Colnago Appreciation Society

[ironhanglider]

I expect it's a 27.2mm.

However, if you don't have a pair of calipers to measure the seat post width then take a circumference measure 8.54cm around will be a 27.2mm seat post.

Yeah, toolkit is lacking calipers, I thought it would be that, just wanted to double check before I went and bought something online. Cheers!!!

How about marking the current height of the seatpost and pulling it out. The size is usually marked on the post below the Minimum Insert line. Easier than measuring.

Cheers,

Cameron

[Discodan]

Damn that's clever, why didn't I think of that

[ldrcycles]

Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone can give me some information on this frame. It's a 56 with internal rear brake cable.
The forks are obviously not the original. Intentions are to give it a good clean/touch up and eventually build it up with period correct groupset (once I figure out what year it is).
Can supply more photos also.
Thanks in advance for any information.
I've just put up some photos ok the link bellow.

http://dskullworld.tumblr.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I know next to nothing about Colnagos but that is a nice looking paintsceme on yours.

[fletch62]

Help needed to identify my Colnago.
I bought it on fleabay from Italy. Bare frame weighs 1860g for a 57cm. No tubing or model sticker.
Only marking is a name sticker of Poggiali, which could be anyone, but its the same font that Roberto Poggiali used when he made frames after retiring from racing. Has a serial number 5D661. One shop told me it was a Mapei team bike, another claimed it was a Technos?
I've had it for about 2 years but never built it up. Have a Record 11 gruppo sitting ready to go in the cupboard.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/75176007@ ... otostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/75176007@ ... otostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/75176007@ ... otostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/75176007@ ... otostream/

[acb]

Thanks mate I appreciate your assistance. The Grammo stems looks the biz!

[toff]

Help needed to identify my Colnago.
I bought it on fleabay from Italy. Bare frame weighs 1860g for a 57cm. No tubing or model sticker.
Only marking is a name sticker of Poggiali, which could be anyone, but its the same font that Roberto Poggiali used when he made frames after retiring from racing. Has a serial number 5D661. One shop told me it was a Mapei team bike, another claimed it was a Technos?
I've had it for about 2 years but never built it up. Have a Record 11 gruppo sitting ready to go in the cupboard.

It's a mid-range steel model from around 1998 - 2000.
I don't have a catalogue to hand, but here are some general observations...

- The Poggiali sticker is a red herring. Nothing to do with the frame.
- The colour scheme is "Art Decor" AD10. In 1997 Mapei did use a variant of this colour scheme on their team bikes, although it was more elaborate. At the same time, Casino also used the same pattern on their team bikes, but it was primarily yellow, (AD14). The colour scheme was available for sale to anyone in 1997, but only on the top models (Master Olympic or Tecnos). Over the ensuing years though, the scheme was rolled out to lower models. Your frame was never a "team bike" although it wears livery similar to Mapei from that era.
- As all the tubes on your bike are round, it's not a Tecnos. It could be a Superissmo, or a C98 or a C99, but I don't think so. To my eye the tubes look nice and thick, so they are oversized. This makes the tubing either Thron tubing or EL/OS. Now, the fact that there is chrome on both the drive side, and non-drive side, as well as on the seatstays tells me it's not likely to be a Superissimo or a "C" series: it's a higher range model. The last clue is the fastback stays, which was a feature of the better bikes, like the Tecnos at that time. I am confident you have a 1998 or 1999 Colnago Elegant. Not a bad bike at all... Only the Tecnos and MasterXlight were considered superier in Colnago's steel range at that time, although they were moving away from steel and into carbon and titanium for their top models by then.

Hope this info helps...

[simonsausage]

Yup to Record ti.....or new silver/alloy Athena...

[singlespeedscott]

If you go Athena try and scrounge up the older UT cranks and not the new God awful power torque ones.

[Jangari]

I came across this frame on Ebay. Seller pointed out that the decals read 'Colnago' but didn't know what this meant and put it up for $20 (it got one bid). I see no evidence besides the stickers that this is a quality frame at all. Can anyone see anything that would suggest that it is in fact a Colnago? I want to be glad that I passed up on a fake.

[geoff_tewierik]

I came across this frame on Ebay. Seller pointed out that the decals read 'Colnago' but didn't know what this meant and put it up for $20 (it got one bid). I see no evidence besides the stickers that this is a quality frame at all. Can anyone see anything that would suggest that it is in fact a Colnago? I want to be glad that I passed up on a fake.

Hard to tell as the pics are so shite. I'd be wanting to see the lugs, fork crown, bottom bracket and rear dropouts for some further sort of identification.

[QuangVuong]

It's a low quality frame, as there are down tube cable guides, which I assume we're used with stem shifters, rather than downtube bosses, as well as dropout eyelets. If it had a rear wheel attached, I reckon there would've been at least 5cm between the wheel and ST.

[familyguy]

Pure gaspipe. I'm pretty sure Ernesto would never let his guys use pressed steel dropouts.

Jim

[Jangari]

That's what I thought. The geometry was all wrong, the eyelets everywhere, the crown on the fork just looks cheap, and the lugs are unremarkable. Just wanted it confirmed by enthusiasts! Thanks!

