From pedals to frames

Are you ready to set off on an incredible journey through time? An extraordinary exhibition is coming to the evocative industrial setting of the Wheel Factory which recounts the evolution of the “steel horse”. A truly anthropological and technical journey through the history of the bicycle, organised by the DocBi – Biella Research Centre in collaboration with UCAB – Biella Alpine Cycling Union.

Visitors will have the extraordinary opportunity to admire up close as many as 17 historic and exclusive bicycles created at the turn of the century, drawn from prestigious private collections and local institutions. The exhibition presents a fascinating parallel focusing on the A comparison of mechanical systems, bringing the bike frames and sprockets into close, direct contact with the historic ones vintage textile machinery of the factory.

The exhibition also reveals a profound social revolution, showing how the bicycle went from initially being viewed with great suspicion and even described as “the devil’s instrument” from the clergy to become a cornerstone of modern transport. At the heart of the exhibition lies the epic story of the Cycling in Biella, from the earliest cycling clubs to the legendary feats of indomitable pioneers such as Felice Chiais, Toni Gremmo e Pinotin Santhià on the historic and gruelling climbs of Oropa and the Greenhouse. This rich picture is rounded off by a special feature on local workshops and the connection with the figure of Camillo Olivetti, alongside historical accounts, images and votive offerings that celebrate cycling as a true act of courage and a step towards the future.