by Larry Lagarde

Can anyone identify the folding bikes in this photo?

The time frame is WWI; the troops were sharpshooters from Italy's Bersaglieri corps.

A high mobility unit, the Bersaglieri fought French and Austro-Hungarian troops along the trenches and ridge lines of the Alps. They were known for their high morale and aggressive spirit. During that war, 50,000 lost their lives in battle.

Italy still has Bersaglieri units. I thought their use of bicycles ended a long time ago but then I came across photos on a blog called Rome Daily Photo and Italian website Ars Nova Spettacoli that show Bersaglieri still riding bikes. Pretty cool.

Labels: Bersaglieri , WWI