Between Pedals and Looms — Exhibition on Historical Cycling in Biella

An exhibition blending mechanics and memory in Biella

The Fabbrica della Ruota in Pray, in the Province of Biella, hosts the summer exhibition "Between Pedals and Looms: Fifty years of pioneering cycling in Biella (1880-1930)" from June 7 to July 26, 2026. The exhibition is curated by DocBi - Centro Studi Biellesi in collaboration with UCAB - Unione Ciclo Alpina Biellese, and is one of the most anticipated events of the 2026 season for the Rete Museale Biellese.

Seventeen bicycles telling the story of an era

At the heart of the exhibition are 17 historical bicycles built between 1880 and 1930, sourced from private local collections. Among the most precious pieces are a rare 1896 Gladiator and a 1912 military Bianchi: machines that document the technical evolution of the bicycle, from early velocipedes to modern models. Alongside the bikes, technical sheets, thematic panels, photographs, newspapers, and vintage objects create a journey through the history of cycling and the society that the bicycle helped transform.

The dialogue between pedals and looms

The title is no coincidence: the exhibition connects cycling mechanics with the textile machinery preserved within the Fabbrica della Ruota, the former Lanificio Fratelli Zignone wool mill built around 1878. It is a dialogue between two mechanical excellences that defined the industrial identity of the Biella region, characterized by precision, artisan ingenuity, and innovation.

The protagonists of Biella cycling

The exhibition highlights the figures who shaped local cycling history, including riders Felice Chiais, Toni Gremmo, and Pinotin Santhià, with a focus on Biella workshops and the contribution of Camillo Olivetti to the region's development. A narrative that weaves together sport, labor, and community.

The Fabbrica della Ruota

Visiting the exhibition also means discovering one of Piedmont's most important industrial archaeology monuments: the Fabbrica della Ruota preserves its multi-story Manchester-style structure and its original telodynamic energy transmission system. The entrance ticket includes a visit to the ecomuseum in addition to the temporary exhibition.

A local project

The exhibition is supported by the Fondazione CRB (CulturHUB call), the Fondazione CRT, and the Piedmont Region, and is part of the 2026 programming of the Rete Museale Biellese, which brings together over twenty cultural sites in the area.