Chesini a less known Italian bicycle brand

Chesini is an Italian bicycle brand that also has a piece of Belgian history. Frank Hoste has been an importer of Chesini bicycles since 1991. This explains why you occasionally come across a Chesini racing bike in Belgium.

The most important Chesini models are

Topmodels

• Chesini Precision
• Chesini X Uno
• Chesini Arena
• Chesini Innovation

Just not a top model

• Chesini Gran Premio
• Chesini Criterium
• Chesini Olimpiade

The history of Chesini bikes

Chesini Bicycles was founded in 1925 by Gelmino Chesini who released the Chesini Biciprecision sports bike that same year in his workshop in Nesente, a small hamlet a few kilometers from Verona (Northern Italy).

After^, World War II, the company underwent a significant boost and so in 1947 the bicycle factory “Cicli Valletti” was acquired, located in Via San Paolo in Verona, which became the new headquarters of Chesini from then on.

In the 1960s, under the leadership of Gelmino's son Gabriele, the economic boom made Chesini also focus on other activities such as the Singer sewing machine sector.

The main activity, however, remained the bicycle industry with special attention to innovation and high quality, which earned Chesini the International Prize Ercole d'Oro in 1972, a prize awarded to a company that values innovation.

Chesini only started sponsoring professional teams from the 90s of last century but had earlier successes with the amateurs. In 1963 Flaviano Vicentini became world champion in the 100km in Ronse and the following two years the Italian amateur team became world champion in the 100km.

The new logo, introduced in the 1970s, therefore mentions 3 volte campione del mondo (3 times world champion).

Chesini in Belgium

The history of Chesini in Belgium starts in 1991 when former professional cyclist Frank Hoste founded his own bicycle company with a paint shop. He first imports fully painted Chesini frames, but soon only clear frames that he then paints in his own paint shop.

To do this, he has to follow a course and pass an exam at the Chesini headquarters in Verona under the watchful eye of Gabriele Chesini. With this he acquired the import duty in the Benelux.

Frank Hoste also drove a Chesini during his career that can still be admired in the Koers museum in Roeselare.

From 1990 Chesini started sponsoring several teams, an overview of the teams can be found below:

• 1990: Chesini
• 1991: La William – Saltos – Duvel
• 1992: La William – Duvel
• 1993: La William – Duvel
• 1994: Trident – Shick
• 1995: Asfra – Orlans

The most famous rider to ever ride a Chesini bike was Peter Van Petegem in 1994 with the Trident – Shick team.

In the Low Countries, Chesini bikes do not really belong to the top of Italian vintage racing bikes, but they are gems with a lot of attention to the engravings (pantographs) on the various components such as handlebar stem, frame, seat post, crankset, ... Take a look at the photos below

Chesini also made (and still does) cycling clothing such as jerseys, shorts, caps, ... you can even buy these online on their website. Chesini also still makes racing bikes and recently a steel model is again for sale.