'70s Colnago
 

In the '70s I had a Colnago. My uncle is 15 years older than I am. He figured that since I had one, it must be a good bike. So he bought one also. Then he put a Blackburn rack and clincher tires on it.

My uncle was also the first person to purchase a Ritchey MountainBike from Gary Fisher and me.

He is now 91 y.o., so the only bike he rides now is his Ritchey. He asked me whether I wanted the Colnago (mine died 20 years ago), on the condition. that I do not sell it.

No problem. Here it is.


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...12f0c2520e.jpg

Sweet! Great color, too. I have an early '80s Super and love the ride. Hope you enjoy it.

Your uncle drives a hard bargain. :D

Super nice! Pun intended

Looks like ‘75-‘76 era.

certainly not a bad situation to be in

No full chrome fork... '74-'75 my guess.

I avoided buying a Colnago for 40 years, I now have three my size.

I had a similar vintage one that I rode and raced for many years. I’d been looking for the right bike. Girlfriend saw the look on my face when I came back from test ride. Said “that’s the one”. Took me from my first crit to cat 3. Magical bikes..

"Super" Nice Nag
 

Chuck Schmidt with the help of many others compiled The Original COLNAGO SUPER Timeline

This is the gold standard for dating Colnagos:

Velo-Retro: Colnago Super Timeline

1973
- Wreath seat tube decal with Worlds band at top and bottom
- Fork crown with clubs in top but no holes in each side
- Fork tangs with club cutouts (rarely two hole tangs or no tangs)
- Club cutout in lower head lug only

1974
- Shifter braze-ons on down tube (available as option before this)

1975
- Diagonal Worlds band added behind black Club/COLNAGO head tube decal
- Diagonal Worlds band with yellow Club/COLNAGO head tube decal used for one year
- Vertical COLNAGO seat tube decal with single diagonal Worlds band at top
- Top tube brake cable guide braze-ons, always two instead of customary three (an option before this)

According to Chuck's Velo-Retro time line I would say that this is a probably a late 1974 model Super, maybe an early 1975... (no braze-on brake cable guides)

Columbus sticker circa 1975 but no guarantee of date.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...385666246a.jpg

I had a orange 1978 Super that got stolen in 1981. In 2006 I picked up a 1983 Super frame and built it up. I recently sold it. The new owner is over the moon!

verktyg :50:

Looks like mine was a ‘75. Two top tube guides..

What a wonderful family heirloom.

If it helps, mine is a 75 and no top tube cable guides but embossed “Colnago” with club on fork crown. Club cut out in fork stiffener and BB shell and one down tube lug. I can’t see the fork crown detail on this bike , but it looks very close to mine. Enjoy the ride , you know as you have already had one, they are very nice riding bikes. Mine has 35 stamped on the steerer tube and drive side drop out , which means nothing to the date of the bike I am told .
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...68ca776b7.jpeg

Sweet!

:thumb: I try to not use the word “awesome” …….. but wow, awesome!

It is probably the horizontal reference pipe on the fence and angle of the shot but doesn't it seem like the front is riding high? The fork plane seems ok.

The pipe is level. The concrete is not.

Some jealous individual had to call out the bent fork :)

Fork is not bent, although it is slightly turned in the photo. I just put a straight edge on the fork blade. It is perfectly parallel and in line with the HT.

I had a 78 Master.

It was a dog compared to the 78 Trek TX900 I had at the same time.

Lovely bike Charlie. Hope you are well. Still have very fond memories of you and Pat (RIP) generously taking me out for a ride in 2013! Hope to be back to California soon!

Miles

the number of brazed on top tube cable guides to me appears to be a frame size attribute- bigger 3, smaller 2, when was the crossover ?
play the roulette wheel.

In my view, '78 to '80 were kind of the dark days for Colnago.
by 1983, they hit the stride again, for a while it was move it, move it, move it.

I showed the bike to Joe Breeze. He found dates of 1973 and 1974 on the components. He says '74 or '75.

Bump to update.

I turned the Colnago over to my ace mechanic, Josh Orlando, and spent more on the restoration than it cost new. Replaced the bent handlebars.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1d5f1e84d5.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...986bb53f9d.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d698e04c49.jpg

Schwinn Varsity appearing tires?
oh well.

Hey, I’m glad there’s somebody else with the 70s Cologo so I can ask this question. What is the quality of the decals and the placement? I have what I think is also an original Colnago Super and my god do these decals look chintzy.

not under any clear coat, cheaply made and slightly askew.

how is yours?