Cinelli Milano Pista stem

For 1950s track riders, the Pista was an enamelled badge of honour

- Kevin Raymond

For the discerning track racer in the 1950s and 1960s, the favoured way to connect bars to frame was with a Cinelli Milano stem. Made from chromed steel, it wasn’t very light, but it was very strong and not prone to slipping, and that matters when you need to put a lot of force through the bars – a top-level sprinter could have tied the aluminium bars and stems of the day into knots without breaking sweat. The Pista was elegant too, and fitted with an ornate enamelled brass badge riveted on to the top which made it instantly recognisable. The badge was optional (but almost always fitted) until quietly dropped in the early 70s.