Antonio Chiappa's bicycle made for two (almost)

Antonio Chiappa , the Barga barber has appeared on barganews many times over the years. He is well known in the area, not just his emblematic haircutting skills* but also his love of Cuba and all things Cuban, the football team that he supports almost like a religion and probably most of all for his number one  interest outside of his shop – vintage and veteran cycling using bicycles from another era. This morning his regulars found him in expansive mood as he gushed and almost caressed his latest addition to his growing collection of bicycles. This time its something a little different – a Bi Bici tandem built 30 years. Antonio bought it on e-bay from somebody in Milan and had it transported down to Barga in double quick time to his eager waiting arms .

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The “Bi Bici” is a donkey-back type. It has the rear seat over the back wheel. This enables the total length of the tandem to be the same as that of a single bike. It also has a large hinge in the middle of the frame enabling it to be folded up for easy of storage.

Click on the link below to hear a short interview with Antonio (in Italiano)

antonio chiappa

*What for many of us living in Barga would be just a normal occurrence, for Jesse Henry going and getting his hair cut this morning was an event filled with great significance. Jesse who carries an Irish and Canadian passport but these days, hails from Maine, USA walked into Chiappa the barbershop in Barga Giardino sat down in a chair and waited his turn to get his locks sheared. He came well prepared, exceedingly well prepared, as he knew all about Antonio Chiappa’s salon,  the decor of the place that  has changed very little since 1926, his magic scissors and of course, his “particular” way of cutting hair…… and how was Jesse so prepared and informed ?

Two reasons really- the first is he has been an avid reader of barganews and the second ….. he was here last year to exactly the same thing (article here) …. thousands of miles across the ocean from Maine USA to Antonio Chippa’s in Barga Giardino to get his haircut.

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The sharp eyes amongst you might just spot another visitor to Barga this week who was there giving Jesse some “moral support”  – none other than Hamish Moore Barga’s musician in residence 2008 who was here in the city for a brief visit to finalise plans for the possibilities of more concerts later on this year and for the launch of the new DVD “The Barga Connection” (article here)