Colnago Fixie Project

[OrangeJuiceMan]

Hi guys,

Im in the middle of converting an old Colnago bike which I have had for many years. I did attempt to restore the bike a few years ago but failed miserably. I have now had the frame completely sandblasted and am now stuck on what colour to go with. I find the frame actually looks quite nice without any paint on what so ever... and was thinking of just getting it clear coated. But I am still unsure. Just wanted to see what opinions you guys had. Also if any of you live in Adelaide do you know of any good places where I could get the frame painted?
Cheers

[dodgiebros]

Saronni Red

[Mulger bill]

I thought of clearcoat over blast for my project. Loved the bare steel look.
You'd have to be seriously quick to stop rust specks forming. And your fingerprints do horrible things.
I rattlecanned.

[brauluver]

Thats the first Colnago I've seen with what looks like a centre stand bracket on the bottom
Does it have any of the colnago pantographs or club style cut outs on it?
I may be wrong but it looks like a fairly generic steel frame to me.
No down tube shifter mounts.
Is the BB an italian or english thread?

[PomFresh]

What did it look like before? Got any photos?

I was also thinking of doing the same, and in Adelaide. I've heard Steve Wicks in Gepps Cross are OK. And a place in Edwardstown. Although both have mixed reviews. I'm concerned that the clearcoat would wear off and the rust would start and spread. I got my last frame done in London and in the end went for dark grey powdercoat as I had the same fear then too.

[fancylugz]

I agree with Brauluver that looks like a generic steelie to me.
Colnago's definetly DONT have a kickstand plate under the chainstays and the forks are much different than those pictured.

[uncle arthur]

I agree with Brauluver that looks like a generic steelie to me.
Colnago's definetly DONT have a kickstand plate under the chainstays and the forks are much different than those pictured.

Way to ruin a guy's dream much?

[brauluver]

I agree with Brauluver that looks like a generic steelie to me.
Colnago's definetly DONT have a kickstand plate under the chainstays and the forks are much different than those pictured.

Way to ruin a guy's dream much?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/vintage-colnago- ... 43a07ca21d

This is what a Colnago frame looks like.
Don't mean to be rude OJMan, but I'm guessing that your frame was just decaled as a Colnago by some try hard or some smarty pants trying to be ironic.

[OrangeJuiceMan]

Thats the first Colnago I've seen with what looks like a centre stand bracket on the bottom
Does it have any of the colnago pantographs or club style cut outs on it?
I may be wrong but it looks like a fairly generic steel frame to me.
No down tube shifter mounts.
Is the BB an italian or english thread?

Yea I'm not an expert on old frames, i just got the bike off a neighbor who had it rusting away in their garage. I would have no idea if its genuine or not. It has got engraved on the dropouts 'Suntour' if this gives you any clues. The BB has got an Italian thread. Doesn't really bother me if its genuine or not, still a nice frame to convert.

[OrangeJuiceMan]

What did it look like before? Got any photos?

Na haven't got any photos of it, but it was in pretty bad shape when i got it. All the stickers were peeling off and there was heaps of surface rust over the frame.

[rkelsen]

It has got engraved on the dropouts 'Suntour' if this gives you any clues.

Then it's definitely not a Colnago. The 3 brake cable guides are another give away. Then there are other things, like the kickstand plate and the complete lack of any Colnago-specific trimmings.

That doesn't automatically mean that it's junk, though.

Some more info might help to identify it.

How much does it weigh? What size seatpost does it take?

Those dropouts wouldn't normally have been put on a clunker... but the kickstand plate would have. I'm confused.

[OrangeJuiceMan]

How much does it weigh? What size seatpost does it take?

The frame with forks weighs 3kg and the seat post width is 26mm.

[rkelsen]

The frame with forks weighs 3kg and the seat post width is 26mm.

Then it's not junk. Sounds like a cr-mo frame of some sort... possibly with butted tubing.

Worth saving!

[.isaac.]

Im looking forward to seeing the final product!
Even if the frame is not genuine it still is a very nice frame to convert.