[Jangari]

down tube cable guides, which I assume we're used with stem shifters, rather than downtube bosses…

Good catch! I didn't notice that at first.

[simonsausage]

My new C50. Finally found one I could afford!
Got a curious mix of older 8 speed Campy Athena and Chorus on it, which I plan to strip and put on a Master Piu frame I also picked up recently. (Been on a bit of a bike-buying-bender of late. Oooops!)
The big question now is, do I go down the traditional route and build it up with a newer Campy groupset? (Which I'd have to buy). OR...I could strip the Sram Red off my BMC and transfer it to the C50. It'd be a bit of fannying around, but ultimately cheaper, and it'd end up a lighter build than any Campy gruppo that I can afford now. But I'd need to find bb cups for Sram with Italian thread, preferably not costing as much as Chris King ones.
Or I could just ride it as is cos there's actually nothing wrong with it now....

[open roader]

I saw this one on fleaBay a couple of weeks ago - great buying- well done! It's the early model C50 with the deeper lugs and Star Carbon fork - thinking circa 2004/2005 in paint scheme PR11. Very nice indeed!

If you want to be strict about period correctness then it's 10 speed Record or Chorus in carbon / black. However, I built up my (2009) C50 frameset with Record 11 speed and have no qualms about the way it matches the C50 framset.

I can't vouch for Sram as I have precisely zero Sram experience but I'll 'out' myself as a bike snob and say a hand made Italian classic frameset demands Campagnolo!

Of course riding it' as is' will be perfectly fine too but if you have a Master Piu to put those polished alloy bits onto I'd be saving to build this beauty up with 11 speed Chorus or Record.

[Discodan]

SRAM makes their BBs with Italian thread, nice and easy fro $32 from c r c with free shipping at the moment

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[simonsausage]

Thanks for the info guys. Yeah bought it from ebay last week. Only one other person had a token bid, so I was pretty surprised with the 'win'. Seller said it was a 2007 model but I don't know enough about them to verify that for sure. Took it for a group ride the other night and got totally left behind, which is clearly because of the the heavy older components and not my flabbiness.
Even though I'd love to match italian with Italian, I might just be tempted to go the bro-set for now until I have the money for a Chorus or better groupset.

[TDC]

My new C50. Finally found one I could afford!
Got a curious mix of older 8 speed Campy Athena and Chorus on it, which I plan to strip and put on a Master Piu frame I also picked up recently. (Been on a bit of a bike-buying-bender of late. Oooops!)
The big question now is, do I go down the traditional route and build it up with a newer Campy groupset? (Which I'd have to buy). OR...I could strip the Sram Red off my BMC and transfer it to the C50. It'd be a bit of fannying around, but ultimately cheaper, and it'd end up a lighter build than any Campy gruppo that I can afford now. But I'd need to find bb cups for Sram with Italian thread, preferably not costing as much as Chris King ones.
Or I could just ride it as is cos there's actually nothing wrong with it now....

Simon, the handlebar police will be paying you a visit i think And alway go SRAM or Shimano on colnagos...It annoys the purists. Mapei had Shimano and their bikes didn't explode.

[simonsausage]

The Handlebar Police?!?! Crap! I was just worried about the Colnago/Campy Mafia.
I'll get on it right away!

[GaryF]

Hi simonsausage, you've had the C-50 for a few days now, how's it handling after a few more days of riding it under your belt? The C-50 is one Conago I'd like to get my hands on too - and in that colour scheme. Thanks for the photo.

[simonsausage]

Hey Garyf! I wrote a long-winded response to your question the other day, but I guess I didn't click 'submit' and now it is lost in the ether, dammit!
In summary, its great but i reckon it'll really come to life when I update the components and wheels. It's currently at 8.8kg and I reckon I can easily shave a kilo or so off that without having to sell my mother's gold fillings.
I haven't done any long days in the saddle or serious hill climbing with it yet (blaming the weather for that, rather than my slacknesss), but so far all symptoms are positive. I'm finding I can lean into corners more without crapping myself. It does seem to smooth out the road vibration a bit, as promised. And the steering is definitely different, but at a loss to describe how exactly. Its def not twitchy, but it is easily maneuverable. Must be something to do with that extra bit of rake??
(Sorry I should have mentioned, I am neither a good rider nor a good writer).
Anyhow, should be getting a suitable bb in the mail soon and I will be able to provide a better review later on if you want.
Cheers.

[GaryF]

Hi simonsausage,
I thought I was the only one who lost paragraphs by not pushing the right buttons. Thanks for your insights into your bikes ride qualities - it makes me want one even more. It's hard for me to comprehend being able to loose a further kilo off a bike they only weighs 8.8 kg now and without breaking the bank! I must be out of touch and getting old. Your front end qualities must be due to the geometry as you suggest. It's a lovely bike and destined to become even better.

[munga]

i've recently finished building a modern carbon bike (not a colnago), and with 10sp record and eurus wheelset - under 7kg. i was blown away!

[GaryF]

i've recently finished building a modern carbon bike (not a colnago), and with 10sp record and eurus wheelset - under 7kg. i was blown away!

Wow - that's incredible Munga. It must be like riding nothing.