wiston

Hi, I just bought this Colnago bike. I really like it so I would buy it anyway but I am not sure if it is real Colnago bike. It is definitely repainted frame but with few Colnago signs. Could you help me?

Here is link for photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/135948...57677532667115

And some details of perforated top tube, bottom od the frame and label on rear fork.

https://ibb.co/album/nztXov

Thank you for all opinions and answers!

Drillium Dude 

Yes.

DD

jeirvine 

Agreed. We need a "Is this a real Colnago?" sticky.

exmechanic89

Beautiful bike. Needs a front brake adjustment.

wiston

Thanks! I just wonder that I cannot find any serial number on the rear fork, why is that?

Drillium Dude 

In those days Colnago wasn't bothered by serial numbers, that's why.

DD

wiston

Ok, thank you! And do you know what exact model is this bike? Or is there any Colnago fanpage with pictures and timeline?

Drillium Dude 

Looks like an early 80s Super to these eyes.

DD

peugeot mongrel

Looks late 70s to me. The chainestay dimple under the crank went away in 81. It's a Super. If it were an early Mexico the bare frame would weigh in the 1700g range. A Super frame will weigh around 1950g. Way a lot more Supers. You can't pin down early Colnagos exactly. This will answer some questions. Timeline click here.

Nice bike!

Hoopdriver

Most of the frames intended for the European market did not have serial numbers. They stamped the US market ones because of consumer demand.

The deep dropouts and BB cutout tell me that this is a late 70s or perhaps a really early 80's. Definitely genuine. What did the seller tell you about it?

Drillium Dude 

You know, I just realized this isn't the original paint/rear brake cabling. This frame's been modded and repainted.

The color scheme and braze-ons don't match. I wasn't paying enough attention to the details. Oh, enough to see it's genuine, but not enough to get the age closer.

I'm going to say 1976 Super. Cable guides brazed on top of the shell, cable stop on top of chainstay, no Portacatena dropouts yet, but short 1010bs all the same, fork crown with slightly smaller clover than used in later years, second version rounded-bottom clover cut out in down tube head lug. Thin shell in cutout area, with elongated top lobe of the clover in the shell. Fork would've been all-chrome by this point.

DD

Wulf

Ive never seen a Colnago that early with an internal brake cable. Is this original or a repaint?

jeirvine 

Yup. My '75/'76 has clamp on tt cable guides. Looks like someone added internal routing, probably at the time of the repaint.

wiston

I only know that the frame was repainted cca in mid 1990s and the previous owner told me that the bike is Colnago Super but I was unable to find any model with holed drilled in top tube. So you are probably right that the TT was customized at the same time when the frame was repainted.

One more questions. There are some signs of corrosion at the bottom of the frame. Should I care about it? Of course I like this bike and I would like to ride it as long as possible.

OldsCOOL

Yes and also a "which Peugeot is this" sticky.

OldsCOOL

Nice bike!

repechage

I would like to see a citation for that serial number statement.
Many of the premiere Italian brands avoided serial numbers for a long time. At some point the EU wanted to have bikes with them, for recall purposes.

wiston

Please does anyone know where to buy "brake rubber blocks" for this bike? I cannot find any suitable size for my Campagnolo serie brakes. Is it still made or do I have to modified some other type to fit it in the brake holder? Thanks!

qcpmsame 

Campagnolo NR/SR NOS brake pads and knock offs, and Kool Stop black or salmon, can all be found listed on eBay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Campagno...Y/182507016864
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Set-of-4...K/301936850005 https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Set-of-4...N/291744855637,

and I have seen them on Amazon.com.
https://www.amazon.com/Kool-Stop-Cam...89%3AKool+Stop
https://www.amazon.com/Campagnolo-Su...5YYHNXWMYRGMZ4

I have a set of NOS black on NR calipers, and set of KS salmon on SRcalipers, with work great, but I would recommend breaking the glaze off of their faces.

Bill

Citoyen du Monde

Just a word of warning, the combo of 3TTT bars and Cinelli stem is not always the happiest of combinations, so be careful. I would recommend against loosening off the stem and repositioning the bars, if you were to do it you risk major difficulties and perhaps even breakage of the wedge of the stem.

Hoopdriver

Chuck Schmidt at Velo-Retro: Colnago Super Timeline stated,

"Serial numbering only started for Colnago on USA-bound bikes when the CPSC started requiring tracking, etc. West Coast Cycles was importing Colnago at the time and the serial numbers started for their product. There is still no way to determine manufacturing date by the numbers, except that they are 1979 or later..."

Indeed, in 1978, the CPSC added a requirement that bikes have a permanent label or marking so that the manufacturer can determine the month and year of manufacture (16 CFR 1512.19(e)); however this does not mean that this identifier needs to be a serial number, or that it has to be apparent to the end user. Also, this rule only applies to complete bikes. Frames are not required to meet this requirement.

My "consumer demand" statement is my opinion. I surmise that buyers wanted a way to be able to identify their stuff, and so did their insurance companies.

An end note: My 83 Super does not have a serial number, perhaps because it was purchased in Italy. It does have a number on the dropout that corresponds with one on the fork so it is most likely to match parts.

Hoopdriver

I have a set of black KS pads on Campy SR calipers. Look right and work a lot better than the originals.

qcpmsame 

Campagnolo sells replacement pads for the NR and SR brakes still, but they look different than the originals blank smooth face, its 4 blocks, like a Modolo or older center pull brakeset pad. I like the salmon pads, they step up the SR calipers especially in the rain we frequently get here on the Gulf Coast. Looking to pace an order here shortly for some OEM I had that have dried and cracked.

Bill

repechage

I'm aware of that noted in the Colnago timeline, but have seen enough later Officially imported to the USA Colnagos that came through the shops I worked - that the story does not work universally, WCCS was a full line importer, they would have followed the rules in case they had problems, they were victims of nuisance lawsuits for silly things in the 70's. Other importers did not ask, did not spec, or the frames shipped without, this went for others like Gios and Pinarello too that I am directly aware through the middle 80's. At some point the Italians added serial numbers. It appears to be in the 90's.

Consumer demand? Yes, I think that is conjecture.

Colnagos as far back as the middle 70's as I have seen to date do from time to time get a two digit number, not a serial number I think as I have seen the same number repeated, a batch number? Subcontractor tracing number? Customer number? All reasonable guesses.

wiston

The bike fits me well so I suppose there is no need to change the settings of the bars.

And your advice is not to change the positition of the bars and leave it as is? I am not sure if I understand it correctly.

Thank you!