Classic & Vintage - Why did I buy this thing? Wait is that a Miele Colnago? (with pictures)

I just purchased this bike and I'm already wondering why, I just don't have the time these days for bikes requiring this kind of work. Don't get me wrong , it is a good bike with good components but it obviously has lived and some of the components swapped with whatever was on hand. You always have bad surprises with these.

Anyways the frame appears to be made of Gilco tubing as used on the Colnago Masters and I have read somewhere that some Mieles were made by Colnago. I have never see a Miele of this quality level and the bike feels very light. Yeah I know people with Shwinn Varsities have said the same thing, you'll have to trust my judgement on that. Anybody can confirm that this is in fact a Miele made under contract by Colnago ? Apparently that is what Mr. Marinoni told the previous owner.

Thanks.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5018/5413186755_f86f8769f3_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5058/5413187211_95a706f412_b.jpg


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5053/5413188265_4e29aa071e_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5135/5413799716_d3154f63d9_b.jpg


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/5413188731_c0513a5c2e_b.jpg

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http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4127/5413800436_1332a1a329_b.jpg

i like that.

I concur, I can't offer much in the way of knowledge though. Never seen a Miele that looked like that though (i'm light years away from being an expert on the subject).

I can see a longitudinal indentation along the side of the top tube but that's it. This recess is far too subtle for Colnago Gilco and the orientation is off by 45 degrees, though Miele could have used a different orientation.

I'm not aware of Miel having had frames made by Colnago. He did have some early frames made by Rossin.

I can see a longitudinal indentation along the side of the top tube but that's it. This recess is far too subtle for Colnago Gilco and the orientation is off by 45 degrees, though Miele could have used a different orientation.


Correct, that's not Master-style tubing. It does, however, look like the channeled tubing used by Colnago on the Nuovo Mexico frames. Some of the other frame features are Colnago-eqsue (seatstay top eyes, for example), and others not (fork crown). It seems plausible that it could have been made by a Colnago subcontractor. Or otherwise obtained through Colnago. Colnago wasn't building all of their own frames in-house, though, so I'm skeptical that it was built under the Colnago roof.

I can see a longitudinal indentation along the side of the top tube but that's it. This recess is far too subtle for Colnago Gilco and the orientation is off by 45 degrees, though Miele could have used a different orientation.

I'm not aware of Miel having had frames made by Colnago. He did have some early frames made by Rossin.

True, I don't know why I wrote that, I should know better, I've had a Colnago Master Piu and the indentetion , especially on the top tube was much more pronounced.

I really like the fork ( well except for the M that looks like it was engraved with a nail) , Its really chunky and the blades are almost round.

rossin used similar "grooved" tubesets, somewhat different to the master tubeset. the forming process and end-product tubeset looks less "sophisticated" than what colnago used.

When you get tired of it send it to me, would proudly give it a loving home!! Nice

so weird : Universal Super 68s as brakes ! i love the year 68 but it's freaking retro on a bike like that !

c'est probablement du columbus SL

Yep, very odd . I think the brakes actually come from a CCM Tour du Canada. The correct brakes should have a recessed bolt.

I was starting to think it would look good with modern components but the frame is much smaller than I first thought, 50cm.

Not an expert or even vagely close to one on Colnago's. My only reference is my 83 and those I have found on the web. I agree with PS on all observations but the fork crown. I offer a pic for comparrison:
188636

Clarification on differences would help me understand the statement. Thanks.

how much did you pay, just out of curiosité

BTW, I would keep it and do the work. I really enjoy my 'Nago dispite its age a quirks that come with the vintage. I would assume mid to late 80's frame based on the seat stay caps. Every other feature appears identical to my 83 except the head lugs. both rear stay bridges are the same as is the seat lug and BB with the exception of the cutout. Can't tell if the chain stays have the typicall Colnago deformation or not. Too many pictures of my 83 are here if you are interested in comparison. http://s985.photobucket.com/albums/ae332/SJX426/

