What do you do when you are a successful entrepreneur and suddenly discover cycling? Exactly. You buy a brand in decline to create your own dream bike. That is precisely what Nicholas Hurenkamp did with Italvega. However, he did not stop at just one bike.
After years of working as an independent entrepreneur in the textile industry, Nicholas discovered cycling, like many others. When he looked around, he felt something was missing. “I was riding a beautiful titanium bike, but then a friend said, ‘You have a really nice bike, you see them more and more often,’ and something clicked. I wanted a unique bike that no one else had. One that people would turn their heads to look at and glance at again when you were standing still at a traffic light.” On one of his many business trips to Asia, he found Italvega on Google. He spent an entire night researching its history and possibilities. The next day, the brand changed owners, and the Italvega project could begin.
Like many bicycle brands in Italy, Italvega started in the late 1970s. Ben Lawee, an Iraqi who emigrated to America, designed in America and had his production carried out in the famous Torpado factory in Padua. Until 1977, bicycles were made in the same factory as Bianchi, but it never really got off the ground. After a stint in Japan under the name ‘Univega’, Italvega was finally shelved until Nicholas dusted it off again in 2016.
“I wanted to create something that I was in control of and liked myself,” says Nicholas. “To make a bike that you take out of the shed repeatedly with a fantastic feeling. Like taking an old Porsche out from under the covers and enjoying it on the Dutch roads on a beautiful summer afternoon. That’s the feeling I want to create. At first, it was just for myself, but I got so much positive feedback that I thought, ‘I have to do more with this.’ Together with business partner Marcel de Zeeuw, they explored all the possibilities.
Ridley is producing frames, and the adventure can begin. One of the cornerstones of Italvega is the paintwork, which is done entirely by hand. Marcel is the driving force behind this and is responsible for Italvega’s unique color palette, which creates a perfect harmony of colors. Even the logo is spray-painted by hand. The seat post and handlebar stem are also spray-painted. Italvega’s slogan, “Life is all about the ride,” could easily be changed to “Life is all about the details,” because Italvega bikes are complete with them.
Life is all about the Ride
The cable nipples are the same color as the frame, thanks to a collaboration with Scope. Nicholas called on his connections to apply a special technique whereby the stickers on the Scope wheels can be spray-painted in any color. This means that they also match the color of the frame perfectly. “I knew this technique was possible and quickly contacted John and Jeroen from Carbonherstel. They developed the method for us and did an exceptional job. Italvega perfectly responds to everyone’s desire to make their bike as personal and unique as possible. Exclusive and stylish, as befits an Italian.
Nicholas continues enthusiastically: “You feel you have something unique in your hands that involves craftsmanship and attention to detail. This isn’t just any bike that rolls off the assembly line in a factory. In my opinion, it’s impossible to compete with the big players in the bicycle industry, so I want to make a bike that is unique and tailored to the rider’s wishes. In addition, durability is essential, so you can still take your dream bike out of the shed with admiration in six years.”
During the conversation, I noticed I was talking to a passionate workaholic combining two full-time jobs with a family. I am currently combining my work in the textile industry with Italvega, but I would love to be able to turn that around and devote all my time to these beautiful bikes and sport. The goal is to grow and introduce more people to Italvega.
To further conquer the niche market, Italvega is now developing a color palette so that you can choose the color of your bike yourself. In addition to the pleasant collaboration with Scope and Carbonherstel, Italvega has already entered into several partnerships, which is very smart. For example, they have already sat down with Isadore, Pelotan, and Verducci (dazzlingly beautiful cycling shoes).
In addition to the story of Italvega, I am testing both top models, the Nuovo Super Sport and the Super Speciale. Soon, you will read more about these two Italian beauties and how they compare.
Text: Brend van der Horst
