Dottore Bianchi” is the curator/custodian of the impressive collection revealed in the book and was happy to talk to us about his celeste passion.
PEZ: In the book it states that your journey into the world of vintage Bianchis began with participation in l’Eroica in Tuscany in 2013. What was your experience in cycling before that?
Carsten Rademacher: Like everyone else I grew up knowing how to ride a bike but as an adult had no real interest in it. A friend read about l’Eroica and suggested we do this crazy ride on old bicycles in Tuscany. I did not even have a bike! My friend fixed me up with a 1970s Gazelle Champion and it was a revelation. I had never ridden a racing bicycle and was amazed at its responsiveness and light weight. It was so much fun. Then out on a ride I met an older gentleman on a Bianchi. I was impressed with the celeste colour and when we chatted he said he was considering moving on from cycling. The result was that I bought his Specialissima, a high-quality product of Bianchi’s Reparto Corse racing department. That was the one I took to l’Eroica.
PEZ: What was your impression of l’Eroica?
Carsten Rademacher: It was an eye-opener for me. So many beautiful bicycles and so many more Bianchis! I signed up for the “medio” 135 km route. When I reached the 100 km mark I stopped to phone my wife and tell her I had, for the first time ever, ridden that distance on a bike. But there were still 35 kms to go and it was really a struggle in the end. But I have not missed an edition of l’Eroica in Chianti since. I have also ridden at other Eroica events in the Netherlands and Germany as well as other retro rides.
PEZ: Enthused for vintage bicycles as you were after this how did you begin your collection?
Carsten Rademacher: I began by buying the whole range of classic Italian racing bikes, from Pogliaghi to Gios, but by 2016 I realized that I really wanted to concentrate on Bianchis so I sold the others. The celeste color had an immediate emotional impact on me. What began as an aesthetic attraction gradually evolved into a deeper understanding of Bianchi’s unique historical continuity. Bianchi represents an unbroken racing identity since the late 19th century, combining craftsmanship, history, and cultural significance.
PEZ: Collections change over time and even with that singular Bianchi focus how did you proceed?
Carsten Rademacher: At first I went for the more recent models but as I made connections in the vintage bicycle world my contacts began to offer some truly remarkable machines. I then decided to collect Bianchis with first-rate provenance and documentation. As well, I have memorabilia that ranges from jerseys to advertising items to water bottles.
PEZ: Your Bianchi collection ranges from the 1920s up until the late 1980s. The significance of these dates?
Carsten Rademacher: One of the bicycles shown in the book is a 1989 Proto. These TIG-welded models were built between 1987 and 1992 and to me represent the final epoch in steel bicycles from Bianchi.
PEZ: What do you consider the jewels in the collection?
Carsten Rademacher: I have bicycles ridden by pro racers Rudi Altig, Felice Gimondi, and Johan De Muynck, amongst many others. But perhaps the most exciting is a 1949 Leggerissimo, Serial Number 171826, built for Fausto Coppi. Seven bikes were built for Coppi that year, with five for the road and two for the track. This example was the sixth one built of the seven. The documentation for the bicycle includes its listing on the so-called “Pinella Register,” a record of the bikes made by the Reparto Corse. Reparto Corse bicycle for team use in later years had serial numbers beginning with “999,” which was our choice for the number of copies of the limited edition book!
PEZ: Many of the bikes in the book appear to be in excellent condition. Do you undertake any restoration work?
Carsten Rademacher: None of the bicycles in the collection have been repainted. Some, like the 1985 Centenario, have barely been ridden while many of the earlier bicycles show their signs of age. I believe that patina shows the machine’s history so scratches or other marks are acceptable. That said, I do try to find bicycles in the best condition possible.
PEZ: Do you ever ride the bikes in the collection?
Carsten Rademacher: Oh, yes! Obviously some are off-limits–crashing the Coppi bike would be unforgiveable! And some of the earlier bikes, say from the 1920s and 1930s, are nearly a century old and understandably a bit fragile. Perhaps my favourites for riding are the Bianchis used by the Gewiss Team in the 1980s. I have a good selection of these–11 currently!
PEZ: Other teams represented that used Bianchi bicycles?
Carsten Rademacher: Along with Bianchi, there is Bianchi-Piaggio, Bianchi Faema, Mobylette, Salvarani, Sammontana…there is quite a history for Reparto Corse bicycles and pro teams.
PEZ: There are several bicycles featured with the early Campagnolo Cambio Corsa and Paris-Roubaix shifting systems. These are the ones requiring the rider to pedal backwards and reach behind and downwards along the seatstay to shift. Have you actually ridden these?
Carsten Rademacher: Well, I can say I have ridden a bike with this system but not attempted to shift!
PEZ: The descriptions in the book are very detailed. There are evolutionary changes in models that were often produced for long runs. Considering you only became what one might term a “serious” collector a decade ago, how did you acquire so much knowledge about the brand?
Carsten Rademacher: I am fortunate in have received generous assistance from experts in the field, primarily in Italy. There are people are familiar with every model nuance and I have benefited from their help. There are some specialist publications covering Bianchi. There is a wonderful organization in Umbria, the Registro Storico Cicli, whose members undertake research on vintage bicycles and this has also been very useful. With all these facts at my disposal, my friends have taken to calling me “Dottore Bianchi.”
PEZ: What is next for the collection?
Carsten Rademacher: I was lucky to be able to house some of the bicycles in a building near my home that once served as a warehouse for a local bike shop. I enjoy spending time in my Vintage Bianchi Room (although the lack of a fine Italian espresso machine has been pointed out to me). With the years, I see myself as a curator or custodian of these fine bicycles. Recognizing their historical importance, my goal is to maintain and document them to the fullest extent. It has been a real pleasure to work on the book with my collaborators so that many more people can share in the enjoyment I have in the collection.
“The Vintage Bianchi Book”, featuring the collection of Carsten Rademacher
Photos by Dirk Rademacher
Second edition, 300pp., profusely Illustrated, softbound, with trilingual text (German, Italian, English)
ISBN: 979-12-243-0122-6
Price: 38 Euros (for non-European orders contact the publisher directly)
The book is available from Corsa Classic here.
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