Not the garden variety vintage Colnago build
 

Between home projects including a bit of decor gardening, I'm sneaking in time - 'outside' - assembling a not so garden variety Colnago Super. ;)

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Additionally and for the interim, we've inherited this little nipper. At first she was quite the growler at me but we're now best of buds. She won't leave my side, gets in LOTS of mischief with the bike stuff, dances on the laptop... er, that be the keyboard, anyways....

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The direction of this project is primarily preserving as originally built for criterium's. All things considered its in good condition, only lightly raced in street battles.

This is a great looking bike; I'm looking forward to seeing the build. Classic saddle; what are the parts you are thinking of going with?

Never down but has a few scars and the chrome fork has some flaws. The chainstay uses a protective faux chrome graphic and this one rather tattered looking. For now, I touched it up with a chrome paint. Nothing that would bother me these days.

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Oddly, the only headache was in removing horrible old tape residue and a layer of cosmoline. Some areas embedded into the paint do show where tape once was. I was concerned the fragile decals or softening the original finish in using Simple Green, thinner or Goo-gone. Much too aggressive. I found the safest method to cut it was slowly taking a section at a time using WD40 on a rag and lots of rubbing. Then a mild degrease, cleaned and scuffed the small surface corroded spots and applied a touch-up. I wasn't going to break the airbrush out and piddle around. Didn't bother with rubbing compound, but did use a cleaner wax as a final.

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Super!! :) :)

Pretty blue
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Being the fork already has flaws, the frame has its merit and the overall look is nice with some character. Plus I ride my bikes and they always seem to find more little nicks or marring. I'm not crying about it.

(Sorry for the crummy, low quality pics. My Canon cam is dirty inside and seen better days. I'm using a phone.)

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Thanks for sharing. I agree, great color. Looks to be late 70s

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No woof but, yap, yap, yap -------------------------- jeez........

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As originally noted, this won't be another garden variety all Campy equipped spec build. IMHO, I'm bored seeing the same matched gruppo's.

Years ago when I acquired new a Colnago Mexico (sadly and later stolen) it was about saving up for select trick components. One would compare all the little details and have more of a personalized bike. Mind you, none of it was cheap but the rich were the ones who could pick a frame and complete group and have it built right away. Envy? Not at all. Those were good days and part of the cycling experience.

This frame size is pushing my fit limits but quite satisfied with it. It has an 80mm stem reach which should quicken the directional transition. I'm not sure just yet how much it'll affect weight transfer or feel over the front. With the 'old school' rake and trail I'm hoping it'll be fine and not dance too much on fast descents. I'll pull the front spoke tension on the GP4 tubular rims to slightly over recommended spec.

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So happy to see this finally show up in her own thread :)

Btw, you note the "fork already has flaws", but I'm not seeing any issues - in fact, it looks near-mint?

DD

Bandwith sucker. Sorry about that, not normally my thing but this is C&V content, just not the pooch ;)
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Curious if this thing fits the pooch?
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Thanks DD. Its alignment is perfect but the chrome in some areas is degraded. To redo isn't worth it and cheaper to buy a perfect replacement. Out of the budget plus I'm building this to use and hangout with for weeknight shootouts. I think some of those guys with the new bikes will dig this one. Maybe even convert a few to C&V.

Definitely subscribing to your thread C_A, this looks like a fantastic build opportunity, and I agree with your way of doing things and attitude, 100%. One of the men the influenced my cycling early on, and he was our local club's go to guy, always wanted to do a complete build with Zeus components. He always insisted that he liked their quality and appearance more than any other marque (I respectfully disagreed,:innocent: while quietly working on my Campag stuff.) Your crankset looks absolutely pristine, unused stuff it appears. Good choice there, I don't think the NR/SR mechs will look out of place either.

And my recent build has similarities to your Super, even has the same Mavic GP 4 tubulars. Please keep posting reports, I am jazzed about all the recent builds going on here.

Bill

This one has some cool pieces, and nope not all Italian. For starters, the loose balls Zeus goodies. 2000 series milled crank, ti bottom bracket, headset and ally 5 speed freewheel. This stuff is silky svelte. (btw: 2000 does not represent the year. Enter Conan sketch. )

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Hubs are the proven Campagnolo Record low flange but have yet decided to use Campy for shift group. Though I did start on and possibly will use the original Nuovo Record rear and Super front derailleurs. What I meant by 'start on' is some mild drillium work. I won't go too far with it, just enough for the effect and the popular thing as seen back then. Also have early NOS Bulleye pulleys, anodized in blue. No over the top bright polishing, as I rather like the low sheen natural ally appearance. I'm all DIY here so for the critical eye's, hope I get a passing grade.

