washed up
08-05-04, 10:42 PM
I have $1500 to $2000 to spend for a frame/fork. I am looking for a stiff/fast frame to race. Leaning towards Colnago, any opinions?
Road Cycling - Colnago opinions
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Smoothie104
08-05-04, 10:44 PM
Crits I presume?
Hitchy
08-05-04, 10:46 PM
g'day,
which colnago frame?, what sort of racing?
cheers,
Hitchy
which colnago frame?, what sort of racing?
cheers,
Hitchy
Nessism
08-05-04, 10:47 PM
I'm clearly in the minority but I don't like the geometry. They have steep seat tubes, short chain stays, slack head tubes, and a short rake fork. Because of all this, they have a rear biased weight distribution with slow steering. May be good for road racing if you have short femurs, but I think there are better choices for crits.
Just my opinion.
Ed
Just my opinion.
Ed
55/Rad
08-05-04, 10:50 PM
Colnago sucks, buy a Huffy. :)
What model/s are you thinking of? Steel or ? And of course, what color scheme?
55/Rad
What model/s are you thinking of? Steel or ? And of course, what color scheme?
55/Rad
washed up
08-05-04, 10:57 PM
A little more info.
I'm thinking more towards the Alum.
Yes, mostly crits.
I weigh 180 if that helps.
I am currently racing a Huffy and wanted an upgrade. :)
I'm thinking more towards the Alum.
Yes, mostly crits.
I weigh 180 if that helps.
I am currently racing a Huffy and wanted an upgrade. :)
washed up
08-05-04, 10:58 PM
I'm clearly in the minority but I don't like the geometry. They have steep seat tubes, short chain stays, slack head tubes, and a short rake fork. Because of all this, they have a rear biased weight distribution with slow steering. May be good for road racing if you have short femurs, but I think there are better choices for crits.
Just my opinion.
Ed
Interesting, I have been reading reviews and most say how quick and responsive they are.
What would your better choice be for crits?
Just my opinion.
Ed
Interesting, I have been reading reviews and most say how quick and responsive they are.
What would your better choice be for crits?
brunning
08-05-04, 11:06 PM
i agree that the geometry is weird. i don't have an excellent grasp of sizing and geometry, but the steep seat tubes lead to these short head tubes, but everything else seems to be weirdly in proportion (on the few colnagos i've ridden, anyway) and i've found that if you just move up by one size, you get a frame that fits.
anyway, otherwise, they are nice frames, but with the exception of some classic steel models, i can't say that they strike me as a particularly good value. you can get a lot more bang for your buck in terms of aluminum framesets, imo. (cannondale and felt, among others)
anyway, otherwise, they are nice frames, but with the exception of some classic steel models, i can't say that they strike me as a particularly good value. you can get a lot more bang for your buck in terms of aluminum framesets, imo. (cannondale and felt, among others)
Nessism
08-05-04, 11:39 PM
Interesting, I have been reading reviews and most say how quick and responsive they are.
What would your better choice be for crits?
The geometery doesn't lie, I don't care what people claim in a review.
I'm not a crit racer per say but look for something with a high bottom bracket and steep head tube angle. In the crits I've done the most common bike was a Cannondale. And don't forget, crashing and crits go hand in hand. Don't race a frame that will be a heartbrake if it gets pranged.
Good luck.
Ed
What would your better choice be for crits?
The geometery doesn't lie, I don't care what people claim in a review.
I'm not a crit racer per say but look for something with a high bottom bracket and steep head tube angle. In the crits I've done the most common bike was a Cannondale. And don't forget, crashing and crits go hand in hand. Don't race a frame that will be a heartbrake if it gets pranged.
Good luck.
Ed
ultra-g
08-06-04, 01:24 AM
I was at the bike shop a while back and overheard one of the sales guys (Toga Bikes in NYC) talking a customer out of buying a Colnago.
He was saying that their quality control process wasn't very good and pointed out something in the frame (I didn't see what) and told the guy that something like that would never pass the QC process from a company like Specialized.
I'm sure this bike shop is a bit biased though because everyone who works there rides on Specialized bikes (even though they sell Specialized, Cannondale, Bianchi, Giant, Colnago and other brands).
He was saying that their quality control process wasn't very good and pointed out something in the frame (I didn't see what) and told the guy that something like that would never pass the QC process from a company like Specialized.
I'm sure this bike shop is a bit biased though because everyone who works there rides on Specialized bikes (even though they sell Specialized, Cannondale, Bianchi, Giant, Colnago and other brands).
TimB
08-06-04, 06:08 AM
only thing wrong with Colnago's is the price, it too high for what you get.
other than that they are great bikes and certainly better than a Spcialized
other than that they are great bikes and certainly better than a Spcialized
chad
08-06-04, 06:20 AM
I was at the bike shop a while back and overheard one of the sales guys (Toga Bikes in NYC) talking a customer out of buying a Colnago.
He was saying that their quality control process wasn't very good and pointed out something in the frame (I didn't see what) and told the guy that something like that would never pass the QC process from a company like Specialized.
I'm sure this bike shop is a bit biased though because everyone who works there rides on Specialized bikes (even though they sell Specialized, Cannondale, Bianchi, Giant, Colnago and other brands).
They are one of the only European companies to have ISO 9001 certification. That means they are internationally inspected for quality control...
