Colnago Master Olympic Decor
11-09-07, 10:44 PM
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Colnago Master Olympic Decor
Anyone able to offer me some information on this bike? From what I understand, it's early 90s ('94?) and was only built for one year. I had help from a friend in Belgium who shipped it to me here in the US. Interestingly, it has the shaped tubing that the Colnago Masters were known for, but the (damaged) tubing sticker appears to be Tange! I'd never heard of a Tange Colnago... any information/catalog scans?
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11-10-07, 11:22 AM
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yeah that's a new one to me, too...what flavor of Tange tube is it? I am surprised that the shaping (which I associate with Gilco) could have been made on a non-Columbus tubeset, without violating somebody's patent. Clearly it has investment-cast lugs and other fittings. I wonder if the fork steerer has a Tange stamp or a Columbus dove stamped on it...that might tell us something.
11-10-07, 02:42 PM
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I'm not sure. You should send it to me for closer inspection.
11-10-07, 05:26 PM
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Interesting about the "boo-boo" you have on the down tube above the shifter bosses. It looks just like the one on my Tommasini and in the exact same place too (groan). 
But you surely have a beautiful bike there. The 'Tange' tubing kinda throws me off too, being its a Colnago. Makes me think the bike is one of those asian colnagos I've heard about, made in Japan or Taiwan under strict Colnago specs. Believe it was Colnago's lower cost alternative to offer a bike with their marque, but without the "made in Italy" european expense.
The way I understand it, some of the 'Tange' tubing, like the double-butted chromoly stuff was on par with Columbus.
Still a great bike, tho I would put it late 90's.
But you surely have a beautiful bike there. The 'Tange' tubing kinda throws me off too, being its a Colnago. Makes me think the bike is one of those asian colnagos I've heard about, made in Japan or Taiwan under strict Colnago specs. Believe it was Colnago's lower cost alternative to offer a bike with their marque, but without the "made in Italy" european expense.
The way I understand it, some of the 'Tange' tubing, like the double-butted chromoly stuff was on par with Columbus.
Still a great bike, tho I would put it late 90's.
12-27-18, 07:11 AM
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Colnago used the Tange Superlight tubing for a short period 1/2 years during the 90's which retained the 4 sided profile. Hold on to that bike, it's going to be very sought after in the future.
12-27-18, 07:47 AM
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Tange tubed Colnago
Neat.
Tange was certainly on par, at various levels, with Columbus. Why anyone thinks differently sort of defies logic. As if armor and weaponry of fine steel was some kind of Roman invention.
Japan was not hidden behind a bamboo curtain during any century, so exports of steel tubing would not be a rare activity.
But, if you DO wish to concern yourself with the pro-Italian bias, and having a high-end beauty with a bloodline sullied by (gasp!) Japanese steel, send it to me, and I'll ease your mind, even pay shipping.
I'll then defile said abomination with 9sp Dura Ace, further advancing the absolute horror.
I'm just trying to help.
Really
😎
Tange was certainly on par, at various levels, with Columbus. Why anyone thinks differently sort of defies logic. As if armor and weaponry of fine steel was some kind of Roman invention.
Japan was not hidden behind a bamboo curtain during any century, so exports of steel tubing would not be a rare activity.
But, if you DO wish to concern yourself with the pro-Italian bias, and having a high-end beauty with a bloodline sullied by (gasp!) Japanese steel, send it to me, and I'll ease your mind, even pay shipping.
I'll then defile said abomination with 9sp Dura Ace, further advancing the absolute horror.
I'm just trying to help.
Really
😎
12-27-18, 07:53 AM
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Robbie is correct about this tubing, my very favorite all around road ride is a Prestige Superlight frame.
Last edited by easyupbug; 12-27-18 at 07:55 AM. Reason: addition
12-27-18, 09:37 AM
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+1, but not sure about only the 1/2 year. I have seen a couple in my years of searching for my next Colnago, IIRC they were all in my time frame of early 90s which is why I checked them out and were decaled "Superlight Ultimate" or close to that, I assumed the Ultimate bit denoted the shaped tube.
Robbie is correct about this tubing, my very favorite all around road ride is a Prestige Superlight frame.
Robbie is correct about this tubing, my very favorite all around road ride is a Prestige Superlight frame.
Could not upload photo's as I have not posted more than 10 times, but drop me a PM and I'll share them.
12-27-18, 09:54 AM
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Very nice, great find!
Hope to see it in the https://www.bike.nyc/events/td-five-boro-bike-tour/ ?
Hope to see it in the https://www.bike.nyc/events/td-five-boro-bike-tour/ ?
12-27-18, 03:18 PM
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12-27-18, 05:33 PM
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Not C+V when thread started but it is now.
And just for the record, the 1994 40th anno Colnago catalog has the Tange tubed frame.
And just for the record, the 1994 40th anno Colnago catalog has the Tange tubed frame.
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12-28-18, 03:09 PM
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For posterity's sake, mid-1990s sounds correct, as Tange introduced their series of Ultimate tubesets circa 1993. They were basically a refined version of Prestige with a slightly revised alloy and more advanced heat treatment, which allowed for even thinner wall thickness and lighter weight. While there was a factory ribbed version, this is not it. That is standard Gilco profiling, which increases the stiffness of the very thin tubes. Attached is the relevant page of the 1994 Colnago catalogue, mentioning Tange Ultimate Superlight as OEM specification for this model.
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