The water bottles, caps, musettes and gloves - 13
ITEM N° 745
"Gios" promotional water bottle – bicycle manufacturer since 1948
The iconic Brooklyn–Gios era from 1973 to 1977
Vintage ivory-coloured plastic cycling water bottle bearing the historic crest of the Italian firm Gios. Its design combines the colours red, white and green, featuring several stars and intertwined rings surmounting the name ‘Gios’. Its double-ring cap, spout protected by a wide clip and numerous signs of wear are characteristic of the accessories used in professional cycling in the 1970s and 1980s.
Gios was founded in Turin in 1948 by Tolmino Gios, a former professional cyclist. The brand gained international renown when it became the bicycle supplier to the Brooklyn team, managed by Franco Cribiori, between 1973 and 1977. To match the team’s red, white and blue jersey, the frames were finished in an electric shade that became famous as ‘Gios blue’.
Roger De Vlaeminck remains the rider most closely associated with this period. Riding his Gios bicycles, he won, notably, Milan–San Remo in 1973, the Tour of Lombardy in 1974 and 1976, the Tour of Flanders in 1977, as well as three editions of Paris–Roubaix, in 1974, 1975 and 1977.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this water bottle is a valuable testament to one of the most significant collaborations between an Italian manufacturer and a professional team. Its patina and well-preserved decoration evoke the golden age of the classics, the exploits of Roger De Vlaeminck and the legend of Team Brooklyn’s blue bikes.
ITEM N° 746
"Reverberi Team" promotional water bottle
In cycling since 1982
A vintage white plastic cycling water bottle bearing the “Reverberi Team” emblem. Its oval design features the colours of the Italian flag — red, white and green — surrounding the silhouette of a cyclist in full flight. Its double-ring cap, patina, signs of wear and tear, and the fading of the print all bear witness to regular use in the world of cycle racing.
This item is linked to the professional team founded in 1982 by Bruno Reverberi. Competing in its first season under the name Termolan–Galli, the team subsequently raced under numerous commercial names depending on its sponsors. It gradually established itself as one of the most enduring teams in Italian cycling, notably taking part in numerous editions of the Giro d’Italia and helping to launch the careers of several generations of riders.
More than just an accessory for refuelling, this water bottle is a tangible reminder of the early years of the Reverberi adventure. Its generic ‘Team’ branding highlights the team’s continuity despite changes in sponsors and serves as a reminder of the central role played by family-run teams in the history of Italian professional cycling.
ITEM N° 747
"Bottecchia" promotional water bottle from the 1980s
A presence in cycling since 1926
This plastic water bottle bears the red ‘Bottecchia – The Professional Bike’ logo, accompanied by the Carnielli emblem. The Bottecchia brand was created in honour of Ottavio Bottecchia, the first Italian to win the Tour de France, in 1924 and again in 1925.
The bottle has a translucent white body and a large red cap with a valve, held in place by a flexible strap. Its generous shape and closure system are typical of the water bottles used in cycling during the 1980s.
The visible marks, scratches and dirt are evidence of genuine use. Its design recalls Bottecchia’s presence in the professional peloton, notably during the 1989 Tour de France, won by Greg LeMond on a bike of the same make.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this water bottle bears witness to the history of the Italian manufacturer Carnielli–Bottecchia and its involvement in competitive cycling.