As for sizing the owner of the LBS I goto said they are sized a little smaller than normal bikes.
I test road a cannondale, a bianchi, oryx, Miele, trek before I bought my bike.
Colnago rocks :-)
Chad
He was saying that their quality control process wasn't very good and pointed out something in the frame (I didn't see what) and told the guy that something like that would never pass the QC process from a company like Specialized.
I'm sure this bike shop is a bit biased though because everyone who works there rides on Specialized bikes (even though they sell Specialized, Cannondale, Bianchi, Giant, Colnago and other brands).
They are one of the only European companies to have ISO 9001 certification. That means they are internationally inspected for quality control...
As for sizing the owner of the LBS I goto said they are sized a little smaller than normal bikes.
I test road a cannondale, a bianchi, oryx, Miele, trek before I bought my bike.
Colnago rocks :-)
Chad
coolcamden
08-06-04, 04:26 PM
Have you looked into De Rosa? Italian hand made frames, or Eddy Mercxx.
it's been said that De Rosa's are Ferrari's to Colnago are Alfa Romeo. :-)
it's been said that De Rosa's are Ferrari's to Colnago are Alfa Romeo. :-)
IcemanYQQ
08-02-06, 08:25 AM
Colnago's are great bikes. I love the geometry, but they are built more for Classics and Grande Tours (many hours in the saddle), than your local crit. The geometry is not wierd, it is just differnent to every other American bike made. American companies seem to think all people want to do is ride crits.
They handle great, and decend even better. They also have pretty much the coolest paint jobs around. You can also have them built custom, it cost's a little more, but it's worth the extra money.
If you wan't a strong bike, get the MasterXLite. I have a 62cm, and it is 18lbs and change.
They handle great, and decend even better. They also have pretty much the coolest paint jobs around. You can also have them built custom, it cost's a little more, but it's worth the extra money.
If you wan't a strong bike, get the MasterXLite. I have a 62cm, and it is 18lbs and change.
iluvfreebeer
08-02-06, 08:28 AM
A little more info.
I'm thinking more towards the Alum.
Yes, mostly crits.
I weigh 180 if that helps.
I am currently racing a Huffy and wanted an upgrade. :)
I am humbled.
Only a real man can race a Huffy! :D
I'm thinking more towards the Alum.
Yes, mostly crits.
I weigh 180 if that helps.
I am currently racing a Huffy and wanted an upgrade. :)
I am humbled.
Only a real man can race a Huffy! :D
pathdoc
08-02-06, 08:31 AM
I love Colnago's. In my book there are one of the best of the bunch. I'd love to have one.
cyclintom
08-02-06, 07:29 PM
They are one of the only European companies to have ISO 9001 certification. That means they are internationally inspected for quality control...
Actually all it means is that they have read the manuals and completed quality manuals of their own. No one really works to 9001 since it's ALL paperwork.
As for sizing the owner of the LBS I goto said they are sized a little smaller than normal bikes. I test road a cannondale, a bianchi, oryx, Miele, trek before I bought my bike. Colnago rocks :-)
As I note, I have two Colnagos. They tend to be very good roadracing geometry. On the other hand, I could never tell the difference what bike I was riding in a crit except that you want a very stiff bike so that you can accelerate without flexing the frame.
Personally I'd look more closely at the Cannondale if I was thinking of crits.
Actually all it means is that they have read the manuals and completed quality manuals of their own. No one really works to 9001 since it's ALL paperwork.
As for sizing the owner of the LBS I goto said they are sized a little smaller than normal bikes. I test road a cannondale, a bianchi, oryx, Miele, trek before I bought my bike. Colnago rocks :-)
As I note, I have two Colnagos. They tend to be very good roadracing geometry. On the other hand, I could never tell the difference what bike I was riding in a crit except that you want a very stiff bike so that you can accelerate without flexing the frame.
Personally I'd look more closely at the Cannondale if I was thinking of crits.
garysol1
08-02-06, 07:52 PM
only thing wrong with Colnago's is the price, it too high for what you get.
other than that they are great bikes and certainly better than a Spcialized
Please explain...Besides the fact that Specialized's are a lot more common, what makes a Current model Colnago any better than a current model Specialized? Please back up this statement with something besides they have pretty paint. Is the Colnago Lighter or stiffer? Better quality control maybe? I am not picking a fight but I am truly interested.
other than that they are great bikes and certainly better than a Spcialized
Please explain...Besides the fact that Specialized's are a lot more common, what makes a Current model Colnago any better than a current model Specialized? Please back up this statement with something besides they have pretty paint. Is the Colnago Lighter or stiffer? Better quality control maybe? I am not picking a fight but I am truly interested.
SaintAndrew
08-02-06, 10:18 PM
only thing wrong with Colnago's is the price, it too high for what you get.
other than that they are great bikes and certainly better than a Spcializedlol the only way colnagos are better than specialized is in the amount of drool they induce from fellow riders. it's like comparing a ferrari to a vette... except a ferrari will get you more attention from hawt chicks and a colnago will just get you attention from geeky dudes.
other than that they are great bikes and certainly better than a Spcializedlol the only way colnagos are better than specialized is in the amount of drool they induce from fellow riders. it's like comparing a ferrari to a vette... except a ferrari will get you more attention from hawt chicks and a colnago will just get you attention from geeky dudes.