Corey Fox has just posted a report of his visit to the workshops of Ghisallo rims.
© Fox/Pezcycling
His first tour was in 2009 and his report may be a composite of several visits, since Corey lives in Italy. As he relates, the Cermenati family is tight knit and embodies the artisan ethic. They preserve, as well as the actors at America's famous Williamsburg village, an historic craft.
Interpreting wood to make beautiful, fast, and rugged bicycle rims took generations to evolve. Today, Ghisallo combines the best from their experience with the latest enhancements that don't detract from craft: materials like 2-part epoxy, techniques like thinner laminations and cloth layers, and a respect for forest sustainability. Beech wood, as you may know, is one of the few hardwoods that is arguably sustainable.
Check Corey's article and enjoy his tour of the "workshop" of Ghisallo rims.
On a sad note, I should add that Giovanni's wife, Teresa, passed away one year ago. We can only imagine what a deep loss the family has suffered. However, the rims are in production, life goes on, and Spring is arriving to the Italian alps.
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