The Detto Pietro

SPECIAL THANKS TO STEEL-VINTAGE.COM FOR THE IMAGES CONTAINED IN THIS ARTICLE

The Legacy Behind This Rare Italian Bicycle Brand

This weeks “Bicycle of the Week” a rare Italian bicycle the a Detto Pietro. In the rich landscape of cycling heritage, few names among vintage Italian bikes carry the unique distinction of Detto Pietro, one of the most intriguing Italian bike manufacturers based in Milan.

From a legendary cycling shoe producer to a creator of custom bicycle frames, this transformation made waves in Italian cycling circles. Founded by Pietro Bertelli in 1895 in the heart of Italy’s industrial north, Detto Pietro initially gained fame for their innovative Detto Pietro shoes. Consequently, these shoes became the footwear of choice for many professional riders.

While their reputation in classic bicycle restoration circles often centers on their shoes, dedicated vintage bike collectors know that Detto Pietro’s limited production of steel frame bikes represents some of the finest examples of Italian craftsmanship. Their transition into producing retro racing bikes in the early 1970s, demonstrated the same commitment to quality that had established their reputation.

This shoe and bicycle heritage continued until the late 1980s, when Detto Pietro ceased bike production to focus solely on shoe manufacturing. Their limited run, spanning just over a decade, makes their frames highly sought after in today’s vintage bicycle market.

Golden Details: A Closer Look at the Stunning Cromovelato Finish

Among vintage Italian bikes, this Italian bicycle stands out with its masterful blue cromovelato finish, a specialized painting technique unique to Italian steel frames. The vintage bike value of such finishes has steadily increased among collectors, particularly on models of this caliber.

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This particularly Detto Pietro showcases the process where the steel frame is first chrome-plated, then painted with a transparent colored lacquer, creating a deep, luminous effect that changes with different angles of light. Among the growing vintage bicycle market, such attention to detail exemplifies the highest standards of Italian cycling craftsmanship.

What truly sets this piece of cycling heritage apart is the harmonious pairing of its finish with genuine golden Mavic rims. These wheels featured actual gold-colored rims that complement the frame’s elaborate paintwork.

The combination of the cromovelato finish and period-correct components creates a stunning visual effect that vintage bike collectors particularly prize, making this Detto Pietro a standout example of 1980s bicycle design.

Premium Italian Bicycle Engineering: Columbus SL Tubing

At the heart of this Italian bicycle lies the renowned Columbus tubing, specifically their SL series, representing the pinnacle of 1980s frame building technology. These steel frame bikes featured Columbus SL (Super Leggeri) tubes that were double-butted, meaning the walls were thicker at the ends and thinner in the middle, offering an optimal balance of strength at the joints while reducing overall frame weight.

The specific tube set used in this custom bicycle frame features 0.6/0.8mm wall thickness in the main triangle, with carefully selected diameters of 28.6mm for the top tube and 31.7mm for the down tube.

The master frame builders at Detto Pietro’s Milan workshops utilized investment-cast lugs to join these tube. These types of lugs demonstrated exceptional craftsmanship. The bottom bracket shell and dropouts demonstrated precise engineering. The ridgid bb shell along with reinforced chainstays ensured optimal power transfer. These features improved performance while maintaining the characteristic road feel that Columbus SL tubing was famous for.

Pantographed Perfection: The Campagnolo Super Record Group Set

This exceptional Italian bicycle showcases the pinnacle of 1980s component engineering with its complete Campagnolo Super Record groupset, a collection of vintage groupsets that collectors consider the holy grail of classic bike components.

The jewel of this groupset is the pantographed Campagnolo Super Record crankset. This featured the distinctive Detto Pietro logo engraved into the outer face of the crank arms. This pantographing process was not just decorative but represented a manufacturer’s mark of pride that distinguished the finest racing machines of the era.

The groupset’s looks extends beyond the crankset to include period-correct components like the Campagnolo Record shifters and the matching Record hubs laced to those golden Mavic rims.

The Super Record rear derailleur has become legendary among enthusiasts pursuing classic bicycle restoration. Each component on this Italian bicycle has been carefully preserved. The original anodized finish was beautifully maintained as well. The custom paint on these shifters ads a nice touch to the overall looks.

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Collector’s Corner: Why This Detto Pietro Represents Peak 80s Italian Cycling

This rare Italian bicycle represents a unique intersection in cycling heritage, combining Detto Pietro’s limited production run with top-tier components of the 1980s. With fewer than 500 frames estimated to have been produced during their brief foray into retro racing bikes. Finding such a complete example has become increasingly challenging for vintage bike collectors.

The combination of Columbus tubing, complete Campagnolo Super Record groupset, and unique Mavic wheel specification makes this particular Italian bicycle especially significant in the classic road bikes community, embodying the perfect example of Italian cycling excellence.

If you enjoyed learning about this week’s featured bicycle, don’t miss out on more classic bike goodness! Visit our website at classicjapanesebicycles.com for an extensive collection of timeless Japanese bikes and their unique stories. Plus, check out our YouTube channel, Bicycle Restoration Man, for detailed restoration videos and showcases of our finished projects. Subscribe and join our community of bike enthusiasts!

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