About

Serving the Cycling Community Since 1958

2025 marks Mel Pinto Imports 67th year of uninterrupted support to the bicycle industry and community. If you are visiting us for the first time, or are rediscovering us from some past connection, WELCOME! We appreciate every one of our clients and work hard to earn your business. We take pride in being a customer service-oriented business.

MPI is the direct representative and importer for VAR Tools in the US. Feel free to write to us at info@melpintoimports.com or call us at 540-338-8375, we will personally respond to your email or voice message.

MPI History

Mel Pinto Imports (MPI) was created in 1958 by Mr. Mel Pinto, and incorporated in Falls Church, Virginia in the late 60's. Mr. Pinto, a native of Morocco, was always passionate about bicycles and bicycle racing, and created MPI to help introduce the US audience to European bicycles, components and bicycle racing. He organized his first race in Washington DC in 1963, that race going on to become the National Capital Open, which ran continuously until the late 80's. During the early 70's, MPI was the largest importer of Gitane bicycles in the US. Mr. Pinto always searched out the highest quality racing and touring components of the day, offering those to a dealer network that stretched across the continent.

As with many industries, the bicycle industry changed and reinvented itself continuously over the years, and MPI changed as well. Mr. Pinto scaled back the business over the course of the late 80's & 90's, focusing on classic components and accessories from some of the best-known names in the industry, many of which had been mainstays for MPI over the years. Mr. Pinto passed away peacefully at his home in Arlington VA at the age of 98 in 2021.

Mel Pinto Imports has been under new management since 2008. At MPI, we understand and appreciate the legacy we have inherited, and want to continue the great tradition established by Mr. Pinto so many years ago. Our goal is to provide the same great quality products and services that our customers have come to expect from MPI. We still like to talk with our customers, and hope to never lose that personal touch that makes MPI unique.