BTW, I would keep it and do the work. I really enjoy my 'Nago dispite its age a quirks that come with the vintage. I would assume mid to late 80's frame based on the seat stay caps. Every other feature appears identical to my 83 except the head lugs. both rear stay bridges are the same as is the seat lug and BB with the exception of the cutout. Can't tell if the chain stays have the typicall Colnago deformation or not. Too many pictures of my 83 are here if you are interested in comparison. http://s985.photobucket.com/albums/ae332/SJX426/

Thanks, I'll look

how much did you pay, just out of curiosité

I stopped disclosing how much I pay for stuff since some people think that getting a good deals means you'll sell cheap but since it's nothing exceptionnal, here you go : 240$.

Boy it sure looks like my old Colnago, minus the tube indentation. And not just the paint although that is very similar too:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_MHIrzPhNttY/TO2oWE0Y_oI/AAAAAAAABCQ/ibSXVaCSVAk/s640/DSC01054.ARW.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_MHIrzPhNttY/TO2oaKkpvOI/AAAAAAAAAFU/mH8IINkcfhQ/s640/DSC01067.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_MHIrzPhNttY/TPV3oSHTxDI/AAAAAAAAAOM/y761CU2OjKw/s640/DSC01057.JPG



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_MHIrzPhNttY/TO2oW_wOBaI/AAAAAAAABCY/mwMsxPXs3wE/s640/DSC01055.ARW.jpg

great looking bike can you find me one in 59 or 60? ;). what are the rims?

I remember seeing a Colnogo with multishape tubing in one framebuilder's shop. Is this grooved tubing the same/similar? IIRC, the tubing was extremely light and almost paper thin.

Not an expert or even vagely close to one on Colnago's. My only reference is my 83 and those I have found on the web. I agree with PS on all observations but the fork crown. I offer a pic for comparrison:
188636

Clarification on differences would help me understand the statement. Thanks.

Correct about the crown. I've been looking at so many Colnago bottom bracket shells lately I must be neglecting the forks/

Boy it sure looks like my old Colnago, minus the tube indentation. And not just the paint although that is very similar too:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_MHIrzPhNttY/TO2oWE0Y_oI/AAAAAAAABCQ/ibSXVaCSVAk/s640/DSC01054.ARW.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_MHIrzPhNttY/TO2oaKkpvOI/AAAAAAAAAFU/mH8IINkcfhQ/s640/DSC01067.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_MHIrzPhNttY/TPV3oSHTxDI/AAAAAAAAAOM/y761CU2OjKw/s640/DSC01057.JPG



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_MHIrzPhNttY/TO2oW_wOBaI/AAAAAAAABCY/mwMsxPXs3wE/s640/DSC01055.ARW.jpg

Very similar frames, and probably from the same time period. SJX426 is correct about the headlugs - the OP's bike doesn't have the distinctive Colnago scallop, which was probably omitted intentionally.

Very similar frames, and probably from the same time period. SJX426 is correct about the headlugs - the OP's bike doesn't have the distinctive Colnago scallop, which was probably omitted intentionally.

Ah yes you are right.

Boy it sure looks like my old Colnago, minus the tube indentation. And not just the paint although that is very similar too:



Hey thanks, very similar indeed , the fork's paint and chrome are very close too.

I remember seeing a Colnogo with multishape tubing in one framebuilder's shop. Is this grooved tubing the same/similar? IIRC, the tubing was extremely light and almost paper thin.

The tubing does seem paper thin form the sound it makes, I'll have to weigh the frame once the components are removed.

I think she's purty. Nice find.

Italian styling was one of the original design objectives of Jim Miele, who was Italian by birth and paternal lineage. So, while it may look like a Colnago, this does not necessarily mean it is a Colnago, only that there was some Colnago influence, as Colnago was the most successful and publicy recognizeable Italian brand in the market that Miele was targeting. BTW, the frame is a 1987.