Velo City: Bicycle Culture and City Life

Cinelli Laser TT

Cinelli Laser TT

Hopefully by now you’ll have encountered Cinelli’s book, The Art and Design of the Bicycle, a concise history of the colorful and innovative Italian marque. You should definitely recognize the bike on the cover, rolling on two disc wheels painted by Keith Haring: a Cinelli Laser TT, one of the most iconic bicycles of the 20th Century. Here’s an exceptional example, as original as you can get.

The Laser came in a variety of configurations and was recently re-interpretated in carbon by the original designers: Pesenti, Colombo and Erzegovesi. Michael Furman, a seriously accomplished automotive photographer from Philadelphia, bought this one from Cinelli’s booth at the NY Bike Show in the early 80s. He was told it was a back-up bike for the obscure hour record setter, Ole Ritter.

Michael’s Laser is somewhat of an enigma. It features curved seat and top tubes and the rare fin under the bottom bracket. The handlebars and saddle are upholstered in buffalo hide by Cinelli, with their proprietary clip-in pedals. Maybe Cinelli aficionados would like to comment on the bike’s history; apparently Antonio Colombo is even interested on learning more about it.

If you love fine four-wheeled photography as well as two-wheeled, do yourself a favor and head to Michael’s websites: Coachbuilt Press and Michale Furman Photography.

Cinelli Laser TT
Cinelli Laser TT
Cinelli Laser TT
Cinelli Laser TT
Cinelli Laser TT
Cinelli Laser TT