Campagnolo

Campagnolo quick-release hubs and Cambio Corsa gears first saw use in the UK during the late 1940s. They became commercially available shortly after, with specialized UK distributors like Ron Kitching acting as primary sources for the imported components in the early post-war era. (velo-retro.com)

The timeline of Campagnolo’s introduction in the UK breaks down as follows:

1930s: Tullio Campagnolo patented his first quick-release skewer and started manufacturing in Italy, but the pre-WWII era and the war itself halted international exports. (Campagnolo)

Late 1940s: Early prototypes and initial models like the Cambio Corsa (rod-operated changers) began to appear in the UK, predominantly used by elite racers.

1951: The release of the landmark Gran Sport derailleur brought parallelogram shifting to the masses. It was imported and sold in the UK through early cycling component wholesalers, eventually becoming the standard for club riders.

Campagnolo Dropouts

In the UK, the earliest users of Campagnolo cycle parts in the 1950s and 1960s were pioneering time-trialists, British continental professionals, and elite club racers. Riders like Dave Bonner and Tom Simpson were among the first to adopt these Italian components over traditional British fixed-gear setups.

These early components were made accessible through a few dedicated British distributors, most notably W.F. Holdsworth in Putney, London, which became the sole UK importer of Campagnolo in 1955.

Early Adopters and Key Figures

• Dave Bonner: A pioneering time-trialist who famously switched to Campagnolo Gran Sport gears to eclipse Charlie McCoy’s 25-mile time trial record. This shift signaled the end of the strictly fixed-gear era for many UK riders.
• Tom Simpson: Before becoming a Tour de France legend and world champion, Simpson utilized the UK’s track pursuit and time-trial scene. He was one of the first British athletes to aggressively ride Campagnolo gear on the continent.
• Roy Thame: A competitive cyclist and manager at Holdsworthy who played a massive role in equipping domestic British racers with Campagnolo through the brand’s early racing teams.
• The British Peloton: By the early 1960s, Campagnolo Gran Sport and Record ensembles were the standard for top-tier riders at national events, quickly overtaking British alternatives like Cyclo-Benelux.

Perspectives from the Early Days

Early adopters and historians noted a distinct shift in how bicycles were equipped during this period as Italian parts became the ultimate standard of luxury and performance.

The Holdsworth-Campagnolo team was formed in 1968. “…Riders like Les West wanted to stay amateur for the Sept 1968 Olympic Road Race in Mexico City, but immediately afterwards the full Holdsworth-Campagnolo
 team was formed for the 1969 season.”

Post war to 1970’s from Carpenter Bikes on Carpenter Bikes

“Dave Bonner eclipsed Charlie McCoy’s 25 mile TT record using Campagnolo Gran Sport gears on his Jensen with 54.28. Time trialists took notice and quickly switched to geared bikes. The fixed gear era was over for most”

The Best of British (Bike Forums)

A reflection on the transition period in the UK when domestic cyclists moved from homegrown components to high-end Italian options like Campagnolo.

“Well obviously we’re talking about the period when everything was made in England. In 1950 that would have been perfectly normal. By 1960 it was still possible to have an all-British bike, but already getting difficult; by 1970 that was no longer possible…”

1981 Campagnolo Artical