Ooh - that got my attention :)

Again, I love seeing bigger (and in-progress) pics of this lovely bike. The components mix is cool and will result in a very nice bike at the conclusion of your endeavor. Oh, and post as many pics as you want; it's your thread, after all, and we likes pics!

DD

Thanks Bill~
I get it for those seeking era and respect matched bits but I'm not following exact to that thinking for this project.

Beginning with the seat post, I've had enough with the two bolt Campy cradle / rail clamp type and all those extra pieces. I even gave away a copied designed Zeus version. Oh well its all hindsight.

In its place is a Campy 4051 with fluting. I like the non-aero for this application and single bolt. Though I hated the hex bolt. So, in went a titanium tapered socket head, same wrench size to fit the Cinelli cockpit hardware. Did I ruin the value or do I go straight to purgatory over this? Maybe, but its worth it.

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The weight of the Brooks Swallow is its downside but I think this seatpost helps a bit of the deficit. But I now got a bonus! I have an old Bottecchia mish-mash that had some crappy seat post hardware but now this bolt out of the Campy seatpost fits and looks perfect in that old bikes seat cluster. I'm just as happy that the old Bottecchia now has a steel and clunky Campy bolt to match the Velox changer....woo-hoo!

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To me, its your build and your bike, you should choose what you feel works best for you. DD was my mentor, and guided me through my recent build, when I was being hard headed about the period correct stuff, and the Concour saddle, he told me that I needed to use what worked, and what got me riding, when I was ready. I got my head out of my ass, and found a new Selle Italia Turbo 1980 that is actually perfect and very comfortable. My hubs are Ofmega, NR copies, and they are staying, they ride smooth and look the part.

The seat post thing sounds like you have things in hand, pictures please, when you get a chance to post some. I have to admit that the NR, 2-bolt post was one thing I really wanted, scored one on eBay before I even got the frame from DD, had to get the correct seat tube size from him in order to not end up with a too small diameter post.

Good job, so far, watching this one to completion.

Bill

DD is awesome and brilliant. My eyes and lack of steady hand is not worthy of pro level drillium, but will take it slowly. A bit hard to explain, initially was going to send it all out but then my mind drifted back to what 'hot rodding' is about. I probably talk too much on a bike forum about cars but there's an appealing meaning behind doing your own work. Mistakes are made and part of the creature we make. I'm having fun with this.


(Drillium Dude, recall this? A little later era but will be sportin' it at the street battle. hehe)

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Very nice - non-garden variety builds are a lot of fun. Looking forward to more, esp. the drillium work.

Off to a great start! Subscribed.

I now have to get around to finishing to build my "cobalt Blue" Super.
That Blue is one of my favorite Colnago colors.

Thanks. Theres a few reasons why I chose the Brooks Swallow. Firstly, I'm comfortable with it for a drop bar set low. Of course, have yet to dial in this setup. Though this is a 2013 production date and its a lower rail, plus it seems to give quite of fore / aft adjustment. Something I liked for weight distribution and for keeping more of the seatpost fluting out of the frame cluster. The other is a fair attempt at color tone match with the bars.

(Something else is inbound to work with the poseur leder look. Will reveal later and whatever brakeset is decided upon.)

In short answer, choice Zeus 2K parts, Campagnolo NR/SR shift group with a touch of drillium, Cinelli crit cockpit, undecided at this time for brakes.

I'm not too OCD but thanks to fleabay, under the Colnago tire covers are near NOS vintage Vittoria Mondiale tubulars. I took pics of the darn things but lost in the dl, deleted whatever. Haven't yet glued so will re-shoot before they get mounted.


They don't last forever but I dig having the old rubber. Use them or lose them. Long as they've been safely preserved they're well worth seeking and if lucky, priced comparable to brand new. Tires are a fascinating and most subjective. I respect some of the new stuff but you if you want the full experience, quality old rubber is neat plus think they simply look correct.

Sorry, its CDO, got to keep things in alphabetical order you know.....

I saw those vintage Vittoria tubulars while searching for some parts on eBay, I started to look into them, but I have workable Conti Giros for now. Other things are taking up my funds right now. Should turn out to be quite a nice rider, enjoy it.

Bill

^ I don't mind having the budget Giro's for the occasional rider. They still have the right look but the prior generation looks even better with the small logo. Last ones I received were from Chris Kvale. Nice guy! Though don't expect longevity. 500 miles in and they're nice thin slicks.

Here's the vinti Vito's. Hardly seemed they were glued on. Base tape is excellent.

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