In the center of Basel, walking distance from the train station, is a private collection dedicated to racing bicycles from the 1930s to the present. The collection has been assembled and maintained by one man, Urs Staeger. The emphasis is on Italian marques: Bianchi, Cinelli, Colnago, Pogliaghi, Masi, De Rosa, and so on, but other nations are represented as well. The collection consists of three rooms full, one of which is dedicated to Swiss marques alone. There are numerous bicycles with race histories, actually ridden by Tony Rominger, Fignon, Kurt Gimmi (TdF stage winner, and 2d place Tour de Swiss), Robt. Dill-Bundi (Switzerland's olympic gold medalist, track, Moscow 1980), Pascal Richard (1990 olympic gold, road race, among other victories), as well as others.

An absolute highlight of the collection is a Cinelli Laser, former team Fanini, justly best of show winner at Berg Konig, Gstaad (Switzerland).

Urs spent two hours, kindly showing me the treasures he has assembled, explaining the significance of each item: there are NOS Campag components galore, historic racing machines, prototypes, period jersies.

Hetchins is represented by a Magnum Bonum from 1965, in original livery. There is also a Gillot and a Mercian.

This is a must-see private collection, and tops many national, professionally funded/grant-funded museums. Urs was so friendly and informative, giving me free run of the place for as long as I wanted. Highly recommended for any cycling enthusiast passing through Basel. Apply to the owner for entry:

Click here for The Staeger Collection web site.

Below are some photographic highlights of Urs's fabulous collection.

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