Last Ride
 

Today was the final function-check ride for my faithful orange Super before turning it over to a local buyer tomorrow afternoon. We're scheduled to do a longer test ride then; he felt comfortable during his short test spin around the library parking lot, but I suggested putting some miles on the Sammamish River Trail just to be sure. I'll ride along with him and hopefully get a few photos for posterity before he rides off into the PNW sunset.

We'd made a couple decisions on substitutions. Considering the ask, I was open to numerous tweaks; for example, I had a drilled set of RD jockey plates to swap in place of the unmolested pair and we agreed to go that route. While disassembling the drivetrain last night he texted that he'd changed his mind and wanted to keep the original plates. No problem - but while in the disassembly process I found the lower pulley - almost unused - had the dreaded Crack of Time. I substituted a lightly-used spare, then cabled everything up (including a pair of non-ventilated, black-enameled gear levers). Swapped out the well-used placeholder Vittoria 23s with a might-as-well-be-new pair of Vittoria 25s and put the bike aside for this morning's ride.

The first few miles were uneventful, except to say that swapping out to the reliable shift levers made me fall in love with the act of riding this bike again. Always having to be careful going from small to big ring was a bit of a bummer, but now? I could slam it, grip it and rip it if I wanted - not that I did, because I took off for my final 25 wearing jeans, a short-sleeved shirt, and a jacket! But, you know. Anyhoo, after 5 miles or so a squeak began developing in the drivetrain which surprised me; I'd used Boeshield on it after putting everything back together, and while it was only in the high-30s (I noticed the volume would increase when I was moving through shadows - as if the colder temperature was enhancing the problem), I'd had no issues with the similarly-lubricated drivetrain of the Casati in similarly-cold weather just a couple days ago. Hmmmm.

I thought the noise was going to (1) ruin my final ride on the Colnago and (2) cause an issue with the bike before I could get home to suss it out on the stand. I got to Marymoor Velodrome and looked it over carefully, going through the gears and running the chain backwards and forwards. The noise reduction when pedaling backwards was complete - weird! I then considered the only change to the drivetrain: the replacement pulley. Figured out that it was the culprit; there was simply not enough lubrication in the bushing and that's what was squeaking - it was really wailing while in the big ring, but less so in the small as there wasn't as much strain on it. Nice to figure that one out and I sorted it this evening.

So, tomorrow is it - but I still had today.

Before the squeak:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b9b8fa8fb6.jpg

The hand that drilled the holes:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5517252043.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...89ec6de078.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c79a99b0a6.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...25a62ae5dd.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...49c7a4fa0e.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...079aadb1a0.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...011f0b304a.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2016773348.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f2f8c46cb9.jpg

Oh, and I just found this out totally by accident when I looked at my phone's feed right now: the ride was conducted on Ernesto's birthday. Serendipity.

DD

Damn, hope the new owner knows that he's getting something special!

That's a beautiful and classic machine. I love that the cloth bar tape tells the story that this is a bike that has been ridden - as it deserves to be - not kept as a show piece. Thanks for sharing the story.

An outlook worth commending. There will be more steeds you throw your leg over, but you savored one final ride with this one. Poetic, even.

You ain't kidding there - the tape was originally black! I made sure to get a number of photos featuring it because I do love the way it's faded and pawed-over. Thanks for your nice remarks!

DD

Oh, he does; what he didn't ask about, I pointed out - and I only really had to fill him in on Jon's backstory when it came to explaining his contributions. Buyer is a really nice guy, and an enthusiast - he was my Somec buyer just a couple weeks back :)

DD

Thanks! And it's not like I don't currently have all the bikes I need (Mark, just ignore that last sentence). In fact, when I finally decided to begin selling bikes it was because I'd already thought long and hard which ones suited and served me best. Once that pick of 5 was made, it was just a matter of time.

The last ride was fun! I kept it short so my back wouldn't be screaming too much :)

DD

O.K. DD you can stop that any time! This bike is absolutely beautiful.Was that seat post done on a CNC(almost certain it was) or manual mill? No, I don't want to tear mine down to get painted yet! Repeat..... I just know I will be without my orange Ernie for too long , we are still in the honeymoon stage. I know you have that other very special Colnago in your stable, as well as some other nice steeds , but still , IT'S ORANGE!!! Any way I am confident the new owner will enjoy the heck out of this stallion. I have only sold a couple of bikes , and , honestly , it made me happy to see the new owner ride away with that smile. I have not regretted selling them. Thanks for sharing the "Last Ride" , Joe

Such a beautiful bike. Agreed that cloth tape showing history as rider is a favorable look. No way I’d have ever guessed that tape was originally black...wow! That build is a master class in balanced and tasteful drilling and milling.

One of the nicest bikes ever to grace C&V.

Besides the Bianchi, what are your keepers?

If by "stop" you mean selling, well - I only have one more bike to go :)

You know, I still have one orange bike left, the Davidson, currently serving as my zero-bike in Phoenix. But I understand where you're coming from. I had a good 11+ year run with this, but you know, it went through a lot of hands before it got to me. While I'm only the second owner of three of my five - and the original owner of one - this one has more of a "gypsy" past and it's fitting that it will spend the next number of years with yet another owner (who also happens to be interested in riding it).

