Dario Pegoretti
Dario Pegoretti (born 18 January 1956) is an Italian bicycle framebuilder based in Caldonazzo, outside the town of Trento, in the Dolomites. He is considered one of the great modern framebuilders and a pioneer of TIG welded frames. Pegoretti uses only steel and aluminum to create his frames, having used tubes from Excel, Dedacciai, and most recently Columbus. In 2007, Pegoretti was diagnosed with lymphoma yet continues to construct frames. His current models include the Responsorium, Big Leg Emma, Marcelo, Duende, Luigino, Love #3, and 8:30.[1]
Pegoretti designed and built frames that were ridden by Miguel Indurain, Marco Pantani, Stephen Roche, Claudio Chiappucci, Mario Cipollini, and Andrea Tafi among others. He started out as a contract builder, making frames that would be labeled by other manufacturers until the American distributor Gita convinced him to build under his own name. Floyd Landis owns and rides a Love #3.
Pegoretti also won the President's Choice award at the 2007 North American Handmade Bicycle Show[2] and framebuilder of the year at the 2008 show.[3]
