I see on a lot of the older classic bikes the symbols from playing cards ie. Spade, Club, Heart, Diamond what significance do these symbols have in cycling?

I know Colnago has the clover tubes, but that only explains one symbol for one manufacturer.

Thanks.

conversely, why are there "Bicycle" playing cards? why are there angels riding bikes on the backs? the joker rides a bike too- why?

The great Italian bike builders were all Kenny Rogers fans.

The great Italian framebuilders were big on attaching playing cards to the forks and seatstays using a clothespin. The sound, not the ride, is what they were after.....

If you see someone doing this with cards from a Tarot deck, beware!

Wow, not that I am surprised with the smart ass answers, but I am surprised I may have stumped the self appointed deity's of cycling knowledge.

http://www.velonews.com/article/5871

http://www.velonews.com/files/images/5871.7313.jpg

I cant recall where I saw it but I am pretty sure De Rosa uses Hearts and diamonds to say that they put their heart into the frame and teh diamond part of the headbadge is a reference to the diamante, or diamond-shaped, chainstays on their steel models.

Takmanjapan

^^^^
Now we are getting somewhere.

Dear Lennard,
Do you know why many bicycle manufacturers (especially the Italian and small custom builders) decorate their frames and lugs with the four symbols on playing cards? Colnago’s clubs, DeRosa’s Hearts, Richard Sach’s using all four, etc¡ What is the connection if any?

Dear Gabe,
Well, to start, the Colnago logo is not a “clubs” symbol. It is a flower to celebrate the first Colnago win in a major race, Milan-San Remo. San Remo is the "City of Flowers" because the hillsides there, bathed by the warm and moist air from the Ligurian sea, are covered with greenhouses growing flowers. That's the root of the "flower," although I have to admit it sure looks more like the clubs symbol than it does a flower.

http://www.colnago.com/carte6.jpg


Not a club huh? Ernesto and friends seem to disagree.

The Richard Sachs explanation really makes the most sense for part of the answer, but does not explain all the Italian manuf's use.

I do remember hearing Bicycle playing cards were trying to identify with the latest piece of high tech for the time they came out... and since the modern bicycle was the symbol of modernity and ingenuity for the time... ta da..... The Aristorcats!