Cilo

Cilo was a Swiss manufacturer of bicycles that filed for bankruptcy in 2002. The bicycles were produced on the shores of Lake Geneva in Romanel-sur-Lausanne in the Vaud canton.



Cilo is an acronym for Charles Jean Lausanne-Oron. The abbreviation from the manufacturer's name Jean was changed to an i for ease of pronunciation in French. "Lausanne-Oron" refers to a holding in Lausanne, associated with the industrialisation of the city at the turn of the 20th century.

Hans Knecht became world champion in 1946 riding a Cilo bicycle; other notable riders include Beat Breu, Daniel Gisiger and Tony Rominger.

Cilo co-sponsored the cycling team Cilo–Aufina with Aufina from 1980 to 1986, and then Atari and Ciclolinea in 1992.

The Cilo of the mid-1970s was a racing bicycle made of Reynolds 531 with the typical Swiss attention to detail. It had chromed forks, drop-outs and rear stays. All lugs were chromed and polished. The components included full 'top-of-the-line' Campagnolo, although Campy brakes were an option. Brooks saddle, Cinelli road bars and stem, Christophe clips and straps were provided. Silk tubulars mounted on Cerchio Fiamme rims were standard.