Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Umberto and Caterina Miele-The Beginnings

I was fortunate in my youth to have a fantastic relationship with my grandmother, Nonna Caterina. We spent many hours together through out my childhood and into my adulthood. This relationship introduced me to my heritage and allowed me to understand my family and my fanatiscism for the two-wheeled culture. I am convinced that it's in my DNA because of my obsession for everything fast, on the edge and without a motor. Who needs a motor when you have pistons for legs?
I have been posting cultural icons, athletes as heroes, and epic individuals in their adventures to endure. I think that if we are going to discuss cycling culture then you need to know some legends. Keep track over time as I populate the blog with stories of the legends of cycling.
My cycling story starts well before I was born. Let me take you back to 1920's Italy. My grandfather, Nonno Miele, was a young guy determined to make something of himself. His claim to independence would be through one of his greatest passions - racing . Umberto Miele was his name and at the ripe young age of 15 he was racing bicycles in his hometown of Monte Cassino, the region of Lazio, Italy. For easy geography that’s located about 80kms south of Rome. He raced bikes to victories in local races but his calling wasn't the bicycle racing of our cycling heroes. It was a growing commitment to bring together his passion for business, personal independence and the greatest sport on earth.
He opened a bicycle store at the age of fifteen. They must have been smarter back then because at fifteen I could barely tie my own shoes. That store began it all you could say , it has set the course for our family ever since. Both he and his brother, raced bicycles and then motorcycles and worked furiously to create a culture of excellence. The store survived the rise of Fascism, and through the Depression to the Second World War. He began a family and grew his store into multiple businesses that attracted the finest bicycle teams pre WWII.
I remember my grandmother telling me the story of the Bianchi racing team coming through the town to dinner at their restaurant. This was no ordinary bunch of riders, these were the pros, the great Gino Bartali and the "Campionissimo" Fausto Coppi, was over to have dinner and of course only the finest for these boys. “Un bello piatto di pasta e' fagiolli”; “A nice plate of pasta and beans". A hearty peasant meal made especially for the kings of the road. Nonna was the best cook ever, her meals were always enhanced by her great story telling. She was the collector of proverbs and she used them at will, which led to great discussions.
Nonno Miele was a determined businessman with all the pragmaticism of a farmer a pound of ambition to do great things and enough passion to always be involved when it counted. I have always admired the stubborn man who followed his dreams and spared nothing to achieve his goals. Like the fighting domestique who battles for a career of doing a job well done, not for fame, but for pride with the sole ambition of becoming greater than his dreams.

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