Tullio Campagnolo
Encyclopedia
Gentullio Campagnolo (26 August 1901–3 February 1983) was an Italian
racing cyclist and inventor. He patented the quick release skewer
and founded the Campagnolo
bicycle component company.
Campagnolo began his amateur cycling career in 1922. In 1930, he patented the quick-release skewer that became the standard for the industry, a design still used today. In 1933, the first quick release hubs were produced by Campagnolo. Also in 1933, he patented the sliding hub, dual seatstay rod-operated, back-pedal derailleur ultimately known as the Cambio Corsa. In 1949, he introduced the Gran Sport twin-cable, parallelogram rear derailleur at the Milan trade show, the first modern derailleur.
Tullio Campagnolo was one of the greatest legends in bicycle component invention and manufacture. He was born in Vicenza, Italy in 1901 to a middle class family and began his tinkering of inventions at his father's hardware store. He was an avid cyclist winning many races, such as Giro di Lombardia, Milan-San Remo and several Olympic heats.
While racing through the Italian Dolomites on November 11, 1927 with freezing weather and snow, he lost the race victory; due to a wing nut he could not remove to repair his flat tire. The title that Campagnolo sacrificed through the Croce D’ Aune Pass encouraged him to develop the quick release wheel locking mechanism. This quick release skewer, which is in use and famous today, enables a bicycle wheel to be removed and re-attached quickly and was the first of his many inventions from his father’s Vicenza workshop that he is well known for.
Campagnolo was also an innovator in materials engineering for bicycle component design. In 1961, Campagnolo was the first to produce components using low-pressure magnesium casting and he used new aluminum alloys and titanium. In 1966 he patented the Campagnolo self-centering wine-bottle opener.
Many of cycling's greatest champions used Campagnolo components, including Fausto Coppi
, Gino Bartali
, Eddy Merckx
, Bernard Hinault
, Greg Lemond
, Miguel Indurain
and Philippe Gilbert
.
Campagnolo died in 1983, just after the introduction of the Gruppo del Cinquantenario (50th anniversary Campagnolo groupset). Gruppo Number 0002 was presented to Pope John Paul II
in a private audience for a delegation of Italian cycling enthusiasts later that year.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
racing cyclist and inventor. He patented the quick release skewer
Quick release skewer
A quick release skewer is a mechanism for attaching a wheel to a bicycle. It consists of a rod threaded on one end and with a lever operated cam assembly on the other. The rod is inserted into the hollow axle of the wheel, a nut is threaded on, and the lever is closed to tighten the cam and secure...
and founded the Campagnolo
Campagnolo
Campagnolo is an Italian manufacturer of high-end bicycle components with headquarters in Vicenza, Italy. The components are organised as groupsets and are a near-complete collection of a bicycle's mechanical parts. Campagnolo's flagship components are the Super Record, Record, and Chorus...
bicycle component company.
Campagnolo began his amateur cycling career in 1922. In 1930, he patented the quick-release skewer that became the standard for the industry, a design still used today. In 1933, the first quick release hubs were produced by Campagnolo. Also in 1933, he patented the sliding hub, dual seatstay rod-operated, back-pedal derailleur ultimately known as the Cambio Corsa. In 1949, he introduced the Gran Sport twin-cable, parallelogram rear derailleur at the Milan trade show, the first modern derailleur.
Tullio Campagnolo was one of the greatest legends in bicycle component invention and manufacture. He was born in Vicenza, Italy in 1901 to a middle class family and began his tinkering of inventions at his father's hardware store. He was an avid cyclist winning many races, such as Giro di Lombardia, Milan-San Remo and several Olympic heats.
While racing through the Italian Dolomites on November 11, 1927 with freezing weather and snow, he lost the race victory; due to a wing nut he could not remove to repair his flat tire. The title that Campagnolo sacrificed through the Croce D’ Aune Pass encouraged him to develop the quick release wheel locking mechanism. This quick release skewer, which is in use and famous today, enables a bicycle wheel to be removed and re-attached quickly and was the first of his many inventions from his father’s Vicenza workshop that he is well known for.
Campagnolo was also an innovator in materials engineering for bicycle component design. In 1961, Campagnolo was the first to produce components using low-pressure magnesium casting and he used new aluminum alloys and titanium. In 1966 he patented the Campagnolo self-centering wine-bottle opener.
Many of cycling's greatest champions used Campagnolo components, including Fausto Coppi
Fausto Coppi
Angelo Fausto Coppi, , was the dominant international cyclist of the years each side of the Second World War. His successes earned him the title Il Campionissimo, or champion of champions...
, Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was the most renowned Italian cyclist before the Second World War, having won the Giro d'Italia twice and the Tour de France in 1938...
, Eddy Merckx
Eddy Merckx
Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
, Bernard Hinault
Bernard Hinault
Bernard Hinault is a former French cyclist known for five victories in the Tour de France. He is one of only five cyclists to have won all three Grand Tours, and the only cyclist to have won each more than once. He won the Tour de France in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1985...
, Greg Lemond
Greg LeMond
Gregory James LeMond is a former professional road bicycle racer from the United States and a three-time winner of the Tour de France. He was born in Lakewood, California and raised in Reno, Nevada....
, Miguel Indurain
Miguel Indurain
Miguel Ángel Indurain Larraya is a retired Spanish road racing cyclist. He won five consecutive Tour de Frances from 1991 and 1995, the first to do so, and the fourth athlete to win five times. He won the Giro d'Italia twice, becoming one of only seven people in history to achieve the Giro Tour...
and Philippe Gilbert
Philippe Gilbert
Philippe Gilbert is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . Gilbert is a classics specialist...
.
Campagnolo died in 1983, just after the introduction of the Gruppo del Cinquantenario (50th anniversary Campagnolo groupset). Gruppo Number 0002 was presented to Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
in a private audience for a delegation of Italian cycling enthusiasts later that year.