So far, I've shared your experience with the bikes I've sold: no regrets. Primarily this is because bikes that fit have to be my focus going forward. I'm not getting any younger! Thanks for the nice comments :)

DD

Thank you!

The tape was brand-new Cateye (just barely long enough to cover the bar!) put on in 2009 - and yes, it was originally black. In fact, the stuff hidden under the brake lever bodies and inside the ends of the bars still is :)

It was a neat build, especially since I was able to coordinate with Jon to do the crankarm milling - I think that really upped the game of the overall presentation. Since I am keeping the small, unpainted Colnago Super with the sandblasted gruppo I'll still have a bike which represents our collaborations of the past. That one's too small to ride so it's going to be the only bike I keep strictly for art's sake.

DD

Thank you - and who knows? Maybe I can get him to join us here in the asylum :)

Keepers: Colnago Mexico, Medici, Casati, and Davidson in addition to the Bianchi. The next (and final) bike to go will be the drillium Alpina.

DD

Damn that's a beautiful Colnago. I love what you've done to it. It's both beautiful but looks like it's ridden and enjoyed. A great combo.

One of my top five bikes on the forum.

Great to hear you have an enthusiast that will take over stewardship. :)

Agreed, and the milling on the inside face of the crankarms is a great touch...along with the paintfill. Nice echo of the stem. :)

Love that seatpost, amazing. Beautiful bike.

Forgive the stupid question, but what's a "zero bike"?

Thank you!

"Zero Bike" is a term somebody on the Forum came up with to describe a bike that is yours but resides at somebody else's place - could be around the corner from your house, or in another state or even country. There are too many possible scenarios, but in my case the zero bike is at my brother's place in AZ and I use it when I visit. All I ever need to do is show up with my riding clothing and I'm all set :)

DD

And here he is on his first real ride on the bike in question; look at that smile:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3e95f54df2.jpg

He's just like us. Has 9 bikes, a few more frames (he purchased the Somec from me 2 weeks ago); mid-80s Pinarello, a couple Nobilettes, modern S-Works, a full-suspension mountain bike, a Riv Homer Hilsen - and, of course, now a 1973 Colnago Super.

Not only that, but we've exchanged contact info and he doesn't live far from me at all. Guess who's been added to my local riding buddy list?

What a nice day :)

Great Story, great pics and great outcome!! Feel good story of 2021!

Nice bike!
I ride quite a bit on Sammamish River Trail, then Burke Gilman and back from 520 trail, or the other way - it is a nice 40 miles ride for me
Since we are looking for some snow sprinkles, I am taking my Tri-A for a round today too :)

You're an artist and damn fine bike mechanic. The smile on the purchaser's face says it all. Beautiful work!

Me, too - in fact, during our ride we discussed routes we ride; he's only been here for a couple years. From Eugene, but was in the Bay Area for a long time before moving out here.

And I think I'm going to try to get out one more time this afternoon before the snow flies :)

DD

Aw, thank you!

I was always planning on doing a drivetrain overhaul once I found a buyer. Everything else was ready to go; I wanted him to have the best experience possible - because you never forget your first ride on a new bike!

Best thing was being surprised as hell at how well the photo of him riding the bike came out (excepting the fact it was shot from the non-drive side, of course). Only took 6 photos in total and 4 came out pretty well, but this was the best of the lot and you're absolutely right: it conveys the emotion of the moment perfectly.

DD

Forgot I'd taken this exercise in contrast with the old ('73) and new ('83):

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c836136a7a.jpg

So, I still have a cool Colnago, just 10 years newer. It's not orange, but that's okay, too, because gold looks good and I still have an orange bike (Davidson). The world will continue to turn regardless :)

DD

Yup! He’s a happy guy alright. I mean who wouldn’t be? Great ending or beginning depending on how you look at it. I kind of have an east coast buddy after buying mine. I know my joy of riding the bike he sold me makes him feel good. We exchange riding pics between coastlines and it all happened around a bike and a new owner like your old bike and new friend . Good to see , thanks for sharing.

Was out there from around 2 to 4 PM and notice below when got into garage. Nice ride, but got a bit wet coming back.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1f8d3d10ee.jpg

What made you want to keep the new over the old Colnago?

In a word: fit. The newer Colnago Mexico is a 57cm frame and is pretty much my sweet spot. Back when I was more flexible than today I could ride a 55cm frame all day comfortably - even as recently as 5 years ago. Not anymore.

But, hey, other's have got it much worse and have had to alter their setups more than I.

DD

Thanks! You know, the more I think about the way the whole deal went down - and I mean from first meeting him when dealing with the Somec a few weeks ago now - it is pretty cool. The bike stays local, which is where I got it and had it refinished. Jon was just down the road in Oregon and I did my work on the parts here in WA. Best of all, since I have a two-year commitment to stay in WA I can serve as the bike's de-facto 'master mechanic' and help him get a feel for maintaining it. He's already thinking of a spare bar/stem/lever combo in a bit shorter stem/wider bar for use while retaining the complete original setup for show. Seriously, the bike is in very, very good hands :)

It's a little early into 2021, but for me, heck yeah, it's warm-fuzzy inducing. Much better experience than the dude who bought my Olympia, then took it apart and sold it piece by piece on Ebay the following day!

DD