BiciRace.com :: News :: December 2005

News :: RBK - Rullobike.com ... Como and the World

5 December 2005

RBK - Rullobike.com ... Como and the World

Street View of RulloBike, photo: BiciRace.com

Finding a great bike shop can be difficult but if you are passing through Como, or have access to the internet, then you should visit RBK - Rullobike.com. The shop is in an ideal location in Como, right off the main roads leading into town. BiciRace.com decided to pay a visit since just last week RulloBike celebrated the grand opening of their new shop, right next door to the old space.

Arriving at RulloBike we were greeted by Brent Copeland, who is co-owner along with Simone Frontini. He is a long time resident of Como but is originally from South Africa and makes for a great interface to the many of English speaking clients. Brent was key in the negotiations over the last two years to help acquire the impressive new space. When you walk through the shop you start to understand that all the time invested was worth it. There is plenty of window space for street passers to see all the gear, which is very important for the Italians, who love to window shop.

De Rosa ... Oh Yes!, photo: BiciRace.com

Inside there are three main show rooms and each of them offers plenty of jewels. First we stopped off in the De Rosa sala ("room") where we saw the newly released Protos. This is carbon madness at its best from the Milano based firm. Before we could pull out our credit card to buy the bike Brent pointed out that it had already been sold to a lucky gentleman in England.

Cool Green Bianchi, photo: BiciRace.com

Walking through the store, past the Christmas tree, we came on the Bianchi sala. Lots of cool green bikes by the classic Italian firm were on offer. In the same room was also the collection of Fulcrum and Mavic wheels on offer by RulloBike. It is a very impressive selection of wheels for building a perfect Bianchi or any other machine. And over in the corner what did we see? It was a massage room, and it is a just one of the many additional services on offer at the shop.

Lampre Kit Here, photo: BiciRace.com

We skipped the massage and went right to the Lampre Sala. Cannondale and Wilier frames were decorating the room, both the USA and Italian frames are top notch and worth serious consideration. Along with the frames was all the Lampre kit you could want to complete your Damiano Cunego look. Brent, who is also a Sports Director of Lampre-Fondital, made sure to remind us that they were the exclusive dealer of the team's gear. You can get your hands on the cool clothing through the bike shop or online (Visit RBK - Rullobike.com).

We were very impressed with all of the bikes on offer and even the massage room, but there was more. We were guided into the fitting room where RulloBike sets up every customer for their bike and also performs threshold tests. It is a great little room that is also filled with racing memorabilia collected throughout the years.

Nerve Center, photo: BiciRace.com

From the street level we were taken down to the main workshop, and then further downstairs to storage room. The workshop down stairs is where all the serious repairs take place, and you get the feeling that your bike would be in very good hands. Over to the side in another room are lockers and showers that RulloBike offers to a local team and also city commuters. It is a thoughtful area to store your bike and clean up after a long lakeside ride.

One more flight of stairs down and we were in the nerve center of the RBK - Rullobike.com. Rows and rows of storage for their online website and the bike shop upstairs. Everyday thousands of goodies go in and out of the RulloBike's doors, and this is where it all gets tallied, packed and shipped to the world. It was a great space with room to grow.

Relax!, photo: BiciRace.com

Before leaving a Fausto Coppi poster caught our eyes. Throughout RulloBike are numerous posters and signed jerseys that help make the bike shop even cooler. While you are relaxing in the TV lounge area you might notice the Ivan Basso signed white jersey from the Tour de France, or the Mario Cipollini 2002 World Championship poster, or the Robert Hunter jerseys. It is unbelievable, and it all helps you appreciate the thought and dedication that the workers at RulloBike put into their trade.

If you are in Como please stop by and visit, directions to the store are located on the RBK - Rullobike.com website. If you can't make it over to the lovely lakeside of Como then just visit the website. It is almost like being in Italy, minus the tasty pasta and caffè.

New Logo and Entrance, photo: BiciRace.com

5 December News ...