[OrangeJuiceMan]

Hi guys, im moving along nicely with the build. I've been trying to find some suitable wheels. I've narrowed it down to the wheels on velogear : http://www.velogear.com.au/products/Singlespeed_Wheelset-979-136.html and some wheels which have just started selling on ebay, http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Fixie-Single-Speed-Track-Bike-Wheel-Set-CD4-5-/190439464947?pt=AU_Sport_Cycling_Parts&hash=item2c57139ff3. I haven't heard anything about these 'zuzi wheels', not sure if anyone has heard anything about them? Im not on a big budget so im not keen on spending over $200.

Cheers

[jaseyjase]

spend an extra $30 and get a weinman Dp18 on origin8 hubs from the states, i think the are about $230 landed. A few members have been riding on them with good reports. Might be worth checking out.

Or maybe spend $200 on a good rear wheel, and just pick up a cheap front wheel if you dont mind having a mismatched set.

[brauluver]

Hi guys, im moving along nicely with the build. I've been trying to find some suitable wheels. I've narrowed it down to the wheels on velogear : http://www.velogear.com.au/products/Singlespeed_Wheelset-979-136.html and some wheels which have just started selling on ebay, http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Fixie-Single-Speed-Track-Bike-Wheel-Set-CD4-5-/190439464947?pt=AU_Sport_Cycling_Parts&hash=item2c57139ff3. I haven't heard anything about these 'zuzi wheels', not sure if anyone has heard anything about them? Im not on a big budget so im not keen on spending over $200.

Cheers

Velo gear wheels are excellent, can vouch for them.Some reviews on here if you search.

[.isaac.]

I haven't heard anything about these 'zuzi wheels', not sure if anyone has heard anything about them? Im not on a big budget so im not keen on spending over $200.

I wouldn't recommend any part off ebay unless you know the brand name and the quality of the part. But since I have been to their website I have half changed my mind on Zuzi wheels. They actually seem quite reliable according to what they say on their website. -
http://www.zuziwheels.com/pure-series-wheels
On the other hand Stars wheels are (according to other forum users) cheap and unreliable and the Quando hub are apparently really terrible so just dont buy Stars wheelsets which are valued at 90 bucks.

Isaac

[OrangeJuiceMan]

Yea thanks for the help guys, I've just ordered some of the velogear wheels, hopefully they'll be here before the end of the week

[OrangeJuiceMan]

Well its all put together Might make a few changes to it in the near future. Otherwise I'm pretty pleased with it considering its my first fixie job.

[AUbicycles]

Well done. The black in your cockpit does make it a bit front heavy. It would be interesting to see what different bar tape does to it - Cinelli have some hot designs that would be work a look. The saddle seems unusal though I know also have to suit your backside as well. Wise decision to paint - I love raw unfinished surfaces as well though they oxidise too quickly when they arn't properly sealed.

On Zuzu, (I know you made a different decision) they are from a young Australian Industrial Designer in Sydney - I chatted with him last week - though have yet to hae a detailed look at the wheels though find them interesting.

[OrangeJuiceMan]

Well done. The black in your cockpit does make it a bit front heavy. It would be interesting to see what different bar tape does to it - Cinelli have some hot designs that would be work a look. The saddle seems unusal though I know also have to suit your backside as well. Wise decision to paint - I love raw unfinished surfaces as well though they oxidise too quickly when they arn't properly sealed.

On Zuzu, (I know you made a different decision) they are from a young Australian Industrial Designer in Sydney - I chatted with him last week - though have yet to hae a detailed look at the wheels though find them interesting.

Cheers mate. Yea I was thinking it would look a lot better off with some different coloured handlebar tape, thinking maybe blue or white (although white does get a bit dirty ). The saddle is just an old seat I had laying around from my dads old peugeot bike, is nice and comfy though. Would have been good to have that raw finish but it was too much of a hassle trying to prevent marks and it oxidising, so decided just to go with a off white colour.
It'll be interesting to hear some reviews on those zuzu wheels, they look like they could have some potential.