CIOCC bicycles

Giovanni Pelizzoli was born in Curno, Italy, on March 1, 1942. He began his adventure with cycling in 1954 when he was 12 years old after being introduced to the sport by his father who was a bike mechanic. He raced bikes at the age of 14 and after a few more races became the manager of a junior cycling team.

Giovanni in his natural habitat

Around this time he became interested in building bicycles and started dreaming of building steel bicycle frames. After working for a bike builder in Bergamo, Italy, he decided to make his own bicycle frames and in 1969 at the age of 27 created the brand CIOCC (pronounced CHEE-OH-CH).

The name CIOCC was in fact the nickname of Giovanni's father, which means 'poker face' in his local dialect. The CIOCC badge reflected this connection by containing the 4 suits of playing cards in the logo.

Whilst producing CIOCC bicycles Giovanni was also a bike mechanic for a professional cycling team - G.S.ZONCA - and so was connected to innovations in bicycle frame building during the period. As a result his CIOCC frames were ridden to victory in many world amateur races.

The most famous of these races was in 1977 when Claudio Corti won a world under 23 amateur cycling event in San Cristobal, Venezuela. This win on a CIOCC frame catapulted Giovanni's frames into the world spotlight, and in honour of the win Giovanni named his signature steel frame the 'San Cristobal' - (also known as the World 77 model). 

Here are some beautiful images of a 1985 CIOCC San Cristobal. There are more images at http://www.raydobbins.com/ciocc_tony/ciocc-tony.htm

CIOCC 1985 San Cristobal 

During the 1970's Polish national teams raced with CIOCC bicycles and in 1980 Giovanni sold the name. Since 1983 Giovanni has continued to sell his bicycle frames under the Pelozzoli name and still creates wonderful master pieces today. His modern creations can be viewed at  http://www.pelizzoliworld.com/

Pelizzoli World make new frames - but also take great pride in restoring older CIOCC frames as below:

CIOCC bicycles continue to operate today and still build the classic San Cristobal steel frame for today's retro cycling enthusiast. The modern CIOCC factory is in Curno, Italy - being the birthplace of Pelizzoli himself. For Australian interests their modern bicycle frames and products can be viewed at http://www.ciocc.com.au/

CIOCC 2014 San Cristobal

CIOCC San Cristobal fitted with Campy Athena 11

Until next time...safe riding.

James @ PVC.