Photography by Vittoria Castiglioni
Alessandro Tino developed his passion for the world of cycling when, still a young boy, he began competing for local clubs, first as an amateur and later as a professional. During his travels abroad, Alessandro became aware of the growing trend for combining coffee with other themes and goods in so-called concept stores. As the young entrepreneur tells us: “For us cyclists, the mid-ride coffee break is a tradition, and many years ago I noticed that cycling cafés were starting to spring up in different countries, so I decided to try to do the same in Como by opening a place where people could stop for a coffee and buy our cycling apparel”.
The Sartoria Ciclistica brand came about as a result of this great idea, with clothing manufactured in Italy, and with fabrics sourced strictly in Como by way of a “local to global” approach. “We try to stay as local as possible, to ensure the quality of the products, but we also have an openness to the wider world. The collections come in the diverse variants that include lifestyle, competitive, and training, and all in men's and women's versions. For coffee lovers there is also a range of gadgets on sale branded Sartoria Ciclistica and La Marzocco. Many books and magazines relating to the world of cycling and its greats are on display for all those who visit.
To enter Sartoria Ciclistica, in the historic Via Borgo Vico, is like entering the home of a friend, where Annalise, Alessandro's wife and head of the store, welcomes customers to a traditional-style home kitchen that is always filled with croissants, all kinds of cereals, and fresh cakes. The legendary, tasty and nutritious banana bread is in particular well worth trying, especially after a bike ride! The atmosphere is cosy and informal, but every detail is personally cared for by Annalise, from the choice of furnishings to the layout of the products. The most photographed corner must be that of the bathroom, with its 'Antidoping' sign on the door!
“We opened at this new location in September 2022. As soon as we saw the shop, we fell in love with the place and its history. It had been a stable since back in the fifteen century, where strangers could leave their horses while the innkeeper cooked simple meals in the back. This street, which is now in the ascendant with many quality businesses springing up, was part of an old historic quarter known as Borgo Vico. Sartoria Ciclistica came about as a refuge for cyclists but is open to everyone”, says Alessandro. Today, the cycling breaks of local and international enthusiasts are made all the more pleasant by the serving of coffee made with artisanal blends locally roasted especially for Sartoria Ciclistica. These are inspired by the three famous climbs of the Giro di Lombardia: the Ghisallo, the Muro di Sormano and the Val Fresca.
Opening times are from morning until early afternoon and, in addition to sweet and savoury breakfasts, the coffee bar offers flavoursome gourmet sandwiches for a quick and tasty lunch. To make the travelling of the Italian and international cyclists pleasant and stress-free, Alessandro and his wife have tailored their services for them with safe bike parking inside the bar where they can enjoy well-deserved gourmet break, and, in the absence of bike hotels, night parking and early check-in, a service that allows customers to leave personal belongings in safe hands, change and set off for Lake Como and its valleys before going on to their hotel rooms.
The idea was to create a kind of clubhouse, with Sartoria Ciclistica as meeting place for lovers of cycling, but it is not only that. Throughout the year, and especially during the week of the Giro di Lombardia, the venue comes alive with many events, including aperitifs in the company of the professionals, musical evenings and book presentations. Serious sportsmen and women, on the other hand, can join the Sunday rides such as the Laghée Gravel Epic (Lake Como's first gravel event), or the now famous coffee rides, during which Sartoria Ciclistica's blends can be sampled in panoramic spots overlooking Lake Como, with the help of an old Fiat 900 that houses the modern Linea Mini by La Marzocco inside.