About Mel Pinto
Lived 1923 – 2021 (aged 97). Mel Pinto was an American sport cyclist.
Mel Pinto (September 9, 1923 – March 28, 2021) was one of the first importers of European racing bikes into the United States in 1958 when he opened Mel Pinto Imports in northern Virginia and began selling Gitane bicycles on consignment. Later, Pinto was the first to import Shimano’s Dura-Ace components into the U.S.
In 1960, Pinto became a founding member of the Federation of Washington Area Bicycle Clubs, now known as the National Capital Velo Club, and in 1963 revived the moribund National Capital Open bicycle race in Washington, D.C., reestablishing it as an annual event on The Ellipse until the race's demise in 1988.
Pinto sold Mel Pinto Imports in 2009 and resided in Virginia outside of Washington, D.C. until his death in 2021.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Mel Pinto's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Mel Pinto?
American businessman
When was Mel Pinto born?
Mel Pinto was born on 9 September 1923.
When did Mel Pinto die?
Mel Pinto died on 28 March 2021.
What was Mel Pinto's occupation?
Mel Pinto was a sport cyclist.
What nationality was Mel Pinto?
Mel Pinto was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Mel Pinto. https://biography.guide/mel-pinto/
MLA: "Mel Pinto." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/mel-pinto/.
Chicago: "Mel Pinto." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/mel-pinto/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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