From a Small Italian Village to the Heart of Cycling and Motorcycling Performance
DINO
Dino Signori was far more than the founder of SIDI. He was a pioneer whose vision helped redefine performance in both cycling and motorcycling. Through relentless experimentation and a constant drive for progress, he introduced innovations that changed the way athletes rode, competed, and protected themselves. His work was never just about products. It was about solving real problems, improving the connection between rider and machine, and pushing sport forward.
What follows is Dino Signori, remembered and told through the words of Pier Augusto Stagi.
THE ROOTS
A life spent working with hands and heart, always thinking about feet: other people’s feet. So many worn-out soles, and even more to stitch. One after another, in the middle of war, with bombs stealing appetite and hunger gnawing at the stomach. Harsh years, first lived with the carefree spirit of a child who begins working alongside adults almost as a game, and later with the hope and growing awareness that the future would hold something better.
TALENT IN MOTION
Dino rides fast, and he has what it takes to become someone, even on his “Golden Arrow.” He races until 1955 as an amateur, winning 22 races. In his final season, he enters 17 races and wins 11: the talent is clear. A powerful build suited to a great rouleur, with the finishing kick of a true “finisseur”, capable of dropping everyone with explosive accelerations.
“I was good at relaunching the pace, never giving up, and holding high speed for a long time.”
THE BIRTH OF SIDI
At the start of the year, Dino Signori goes to the Chamber of Commerce in Treviso to register his company. Helping him with the paperwork is an employee from the Cattolica bank in Cornuda. The name, however, is suggested by Bruno Bruga, an advertising designer with a passion for airplanes, who advises him to call the company SIDI: after Signori Dino. Done. On January 18, 1960, SIDI is officially born.
THE VORTEX: IDENTITY AND VISION
“Only later did the vortex become our symbol, a logo that truly represents me and sums me up perfectly. In that red swirl there’s my character, my temperament, and above all my passion. And since I worked mainly with bicycles and motorcycles, a vortex also stands for movement, speed, and dynamics: speed of thought and of mechanics.”
THE MEETING THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
“In 1966, one day a remarkably sharp young man shows up, with an incredible talent for selling: Rodolfo Barbazza, known to everyone as Rudy. We already knew each other, but had lost touch for a while when he went to seek his fortune in Argentina. Rudy has always had an infectious personality: he would mark a turning point in my life as an industrialist. In fact, thanks to him and my ideas, I went from being a ‘shoemaker’ to becoming, in a short time, a small industrialist. Rudy was smart, quick, likable, and honest, you couldn’t ask for more. When you work with people like that, you’re in safe hands. He helped me grow like few others. I made good products, he sold them all over the world: that was the key. That was the breakthrough.”
Toward the end of 1968, a year marked by upheaval, Dino meets another enterprising young man eager to bring the SIDI brand into a new market: motocross.
THE FIRST BOOT, A LEGEND
“So I created my first boot for Giacomo in 1969: the ‘Corsa Special Agostini,’ a road boot in full-grain calf leather with a rear zip closure. Giacomo was immediately enthusiastic, and I had the joy and honor of developing it together with him. He often came by. In Pederobba, just above Cornuda, he had some interests, and whenever he could, he would stop by to see me and Rudy and have a chat. He was also my first track sponsorship. I paid him with royalties on what I sold and believe me, I sold a lot of Agostini boots.”
INNOVATION THAT CHANGED CYCLING
He sells the machine used to make polyurethane molds and starts producing cycling shoes. The first is a small masterpiece that would change cycling history: the adjustable cleat is born. Just put on the shoe, place your foot on the pedal, leave the cleat slightly loose to find the perfect position, then tighten the screws with an Allen key. Done.
“The first shoe I made, born from my early reflections, was the ‘Titanium.’ Entirely designed and developed by me… That’s why having a rider like Francesco Moser was the perfect match. We immediately formed a deep friendship, to the point that he became like family. Francesco had the keys to my house, and whenever he passed through on his way to Venice airport, he would always stop by; he even had his own room.”
CHAMPIONS AND TRUE FRIENDSHIPS
One of SIDI’s great ambassadors: Miguel Indurain. Winner of five Tour de France titles, two Giro d’Italia, world time trial champion, Olympic gold medalist, and former hour record holder. A deep friendship bound Dino Signori and Miguel Indurain, who for years, even after retiring, remained a SIDI ambassador and product tester.
