Iride Bicycles
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Iride Bicycles Established in 1919 in northern Italy, is the brand of bicycles manufactured at the Gemmati Velocipedi factory in the Veneto, near the city of Venice. The trademark was originated by Umberto Gemmati and continues to be produced by his descendants. The bicycles are currently built by grandson Carlo Gemmati.
In Italian, the word iride means the iris of the eye and is pronounced like the root of the word iridescent.
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Race Winning Era
Iride had a race winning heyday during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Victories on road courses and velodromes were made by notable racers including Nino Florean. The office of the factory displays many trophies. The nearby Mecchia velodrome, in Portogruaro, is featured in historical photos of the racers.[1]
Below is a link to a Flickr site with a story, in Italian, where Leopoldo Pirelli visits the Iride factory in 1919 trying to convince Umberto Gemmati to sell the new automobile tires, but Gemmati has to forcefully tell him that he will stick with bicycles.
Hand Made Steel Frames
The company is best known for producing hand-brazed lugged steel frame bikes using primarily Columbus tubing, also Oria tubing; and mainly utilizing Miche components because of the high performance[2] and the fact that they are close by in San Vendemiano. The Iride workshop pays special attention to finish, using a large powder coating oven. Gemmati Velocipedi also uses imported aluminum frames and Italian components to make a range of more ordinary bicycles including (what Americans would call a hybrid) their popular City Bike.
The Classic Sports Car of Bicycles
The prestigious Robb Report called Iride "The Maserati of Bicycles"[3] for the similar history of the two brands: early race success, uncomplicated classic Italian design, up to current manufacture of premium road vehicles.
Iride is also grouped with "top bike makers" in Barron's,[4] and called "nimble" in Details.[5]
Iride bicycles have been available in North America since 2010.
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