Tiziano Zullo Castelnuovo Del Garda,ITALY --------------------------------------------- By Simone Bracco Photographs by Paolo Ciaberta 30 31 # 9 –july, 2010 –july, 9 A MATTER OF PASSION ZULLOPHOBIA o describe the meeting with Tiziano Zullo and his bicycles, we have to return to a time made of steel, sweat and passion for bicycles, a time in which Northern Italy, was the point of reference for whoever wanted to produce bicycles. Nowadays there isn’t much left of that period; some companies have closed down or signed away their brands to foreign countries, others have become industries and gone far from the spirit and the handcraft practice. Zullo is one of the last exponents of the great Italian tradition with his shop based in Castelnuovo Del Garda, Verona. centerfold/details: A contemporary build of elegance past. Lugged Columbus SL Cr-Mo Steel with a chrome plated 1” threaded fork. Assembled with a vintage Campagnolo Record Group from the 1980s. The custom process allows for requesting the frame with 125 mm old type rear spacing (for vintage hubs). The frame is still in production with the same geometry of the originals made in the ’70s. 32 A placid and acute smile welcome us on the door step, a smile and a measured gesture to show us the entry: ‘So have you come all the and then Eren, his wife, Dutch in charge way here to see me?” he asks us. of the orders (the steel is never enough...) We enter the showroom, which is in front and customers requests, which are rather of the workshop, here everything is arranged strange according to her. in the opposite way of what one could imag- The feeling inside the workshop is ine. The atmosphere is very laid back; Tiziano unique, the chaos typical of a creative sits down on a comfortable armchair and we urgency that doesn’t leave space to order, begin a long talk that will bring us obviously the scent of varnish, of steel and acids, the to speak of bicycling, but also, and above all, machinery and the tools covered in iron of a way of intending the bicycles, the art of filings, everything is combined to create a frame construction, the love and the passion magic space in which Tiziano (and Maso) for a practice that today in Italy seems to be give shape to Zullo’s creations. forgotten. Looking at the shed, partly empty and abandoned, it’s impossible not to think about It doesn’t take much to understand the phi- ‘finchè la baracca è la mia fino a prova contraria decido mi!!’ losophy of Tiziano’s job, the idea at the base the period in which they used to produce (Until the hut is mine up to contrary I will decide myself!!) quite a lot of frames, the period in which of everything is very simple: Quality without that’s what is written on the glass that divides the shop from compromises. Tiziano also produced for the great Mila- the painting area , a perfect example of the obstinacy (and nese brands (and to testimony that, there Quality exclusively liking) of Tizano Zullo. still are some Cinelli lugs, a residual of the reached through reproached: ‘you have not reasoned with your Supercorsa frames that Tiziano produced custom made frames, heart” and in fact Zullo’s essence is all here: the Tiziano at work, for the Milanese house) the period in which excellence and knowledge heart. Tiziano Zullo works the steel with heart the 80’s and 90’s for the bicycles and Italy were synonymous with of the material and his and those who own one of his creations feel it, where he produces Giro, Vuelta, Tour and quality and precision. A period in which, perceive it, there are about a dozen histories his current selection this area of north Italy, the production of manufacturing techniques. that he can tell from clients that have brought the great classics. Or frames and components was the excellence: Beginning with Columbus or Dedacciai home their jewel from a restoration of the “mas- of frames: Inqubo, the Pista ‘85, a mainstay Cinelli, Colnago, Masi, Pogliaghi, Country, steel arriving to, always and only inside ter”, also from overseas. Vergine and Tonica of Zullo’s production, Pinarello and many other firms. the shop, the end product, personalized In fact the orders blackboard doesn’t speak (special steel Dedacciai Then the business passed over to off- painting includes: ‘Our client enters, the Italian, his frames are requested mostly in lugged frame spring and things have changed; Tiziano measurements, the project and the frame’s Japan, America and in Germany. A dozen of and Columbus TIG used by numerous says “offspring don’t work with heart, they construction are done according to personal frames a year for the fortunate owners of a jewel welded frames) to the are money orientated” (and here again the demand. hand made with passion and unique ability. professionals, heart at the center of thoughts), Maso raises There aren’t may Italian customers, as Tiz- Two people work with Tiziano: to suggest replicas of the classics. World and Olympic the dose and explains, in Japan, traditionally, iano says ‘here in Italy they want only carbon Zullo’s international vocation there are no The Tour ’91, a lugged champions such as the it’s forbidden for offspring to undertake the (frames), and it doesn’t matter how is done”. I Italians in the shop; his assistant is Maso, a guy frame with Columbus family business. the undersigned, guilty of having just bought from Osaka, that has learned the art of the bicy- great Spaniard, Joan The day is about to end, Zullo needs to a carbon made bicycle, have been fondly cle in Italy and collaborates with the “master”, Spirit steel used by the choose the bicycle that will be published Llaneras. for this article. Tiziano suggests a splendid Dutch team TVM in lugged frame equipped with a wonderful Re- cord Group from the 80’s, Maso approves... We would have made the same choice. Thinking about it now, while I’m looking “I cannot recall how at my monitor, the choice almost seems an many frames I have elegy to that moment in which here in Italy the artisans were undisputed teachers of built with this welding the art of frames and bicycles. Of all this not torch” says Tiziano. much has remained, although something withstands and here, in Castelnuovo Del Maso instead tells us Garda, Tiziano Zullo will testify to it. of the period in which Zullo worked on behalf of Cinelli. Here in the 80’s they built the famous Supercorsa frames, producing over When frame production was extremely elevated, this machine was used exclusively to make the two holes on the down tube for the bottle 6000 frames within one holder… “Tiziano, everytime we talk about it, complains about the great year. cost!” Maso says smiling. 35 37.