I have a confession - I love Colnago's.
It didn't start out that way. In the late 70's and 80's I tried to deny it. I collected and rode other brands such as Daccordi and Pinarello. I told myself that the Colnago's were over priced and mass produced. I found floors in their build quality when I looked at Colnago frames - an overspray here; threads that needed re-tapping to clean the paint out there; sizing that only seemed to fit the 'average' person. I was very critical but i did manage to overlook the small blemishes on other Italian marques.
I now admit that I was drawn to the Colnago's when I came across them in bike shops or leaning up against the odd wall or being ridden by the 'show-off' on his Italian 'pose-machine'.
In reality they were always out of my price range. Until - one fateful day - when my local bike shop owner made me an offer on a Conic SLX I had my secret eye on for the past couple of years. I bought it.
I kept the frame - unbuilt - for about 4 years. I kept riding my other Italian and Australian bikes and didn't let anyone know of my Colnago secret.
I came across a 50th Anniversary Gruppo and had a new dilemma of what to do with it? It too sat 'un-framed' for about a year. I tried to keep the two apart but I just had to see what they looked like together. I gave in. I built it up - my first Colnago:
It was passion. I loved it. I loved how it rode. I loved how it looked even though the frame and gruppo were separated by about 8 years. I love it too much - I have only ever ridden it sparingly on very nice days (another confession). At first it did feel a little' dirty'.
I was 'out of the closet' - but ever so slightly.
Over the preceding years I have collected another 4 Colnago's. I sold a track bike recently though and I am going to sell off a frame soon. I can now ride them un-ashamadly - it did take a decade and a half though.
I no longer deny my admiration of the Colnago marque and I appreciate their ride qualities. I also respect the negative views of others about the Colnago Marque - but I often wonder if those that 'knock' the Colnago have a secret hidden within?