Bianchi is the oldest bicycle manufacturer still operating, founded in Milan in 1885.
If you landed here asking which is the oldest bike company, you want a clear answer first and the proof right after. Here it is: Bianchi has built bicycles since 1885 and is still building them today. That’s the baseline. Below you’ll see how it stacks up against other heritage brands, what “oldest” can mean, and where model years, brand continuity, and manufacturing history fit.
Which Is The Oldest Bike Company? Facts By The Numbers
“Oldest” can be read a few ways. Most readers mean the oldest bicycle maker that’s still in business. Some brands are older as companies but didn’t start with bikes. Others changed hands or paused production. To keep things clean, this guide treats “oldest” as the earliest year a brand began making bicycles and remains active today. Where a company started in another trade, you’ll see both dates called out.
Method We Used
We checked each brand’s own history pages and long-standing references. The goal: match a brand to the year it first produced bicycles and confirm that the brand is still active. When dates differed, we favored the brand’s official history page, then long-lived encyclopedias or archives.
Oldest Bicycle Brands At A Glance
This quick table lines up founding or bicycle-production start years with current status. It keeps the view wide so you can see where Bianchi sits against other classics.
| Brand | Bike Production Start | Today |
|---|---|---|
| Bianchi | 1885 | Active; founded in Milan and still building bikes |
| Peugeot Cycles | 1886 | Active; long French bicycle lineage |
| Raleigh | 1887 | Active; Nottingham roots |
| Gazelle | 1892 | Active; Dutch maker |
| Schwinn | 1895 | Active; U.S. heritage brand |
| Pashley | 1926 | Active; handmade in Stratford-upon-Avon |
| Orbea | 1930 (bikes) | Active; company dates to 1840 in other goods |
Why Bianchi Holds The Crown
Bianchi opened its workshop in 1885 and has produced bicycles ever since. The brand’s own archive ties that start date to Edoardo Bianchi’s first shop in Milan, then traces continuous bicycle production across road, city, and e-bikes. You can verify the 1885 origin in Bianchi’s “Our Story”, and you’ll see the same year mirrored across long-standing references.
Close Contenders You’ll Hear About
Peugeot Cycles (1886): A household name in French bicycles. The official timeline shows bicycle activity beginning in 1886. See the brand’s own Peugeot Cycles history page for the year and key milestones.
Raleigh (1887): One of the longest-running British names. Raleigh cites an 1887 start in Nottingham on its history page.
Gazelle (1892): Dutch maker with deep commuter DNA; its history timeline pegs the origin to 1892.
Schwinn (1895): A pillar of U.S. cycling that began in Chicago in 1895; details live on the brand’s Our Story page.
Orbea (company 1840; bikes from 1930): The Basque firm began in firearms in the 19th century and entered bicycles in 1930; its timeline calls out both phases.
Pashley (1926): England’s longest-established bicycle manufacturer still building by hand; see its heritage page.
Oldest Bike Company By Brand And Year
Here’s the simple rule this guide follows: the oldest bike company is the one that started building bicycles earliest and is still active. That makes Bianchi the answer to the exact query, which is the oldest bike company, while brands like Peugeot and Raleigh sit close behind. Companies that existed earlier in other trades—like Orbea—enter the list based on the year they began bicycle production.
What Counts As “Continuous” For A Bike Brand
Brand histories can be messy: mergers, license deals, factory moves, or brief pauses in production. For an apples-to-apples view, this guide treats a brand as continuous if the bicycle brand name and production line carried on under ownership changes, without a hard stop that ended the marque. Bianchi, Peugeot, Raleigh, Gazelle, Schwinn, Pashley, and Orbea all meet that practical bar today.
Tech Milestones That Framed The Early Years
The late-1800s boom rested on two advances: the “safety” frame and pneumatic tires. Safety bikes used near-equal wheel sizes and a chain drive to the rear wheel, a layout still used now. The switch to air-filled tires in 1888 made rides smoother and faster, which drove mass adoption through the 1890s. For a neutral primer on these turning points, see Britannica’s bicycle history and its entry on the pneumatic tire.
Brand-By-Brand Notes And Buying Context
Bianchi (1885)
The celeste-painted frames go back more than a century. Today’s line spans race, endurance, gravel, city, and e-bikes. The brand’s pitch stays close to its road heritage, yet the commuter and e-urban ranges show steady expansion. If you prize a direct line to early road racing, Bianchi sits at the top.
