saw a colnago master today - wow

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colnagoG60

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#21 · Mar 27, 2015 (Edited)

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Donn12 said:

that is a really pretty bike. If it were mine I would switch to a more subtle bar tape and try it with all focus on the frame. maybe even try a light orange tape?

Click to expand...

Thanks... I think it's the carbon fork that's throwing it off. I tried to go back to the chrome, but remembered that I swapped it due to fit issues, with the steerer tube being too long. Shop said they couldn't lower it cleanly cuz they'd cut in the middle of the threads... didn't want to chance it.

Would also go with silver spokes, when I can figure out which way to go on wheels... Original plan was to have 2 sets of same wheel, with different cassettes, to swap between bikes. Just threw these on to check, but may go back to box type rim.

For the OP, FWIW, it's really nice having the new components on the old steel frame. Rear shifter was getting worn, and the extra gears allow for more enjoyable ride in my hilly area. I think the steel bike is now within a pound or two of my carbon. [emoji4]

 

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colnagoG60

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#22 · Mar 27, 2015 (Edited)

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rufus said:

That frame is just screaming for some classic white cork tape.

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Maybe...if I still had the chrome fork on there. I've gone through all the bike's colors over the years, as far as tape, but I keep coming back to green, since it's so under represented. White tape will be for something like this:

 

Mr_Clean

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#23 · Mar 27, 2015

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Here is a modern build. The current Record groupset in the picture didn't flow so well, so it was later swapped to the previous generation Record from a other bike. In order to keep the classic lines, we laced 32h Ambrosios to Record hubs using silver cx ray spokes. I think the modern classic approach turned out well (post groupset swap).

Too colorful? The saddle and tape need a little patina.

 

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colnagoG60

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#24 · Mar 27, 2015

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Mr_Clean said:

Too colorful?....

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Nope...looks great. Although I do think that we should swap either seat posts, or forks.
:thumbsup:

 

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Donn12

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Discussion starter · #25 · Mar 27, 2015 (Edited)

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I decided to start slow...I bought a campy 11 speed de rosa that should be here in a week or so.

It is a Neo Primato 59cm. I am pretty excited about my first steel Italian Campagnolo equipped road bike.

 

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colnagoG60

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#26 · Mar 28, 2015

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Congrats! Good luck with the changes, if any.

 

hfc

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#27 · Apr 12, 2015

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Late to the thread but I'll throw in my $.02.

Since you posted in the retro section, I'll assume you're looking for older steel. I have a Moser in Columbus SL tubing and a Tommasini in SL - SP mix tubing. The Tommy has reputation probably equal to Colnago but I like the Moser a little better. There are tons of old makes out there that will give a great steel ride, in addition to those mentioned above, Battaglin, Rossin, Merckx, Gios, Guerciotti, to name just a few. I decided I wanted to get a vintage frame and started my search with Colnago, because of my experience with a couple of their carbon frames, but ended up with these two. Exploring the histories and qualities of the different makes is a lot of fun. I'm partial to Italian bikes, but you can also find quality from French, British, and US makes as well.

If you want to get an older steel frame and put modern bits on it, then be aware you may have to have the frame cold set or spread out to 130 mm spacing for modern wheels and cassettes. Not a big deal with a steel frame.

Gratuitous pics of my steel.

 

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honkinunit

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#28 · Apr 14, 2015

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By the end of the lugged steel era, there were several USA made frames that are arguably better than 98% of Italian frames of that era, but if you must have Italian to go with your Campy stuff, I get it.

Yamaguchi, Gangl, Columbine, Eisentraut, RRB, just to name a very few. You could argue that a lot of Serottas and Waterfords are superior, also.

I even once owned an early lugged steel Moots that rode as well and had every bit as good a finish as my brother's Master Light.

Speaking of which, you can still get a lugged steel, 1" head tube, totally custom frame/fork for $2000 and up. I'd get a new custom before paying anywhere near that much for an older frame.

If I was looking for an authentic retro, I'd get an old USA frame or a Carlton 753 Raleigh. I saw too many Italian frames back in the day that were misaligned, poorly done, and with brittle paint. I used to see a lot of Italian frames that buckled in a crash where the downtube shifters went, or just behind the lugs. Both of these issues are due to overheating the joint during brazing. I actually bought a rideable mid-70s Colnago Super a few years ago that had a very slight buckle on the underside of the TT just behind the top lug. I wanted the components, which included a pantographed Super Record crank and a SR headset in good shape. I ended up just riding it a bit and then selling it off for what I bought it for.