1975 Colnago Super Review
 

Well I have had this bike for over a month now since buying it from a fellow BF member and having it shipped to me from one coast to the other. The photos that were posted told the true story of the bike I received. An old racer that had been well maintained and ridden regularly. The patina was perfect for a bike that I would ride anywhere , anytime. When I got the bike there wasn't much to do , it had the same gearing as my ItalVega a 53/41 chainring set up with a 28 tooth low on the 6 speed freewheel. The odd rear dropouts made it easy to get it shifting smoother with the adjusting screws and springs externally located , I just backed them out a bit maybe 3/16" . The crank is not branded and has the spiders cut out . It looks a lot like an early pre-date code Campagnolo and suffered from the same fateful hairline cracks that happens to a lot of these cranks , so I got my jewelers files and went to work to get them removed. I will keep a sharp eye to make sure they don't return. The rear wheel needed just a slight true and the front wheel was very nice. It sure is nice to get a bike from someone like John . As much as I love putting a bike on the stand and correcting things on bikes , this one was almost ready to ride out of the box. I was excited to try it out as this bike came with a Phil BB and as much as I love the way the Phil hubs roll , I knew it was a decent upgrade. At 62cm this bike without pedals weighs 22.4lbs which is light for a bike with clinchers and a covered Cinelli saddle. My first ride went not as expected , but much better. It rides like my other racers with the exception of how refined the agility is. I have a bad habit of shifting too close to a sharp turn and this bike did not care! No jumpy turning as I leaned down for the shift, just a smooth transition as I swept through the radius. The same feeling when on a flat , long straightaway , it just tracks nicely. The BB was smooth but honestly I couldn't tell much difference. This tells me that maybe my BB skills on my other bikes aren't that bad. This is the first bike I own that has a covered Cinelli saddle, I have two others that are not covered. What a major comfort upgrade! All and all , the bike was everything I had hoped for and a little more. As soon as I get to the point where I would part with it for a couple of months , I will get the frame restore to its original glory(I love the color). That will not be anytime soon. The new bike feeling is still alive and well. These mid seventies Supers are very nice bikes IMHO and worthy of their following, I feel blessed to finally own one. Joe
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a59ecb19a8.jpg
This East coast bike sees the Pacific

Great report, Joe. I am delighted the Colnago is working out so well for you. I look forward to seeing it in person some day.

You mentioned the covered Cinelli saddle. I'm not surprised you like it. I had one (the coveted buffalo-hide, slightly padded #3) BITD. Among other misadventures, it took me from Livermore CA to Washington DC in the summer of 1980. I had any number of things, physical and mechanical, that became issues along the way, but the saddle and my butt were never among them. There can be no higher praise for a saddle.

I avoided Colnagos for 40 years.
I now have four, three that fit, and one that is wife sized.
They are an entertaining bike.
In my size, smaller than yours, I consider two of the three a 2-3 hours bike. One is earlier and longer, it is more an all day road bike.
But who can ride 5-6 hours at a time now?
Ernesto got the geometry well worked out, the bikes deserve praise.
And I like the era before Chrome forks took over.