DETAILS THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
Distinguishing feature? The heel. Loris Capirossi always wanted a slightly reinforced heel, designed in a specific way to keep his foot firmly in place on the peg.
“With Dino, we also developed double-layer soles to reduce boot wear. When did I meet him? About 20–25 years ago. I was introduced by the legendary Rudy Barbazza.”
And more: “Without taking anything away from anyone, everyone has copied SIDI. You can say what you like, but the biggest innovations came from this company, a true jewel of our industry. What kind of person is Dino? He may seem gruff, but he has a huge heart. It’s hard to find people so knowledgeable, generous, and available. He has a strong character, but treat him right, and you’ll get along for a lifetime, or almost.”
THE VISIONARY BEHIND THE BRAND
“I met Mr. Dino - as Tony Cairoli, a leading motocross champion, respectfully calls him - on several occasions. Whenever there was a problem or an idea to discuss, Dino was always available. He always treated me like a son. Attentive and meticulous, but above all rigorous. The beauty of this company lies in its sense of family combined with industrial discipline, the best you could hope for. And I’m happy they are still by my side.”
THE POWER OF IDEAS
“I have always strongly believed in the power of ideas, in positive thinking, and in the evolution of things. I have always believed in the strength of tradition and history, but even more in the disruptive power of innovation: because that is what makes history and leaves a lasting mark, sometimes becoming tradition itself.”
MADE TO PROGRESS
“Life is a competition. I dreamed of becoming a rider, but life led me to compete every single day off the saddle. Industrial life is competition. Even so, I believe in ‘cooperation’ that becomes ‘competition.’ It may sound like a contradiction, but alone you can only go so far. At a certain point, you need to work as a team, to become a system.”
THE CONSTANT PURSUIT OF PERFORMANCE THROUGH INNOVATION
THE ADAPTABLE CYCLING CLEAT SHOE
After stepping away from racing and returning to cycling years later, Dino experienced knee pain while riding. Rather than accepting discomfort as part of the sport, he treated it as a problem to solve. That insight led to the development of the first adaptable cleat shoe, designed to let riders fine-tune foot positioning for improved comfort, reduced physical strain, and better performance. It marked a decisive step toward a more ergonomic and biomechanically informed approach to cycling footwear.
THE MOTOCROSS BOOT WITH BUCKLE CLOSURE
Dino introduced one of the earliest motocross boots with buckle closure, a major advancement over traditional systems. The buckle design allowed riders to achieve more secure and consistent tension, maintaining fit and support throughout the entire ride. It was a simple but transformative innovation that improved both control and reliability in demanding off-road conditions.
THE RATCHET BUCKLE SHOE
With the introduction of the ratchet buckle closure, Dino brought a new level of precision to footwear fit. Riders could adjust tension quickly and accurately, even while on the move, achieving a more personalized and performance-oriented fit. This innovation helped redefine comfort, retention, and usability in high-performance cycling shoes.
THE DIAL CLOSURE SYSTEM
In 1989, long before dial systems became widespread, Dino conceived an advanced closure solution based on micro-adjustability. Originally imagined for ski boots, the concept quickly revealed even greater potential for cycling, where riders had long been forced to endure the same tension for an entire race. Dino’s dial system opened the door to dynamic fit adjustment, giving athletes the ability to respond to changing conditions and performance demands in real time.
THE MOTORCYCLE BOOT WITH HYPEREXTENSION AND HYPERFLEXION CONTROL
Safety was always central to Dino’s thinking. This led to the development of a motorcycle boot featuring mechanisms designed to control hyperextension and hyperflexion, helping reduce the risk of injury without compromising freedom of movement. It represented an important evolution in protective footwear, combining technical performance with a more advanced approach to rider safety.
THE SHOE WITH CENTRAL DIAL CLOSURE AND ADJUSTABLE HEEL RETENTION
Dino also pioneered a shoe design with central dial closure, created to deliver a cleaner aerodynamic profile and reduce exposure to impacts or interference. Paired with an adjustable heel retention system, the design offered a more secure, stable, and refined fit. It was another example of his ability to combine performance gains with practical rider-focused innovation.