brooklyn

I am going to start a restoration on a Colnago that I have in my garage. I wanted to see some pics just to get some inspiration.

TheOtherGuy

Steve's site should help to inspire you:

https://www.nonlintec.com/bikepages/

BTW, what vintage is your 'Nago?

brooklyn

From what I was told it is a Mexico. I am not sure though since it was handed down to me by my uncle. It came with Campy Nuvo Record. The paint scheme is a royal blue with chrome chainstays and seatstays that go up half way, also the headtube lugs are chrome as well.

TheOtherGuy

Hey you should post pictures! Generally, Nuovo equipped Colnagos would indicate mid '70s or earlier, as many later ones commonly used Super Record. What's the patent date on top of the rear derailleur (pat '72, pat '74, etc.)? One of these days, I'll find a nice, mid '70s or older Colnago in my size... Still looking.

Here's an older bike I did a "restoration" on. It's a '77 A-D Superleicht. I picked it up as a bare frameset (eBay). Paint & decals are original, and most of the parts period correct, to within a couple of years.

USAZorro

Beautiful! All she needs is a honey, champion special.

Don Cook

Here's my late 80's Benotto. I purchased it new and then did a complete resto two years ago.

brooklyn

Here is a pic of my Colnago frame

TheOtherGuy

That Nago's mid '80s. Nuovo Record was still around then, but C-Record or Super Record would have been more common on it. Probably a great riding frame!

TheOtherGuy

Thanks. That saddle in the pic is a Brooks "Competition", and pretty much like a B5N without the lace holes. Not too comfy for me, as I like the width of a Pro or B17 Standard. You're right; a Honey color one would look good on the bike. I don't ride that one too often though; frame's a tad small...

brooklyn

I have been doing some research and looks to be an expensive job. I could shop ebay for some vintage parts or use some newer campy components, but still very expensive. I did use the frame as a fixed gear which is still a possibility???

USAZorro

I guess it all comes down to what you want with it. If you want it to be all original, then there's no way around getting Campagnolo components from somewhere. If you want to enjoy that frame and want a smooth functioning machine without shelling out big bucks, take a look at Shimano or SunTour derailleurs & shifters (Cyclones are excellent IMO), Sugino cranksets, Dia Compe brakes, and wheelsets (presuming you need them) with good Maillard hubs. This stuff should cost a LOT less than replacing what came on your bike originally.

clayface

This is my Romani. I've owned the frame since 1982. I've not tried to restorate it to its former glory in the first place because getting the "chromovelatto" paint scheme was impossible here. I've kept riding the bike through all these years and have adapted it to the different circumstances. I have not trouble to mix Campagnolo (hubs, cranks -even those are a mix of Chorus and the old MTB Centaur- brakes, seat post) with Shimano (brake levers, chainrings, freewheel) and SunTour (Cyclone MkII derailers and bar-cons) Everything here works smoothly.

John E

Capo

John E

Capo, Vienna, Austria

brooklyn

Thanks for the info. I looked into powdercoating the frame since there are some chips and the chrome has some rust on it. I have my eye on some campy deals on ebay but I am considering Shimano since my other bike has Shimano and maintence would be easier.

lotek 

clayface,
If you are serious about a repaint contact Brian Baylis at
https://www.vintagecyclestudios.com/
His paintwork is outstanding as are his frames.

Marty

moxfyre

This is nothing fancy bike but... I like it a lot, set it up for my girlfriend. '83 Nishiki Sport, received a new coat of baby blue rustoleum and clear coat. CrMo frame, Sugino crankset, Maillard hubs, Araya Presta rims, suntour + dia/compe drivetrain, Vetta saddle, it's a very pretty bike. I just put in aero levers and cork bar tape a few days ago.

John E

That bike indeed looks like something much more expensive. Of course, I haven't examined it close-up, but that's the best-looking Rustoleum job I've ever seen; the yellow Rustoleum on my first Capo didn't come out that well!

Glacier John

Sorry to sound like a dutz but how do you attach digital photos to your post? I'd like to post one of my 1976 Dave Moulton. Thanks in advance.

John

moxfyre

Thanks!! The secret is that it's actually the SECOND Rustoleum job I ruined the clear coat on the first one so I resanded the the thing. A major pain but I got it quite good on take 2.

EDIT- The trick with the rustoleum is: sand paint till smooth and no flakes, clean frame with grease cutting soap, dry with cloth, paint a couple coats at half hour intervals, wait a day, apply a couple coats of clear coat being VERY CAREFUL to spray it evenly and not allow it to bunch up (good lighting a must).

lotek 

Glacier John,
when you reply use the go advanced option, then below the message box is
a boxed area for manage attachments. Use that button and then browse
your hard drive for picture that you want to attach. Don't forget to
upload.

If that doesn't help let me know.

Marty

brooklyn

Nice work but kinda $$$$ for me

Mark4

Looks great I'm sure your girlfriend's happy with it, and the new brake levers.

While you're at it, you might also consider adding a set of clamp-on DT shifters. While the stem "gut-ripper" shifters worked nicely, I like the DTs a lot better. They 'clean up' the look and pose less risk to the privates. I looked around, and found some NOS Shimano units for $8.00 at an old LBS last summer.If that bike is like mine, it has clamp-on shifter cable stops where DTs would normally be. The swap, if you decide to do it, should be quite easy.

Without knowing it at the time, I basically restored/upgraded my Sport to a 'poor man's Riv' (well, functionally... in a way)

Upgrades include:

Profile ergo bars (polished aluminum, not black)
Shimano Exage aero brake levers
Shimano downtube shifters
Bontrager alloy seat post
Sealed Cartridge BB (Shimano Deore, I think)
Alloy clip/strap pedals (will probably switch to clipless at some point)
Cateye Velo2 computer
Second bottle cage (braze-ons were already there)
Removed superfluous reflectors & cleaned up spots of rust etc.

The Araya aluminum 27" clincher wheels/Maillard QR sealed hubs/Sugino VP double-ring cotterless crankset/Suntour SVX deraileurs etc. came stock with the bike.

I tried to keep the ugrades consistent with the level and appearance of the bike, with form and function in mind... without 'over-dressing' it. I'm happy with the result.

Here is a pic of my lugged Cro-mo '86 Nishiki:

USAZorro

Nice bike Mark. Dig the flickstand!

Mark4

Thanks. Aren't flickstands great? Now if I could only find one for my mtb...