Coffee with Pistoia Bicyclemaker Mario Martini
Someone once asked me, “What’s the most beautiful place to go in Italy?” I usually answer, “The place that has something you’re interested in. It may not seem the most beautiful when you arrive, but it becomes that when you discover something you love.” Well that’s the story of my few hours sitting with Mario Martini.
Mario has been the place for Pistoia cycling for decades. He made all the local team bicycles, sponsored his own squad for a while and was the local guy who could fix just about anything. When I walked into his shop In the center of Pistoia he was sitting alone, looking out the window, asking me how and why I’d come to see him of all people. At 91 years old, it was amazing to me he was even still coming to his shop. Even if there were no longer any customers and no bicycles newer than 1980. But as we talked, Mario could see he had an interested fan in front of him and he began to open up. “The Martini frames I made are in the back. I always made them in the cantina, but I stopped in the 90’s. Now I come in every day to have my espresso.” Just then a well-dressed man walked in, “Mario, is everything OK? Your window looks disorganized.” he said. “TuttOK”, Mario answered. “Just rearranging a few things.” Seems the town was now taking care of Mario after he’d been there for them for some 70 years. A small but meaningful moment to witness.
I hung out with Mario for a few hours, bought a few parts, he gave me an old poster of the cycling team that won the local championship on his bicycles. And we said a warm goodbye. I’ve thought a lot about Mario since, if he’s still there. What would become of his Hollywood stage-set shop, his collection of old classic pieces and his beautiful rapport with the Pistoiese. Such a sweet jewel of a gentleman, Mario Martini. Pistoia- now one of my most beautiful places in Italy.
