Renzo Formigli
Renzo Formigli is one of the last craftsmen in the world capable of creating custom, personalized road and gravel bikes.
Born in Florence in 1969, Renzo Formigli was immersed in the world of cycling and the adrenaline of racing from an early age, his family racing semi-professionally.
When Renzo was just 12 years old, he went to his dad. Most kids that age ask for a bike —but Renzo asked for the tubes to build one. His father and brother were both racers, part of the local team. But even then, Renzo knew. He didn’t want to race bikes — he wanted to build them. With the help of Sirio Bartoli, he began visiting workshops where bicycles were worked on to understand the mechanics of a bicycle, and most importantly, to begin, the construction of his first bicycle, built with the kit of tubing he had asked his father to gift him.
Formigli’s journey took a pivotal turn after the iconic Cino Cinelli offered taught him the revered Italian frame crafting mysteries.
Thus, the first bicycle of Renzo Formigli was born: the first step of a long journey that would lead him to become one of the last remaining craftsmen in the world. A pivotal moment in his professional career was his encounter with Cino Cinelli at the age of 21. Cinelli, one of the most important builders of the time, was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm and drive of this young man, and dedicated his time to teaching him the secrets of this craft and the best techniques for creating racing bicycles with unique characteristics. When we encounter a Formigli bicycle with steel tubes and lugs mounted and finished, we realize that only an expert in the field could have conceived something so ‘perfect’. Although the materials used have evolved since the time of Cinelli, Renzo has always remained faithful to the lesson taught to him by his “master,” especially in Design.
Renzo Formigli and brother
Renzo established Formigli, nearly 4 decades ago, infusing the Italian master trade secrets inherited from Cellini with technological innovation, thus shaping his unique signature.
In 1990, Renzo founded Formigli in a small workshop just outside Florence, dedicated to the creation of handcrafted racing frames. His purpose was simple and deeply personal: to honor a family whose greatest passion had always been cycling, and to continue the technique and tradition of Cinelli and Italian builders.
Over the years, Renzo has perfected the art of the custom frame, personally overseeing every stage of the process. His focus has always been to use Italian resources with intention.
Renzo’s dedication remains the guiding philosophy of Formigli today: the uncompromising use of exclusively Italian materials and processes, and the refusal to pursue the speed and automation of mass production typical of Eastern manufacturing.
Renzo’s hands-on approach extends from steel to carbon fiber, allowing him to create completely custom bikes using cutting-edge materials.
Each Formigli frame is meticulously crafted by hand in Florence Italy with the utmost dedication, ensuring they remain unique and never mass-produced or mass-marketed.
The bicycle frame creation process at Formigli is a true celebration of cycling, where innovation and craftsmanship unite to create frames that not only perform magnificently but also ignite the rider’s spirit with every pedal stroke.