Mondia

Mondia

Type	Private
Industry	Bicycles
Headquarters	Switzerland
Products	Bicycle and related components
Revenue	Private company - undisclosed

Mondia was one of the most successful Swiss bicycle manufacturers. The origins of the company date back to 1918, although bicycle production did not begin until 1933. Shortly after, in 1936, Mondia sponsored a racing team for the Tour of Switzerland which was won by a Mondia rider.

While now out of business, used Mondia bicycles can still be found. Frames from Mondia bicycles manufactured in the 1970s still rival modern frames in terms of weight and engineering, and are highly regarded on the merits of riding excellence and quality craftmanship. Typical service weight, with premium quality components, was under 10.5 kilos (23 lbs.). Mondia frames from 1960's - 1980's were well known for their "wild" multi-color paint jobs. While many other high end brands featured chrome plating on the front forks and rear stays, Mondia bicycles were easily recognized by a distinctive fade paint scheme which gradually blended color onto the chrome ends of the fork and stays. The headbadge had "Super Mondia" stamped over a stylized sunburst array. During the 1960s and 1970s Mondia produced three quality frames: a criterium model, a touring model and a cyclo-cross model.

The Mondia "Special" touring frame featured a front fork with a pronounced curve and a slightly greater rake that provided a very comfortable ride, though described by some as noodly. The Special also featured ornate Nervex chrome frame lugs. Brazed-on brake cable sheath stops were mounted along the lower right side of the top tube. Another fixture on the Special were brazed-on attachments to mount front and rear racks for cross-country touring gear.

The Mondia "Super" racing frame was somewhat tighter and stiffer, and with a straighter front fork. Mondia Super frames used the less elaborate Prugnat chrome lugs with distinctive center cut-outs. Brazed-on guides for brake cables on this model were centered along the top of the top tube.

Both frames were constructed of Reynolds 531 steel tubing (in French metric sizes), a hallmark of the high-end bicycle during this era of manufacture. The front forks of later Mondia frames featured Bocama semi-sloping chrome-plated investment cast fork crowns with Mondia stamped into the shoulders on each side. Bottom brackets were either Swiss- or French-threaded, while headsets featured French threads and steerer bore. Although individual bicycles were built up with a great variety of components, the most common premium groupset was the Campagnolo "Nuovo Record" with "Mafac" brakesets.

Mondia manufactured at least two other, less common cyclo-cross and criterium frames. One, known as the "Criterium" was available in the early 1970s; the second model, designed for criterium racing and called the "Criterium Prestige" was manufactured for about 2 years in the late 1970s. The Prestige appeared to combine selected design and technical features of the Mondia Super and Special. The cyclo-cross model featured the trademark fade paint and cantilever center pull brakes mounted on studs brazed to the stays and fork of a Reynolds 531 frame.

A Mondia bicycle company which has no apparent or official connection with the original bicycle company is in business at Mondia Fahrrad AG, Sagetstr. 116, 4802 Strengelbach.

References

• Classic Rendezvous: Mondia