Frejus was founded in 1896 in Torino by Emmo Ghelfi and run by him until 1946.
The brand was later acquired by Emilio Bozzi and co-produced in Milan with his Legnano and Woolsit brands. After Emilio Bozzi got assasinated by the Italian terrorist group Brigate Rosse the brand license was obtained by Bianchi and in 1988 a new usage of Legnano took place in a Bianchi financed team, starring Maurizio Fondriest.
Frejus made their first international appearance in sports by supporting riders and the italian national team starting at the end of the 1920´s with great success.
Fejus gathered first appearance in larger numbers and knowledge abroad when imported to the UK by Jaggard and Mills in 1950.
Frejus furthermore had an impressive track record having won the world championships on both road and track in 1930, 1932 and 1948 and on road in 1951, 1953 and 1954. The list of champion riders included such names as Guiseppe Olmo, Cino Cinelli and even Gino Bartali. Their reputation was to be further enhanced when the Swiss rider Ferdie Kubler won the 1950 Tour de France and the World Championship on the road a year later.
In the UK George Lander, Les West and Dave Bedwell formed a home-grown Frejus team and also brought success in 1950.
Designed by the Ghelfi brothers, the frames were defined by its unusual frame angles of 72 degrees for the head and 73 degrees for the seat tube that created a short top tube in order to reduce torsion and bringing the rider over the bottom bracket but also producing a balanced ‘hands off’ ride. With other words this design was, what Cino Cinelli might has been thinking of when riding other frames then a Frejus and he wanted to re-create when he started his business in 1949.
In the late 60's Frejus and Legnano bikes were very popular in US too. They had a "Cinelliesque" seatstay attachment, fun paint with great contrasting panels, and lots of Italian character.
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Actually, Frejus bikes from the 50's are somewhat common in US and Italy but something rare in middle europe. The famous shop in New York ran by Thomas Avenia back then was the focal point for both Frejus and Legnano bikes in the US.
"These were the bikes that scores or U.S racers rode during the dark days of U.S bicycle racing when a small but highly dedicated group of enthusiasts upheld the cycling faith. ... Besides, a clean or restored Frejus IS a beautiful bike. These bikes are collectible for all these reasons and more." Sheldon Brown supposed on his webside.
The brand was later acquired by Emilio Bozzi and co-produced in Milan with his Legnano and Woolsit brands. After Emilio Bozzi got assasinated by the Italian terrorist group Brigate Rosse the brand license was obtained by Bianchi and in 1988 a new usage of Legnano took place in a Bianchi financed team, starring Maurizio Fondriest.
Frejus made their first international appearance in sports by supporting riders and the italian national team starting at the end of the 1920´s with great success.
Fejus gathered first appearance in larger numbers and knowledge abroad when imported to the UK by Jaggard and Mills in 1950.
Frejus furthermore had an impressive track record having won the world championships on both road and track in 1930, 1932 and 1948 and on road in 1951, 1953 and 1954. The list of champion riders included such names as Guiseppe Olmo, Cino Cinelli and even Gino Bartali. Their reputation was to be further enhanced when the Swiss rider Ferdie Kubler won the 1950 Tour de France and the World Championship on the road a year later.
In the UK George Lander, Les West and Dave Bedwell formed a home-grown Frejus team and also brought success in 1950.
Designed by the Ghelfi brothers, the frames were defined by its unusual frame angles of 72 degrees for the head and 73 degrees for the seat tube that created a short top tube in order to reduce torsion and bringing the rider over the bottom bracket but also producing a balanced ‘hands off’ ride. With other words this design was, what Cino Cinelli might has been thinking of when riding other frames then a Frejus and he wanted to re-create when he started his business in 1949.
In the late 60's Frejus and Legnano bikes were very popular in US too. They had a "Cinelliesque" seatstay attachment, fun paint with great contrasting panels, and lots of Italian character.
Actually, Frejus bikes from the 50's are somewhat common in US and Italy but something rare in middle europe. The famous shop in New York ran by Thomas Avenia back then was the focal point for both Frejus and Legnano bikes in the US.
"These were the bikes that scores or U.S racers rode during the dark days of U.S bicycle racing when a small but highly dedicated group of enthusiasts upheld the cycling faith. ... Besides, a clean or restored Frejus IS a beautiful bike. These bikes are collectible for all these reasons and more." Sheldon Brown supposed on his webside.
Ercole Baldini broke the hour record for pro riders with 46.394 km on September 19, 1956 on Milan's Vigorelli track on a Frejus Tipo Professionel Pista. With this he topped the just three months old record of five-time Tour de France winner Jacques Anquetil to 235 m.
Baldini turned pro in 1957 after he had become Olympic champion in the road race in Melbourne 1956. Because of his titles and his success Baldini often is called the Campionissimo in Italy. In 1958 he won the Road Cycling World Championship of professionals riding a Legnano Tipo Roma.
Please stay tuned to see pictures of a 1963 Tipo Professionel Pista.
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