Does Bianchi mean anything?
#2
Originally Posted by HammerTheHill
Well does it? if not just close the thread haha
#4
Originally Posted by seely
Bianchi is a last name... its sort of the "Smith" of Italy as was told to me by my very Italian friend, Joel Bianchi, who rides Bianchis. I haven't said Bianchi enough yet. Bianchi, Bianchi, Bianchi... and Bianchi.
#9
human

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From: living in the moment
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"bianchi" does mean "white" in italian. family surnames only came into common use in europe among common people around the renaissance. important families, like the borgias or medicis might have names, but aside from patronyms, the average guy in the street [or field] would usually only have an occupational name, like "john the miller" or "oswald the tailor," a place name, like "vito della brescia" [check my italian on this one] or "hieronemous van der leyden," or a descriptive surname like "giovanni bianchi," which means john the fair, or "antonio bruno," which means brown tony. the descriptive surnames were often ironic, like "little john" for a giant, or "giovanni bianchi" for someone who was particularly dark. these casual surnames served the purpose of distinguishing all of the giovannis in a given village [and medieval naming conventions were generally quite imaginative, so you'd often have a situation where all the men in a village would have the same given name], but distinguished individuals and not families. they were not transgenerational. giovanni bianchi's son might be antonio bruno.
over time, and with the bureaucratization of government for tax and military purposes, with the growth of the nation state in the 17th and 18th centuries, these casual surnames we soon applied to families, so that antonio bruno's daughter would be known as gina bruno. a lot of this had to do with the growth of wealth among the lower classes, the growth of an urban middle class, and the disappearance of the manorial system. if you are a serf, who owns nothing, then you don't need a family name [much like slaves]. if you have wealth to keep in the family, then you need a name for the family.
i read an article somewhere that suggested that mario cipollini may be descended from a man who was ridiculed for having small testicles.
over time, and with the bureaucratization of government for tax and military purposes, with the growth of the nation state in the 17th and 18th centuries, these casual surnames we soon applied to families, so that antonio bruno's daughter would be known as gina bruno. a lot of this had to do with the growth of wealth among the lower classes, the growth of an urban middle class, and the disappearance of the manorial system. if you are a serf, who owns nothing, then you don't need a family name [much like slaves]. if you have wealth to keep in the family, then you need a name for the family.
i read an article somewhere that suggested that mario cipollini may be descended from a man who was ridiculed for having small testicles.
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The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002
when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.
The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002
#10
human

Joined: Jun 2001
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From: living in the moment
Bikes: 2005 Litespeed Teramo, 2000 Marinoni Leggero, 2001 Kona Major Jake (with Campy Centaur), 1997 Specialized S-Works M2, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper
specalized: from pete sinyard's bicycle component importing business, specialized bicycle components.
motobecane: this french company originally manufactures both motorcycles ["moto"] and bicycles ["becane" is a french colloquialism for "bike"].
look: i heard a story that this company was named after an american photo magazine in the 1950s. the french were fanatics for all things american at the time, and the founders though "look," a palindrome, looked cool.
trek: the founders, richard burke and bevel hogg chose the word "trek," which is originally an afrikaans word for a long journey. hogg was born in south africa. curiously, one name the founders rejected was "kestrel."
bianchi, colnago, de rosa. merckx, schwinn, gt [gary turner], lemond, fondriest, moser, marinoni, serotta are all names.
motobecane: this french company originally manufactures both motorcycles ["moto"] and bicycles ["becane" is a french colloquialism for "bike"].
look: i heard a story that this company was named after an american photo magazine in the 1950s. the french were fanatics for all things american at the time, and the founders though "look," a palindrome, looked cool.
trek: the founders, richard burke and bevel hogg chose the word "trek," which is originally an afrikaans word for a long journey. hogg was born in south africa. curiously, one name the founders rejected was "kestrel."
bianchi, colnago, de rosa. merckx, schwinn, gt [gary turner], lemond, fondriest, moser, marinoni, serotta are all names.
__________________
when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.
The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002
when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.
The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002
#12
human

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From: living in the moment
Bikes: 2005 Litespeed Teramo, 2000 Marinoni Leggero, 2001 Kona Major Jake (with Campy Centaur), 1997 Specialized S-Works M2, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper
demon, you are quite right. i got myself confused [not difficult] looking [get the pun?] at an early look logo, which had the final "k" turned baclward.
LOOK still looks cool, though... amke that kool...
LOOK still looks cool, though... amke that kool...
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when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.
The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002
when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.
The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002
#14
human

Joined: Jun 2001
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From: living in the moment
Bikes: 2005 Litespeed Teramo, 2000 Marinoni Leggero, 2001 Kona Major Jake (with Campy Centaur), 1997 Specialized S-Works M2, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper
ciocc: company founder giovanni pelizzoli's nickname. it means "poker face."
__________________
when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.
The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002
when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.
The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002
#16
human

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From: living in the moment
Bikes: 2005 Litespeed Teramo, 2000 Marinoni Leggero, 2001 Kona Major Jake (with Campy Centaur), 1997 Specialized S-Works M2, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper
it's called celeste... it's the colour of the heavens...
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when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.
The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002
when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.
The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002
#18
Senior Member

Joined: May 2003
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From: Ohio's Cycling Capital, America's North Coast.
Originally Posted by iboy_daniel
If Bianchi means white in Italian, then where did Bianchi green come from?
#19
human

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From: living in the moment
Bikes: 2005 Litespeed Teramo, 2000 Marinoni Leggero, 2001 Kona Major Jake (with Campy Centaur), 1997 Specialized S-Works M2, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper
Originally Posted by HammerTheHill
What about Colnago? whats up with that
__________________
when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.
The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002
when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.
The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002
#21
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 277
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From: New London, NC (near Charlotte)
Bikes: Bianchi (road), Cannondale R3000,Trek (mtb)
Originally Posted by bianchi_rider
Bianchi means : "One Awsome Bike" 
Edoardo Bianchi

Edoardo Bianchi

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04 Cannondale R3000, Dura-Ace 10, Ksyrium SL
03 Cannondale Ironman 5000, Dura-Ace 9, Cane Creek Aros
86 Bianchi lugged steel with full carbon (Bianchi!) fork
03 Trek MTB
04 Cannondale R3000, Dura-Ace 10, Ksyrium SL
03 Cannondale Ironman 5000, Dura-Ace 9, Cane Creek Aros
86 Bianchi lugged steel with full carbon (Bianchi!) fork
03 Trek MTB
#23
Bike for life.

Joined: Apr 2003
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From: The Silver Comet Trail
Bikes: KHS Alite 1000 mtb, Bianchi Celeste Campione, all Campy
I sure love my Bianchi. It is so cool with its matching Celeste striped tires, really neat. I hope to stay all Bianchi, and all Campy for a long time. I just like something that is different, and traditional. Best -
#24
Nothing But Bianchi

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 817
Likes: 0
From: Gulf Coast, Florida
Bikes: Bianchi Giro, Bianchi Funny Bike TT,
Originally Posted by The Terminator
I sure love my Bianchi. It is so cool with its matching Celeste striped tires, really neat. I hope to stay all Bianchi, and all Campy for a long time. I just like something that is different, and traditional. Best -
BTW I have celeste tires to