Peugeot Cycles (1886)
Peugeot’s bicycle line started in the 1880s and ran through eras of touring, racing, and city bikes. The modern range mixes classic logos with current frames and e-assist models. If you want French lineage with a broad mix of utility bikes, Peugeot fits that bill.
Raleigh (1887)
From Nottingham to the world, Raleigh built urban workhorses and race standouts. Today it leans into everyday riding, leisure, and e-assists. It’s a recognizable name for riders who want classic styling with modern parts.
Gazelle (1892)
A commuter specialist from the Netherlands. Upright fits, integrated lighting, chaincases, and racks are standard fare. If you want a daily rider that feels at home in city traffic, Gazelle is an easy shortlist pick.
Schwinn (1895)
U.S. cycling grew up with Schwinn. From cruisers to BMX and kids’ bikes, the brand earned a spot in many garages. The lineup covers casual fitness and family use, with approachable pricing across most ranges.
Pashley (1926)
Pashley still makes bikes in England. Classic roadsters, carrier bikes, and cargo cycles define the catalog. If durability and hand-built metalwork call to you, Pashley offers that feel.
Orbea (company 1840; bicycles 1930)
The company predates many rivals as a business, but its bike chapter starts in 1930. Today it’s a major player across road, MTB, and e-bikes, with custom paint options and a strong racing presence.
What If You Meant Motorbikes?
Some readers use “bike” to mean motorcycle. In that world, the oldest motorcycle manufacturer in continuous production is generally credited to Royal Enfield, which began motorbikes in 1901 and remains active today. That note is here for clarity; this article ranks bicycle brands.
How Old Are These Brands In 2025?
Here’s a quick age check using the bicycle-production start year. It helps you compare heritage at a glance.
| Brand | Years In Operation (As Of 2025) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bianchi | 140 | Oldest continuously active bicycle maker |
| Peugeot Cycles | 139 | French heritage; broad urban range |
| Raleigh | 138 | British classic; commuter focus now |
| Gazelle | 133 | Dutch city and e-bike specialist |
| Schwinn | 130 | U.S. mainstay across family segments |
| Pashley | 99 | Hand-built in the UK |
| Orbea | 95 (bikes) | Company founded 1840; bikes since 1930 |
How To Use This Info When You’re Picking A Bike
Match The Brand To Your Use
Heritage doesn’t replace fit. If you want a fast road bike with racing pedigree, Bianchi fits the brief. For utility and city comfort, Gazelle and Raleigh shine. For a French-styled commuter or trekking e-bike, Peugeot Cycles offers many choices. If you value hand-built metal and classic looks, Pashley lands well. Orbea brings modern performance with deep options across road and mountain.
Check Service And Spares Where You Live
Pick a brand with dealer coverage near you. That keeps setup, warranty help, and routine service easy. Heritage brands tend to have strong parts networks, which helps when you need a derailleur hanger, a headset, or an e-bike battery down the line.
Balance Classic Looks And Modern Standards
Many of these brands lean into their history. That can mean timeless paint and badges paired with current groupsets, thru-axles, and disc brakes. If you’re drawn to a classic silhouette, scan the spec sheet for modern wheel sizes, tubeless-ready rims, and current bottom brackets.
Don’t Chase Age Alone
A 140-year timeline is impressive, but the right bike is the one that fits, rides well, and fits your routes. Use the history as a tiebreaker once you’ve nailed size, geometry, gearing, and budget.
Sources And Verification Notes
Brand Records
Bianchi’s 1885 origin appears on its official “Our Story” page and across its brand site. Peugeot Cycles lists 1886 as the start of its bicycle history. Raleigh cites 1887 on its history page. Gazelle confirms 1892 in its timeline. Schwinn’s “Our Story” calls out 1895 in Chicago. Pashley’s heritage page shows 1926. Orbea’s company story notes an 1840 origin and a switch to bicycles in 1930.
Context On Early Tech
To understand why so many famous names cluster in the late 1800s, check the neutral primers above about equal-wheel “safety” frames and pneumatic tires. These two changes kicked off mass adoption and gave bicycle makers a global market to serve.
Bottom Line
Which is the oldest bike company? The direct answer is Bianchi. It began building bicycles in 1885 and still does. If you came here for the name and the year, that’s it. If you needed the context to back a purchase or settle a friendly argument, the tables and links do that job, too.