classic1

Good luck with the weather. I think you may find you have a new favourite bike. How cold is it in saskatchewan at the moment?

We are coming into summer in Oz. It's gonna be a hot one this year. 30C today. Already had some serious bushfires - close enough to see from my house.

ViperZ

Thanks Classic1!

Today it was -5C in the morning when I rode to work. It's fore casted to warm up this weekend. Last Weekend we rode it was -3C for most of the ride, Colder...... with snow on the ground. I suppose it's now your Summer, Nice!

Thread Posted Here

classic1

Remember, don't eat the yellow snow.

ViperZ

As a general rule, don't eat snow at all unless you absolutely have to...

ViperZ

For those of you wanting a ride report, wait no more.... I took the Master out for a 100 Km club ride today, It was fantastic!


I'll start by saying that I was constantly amazed at how smooth this bike felt and rode. I'm sure it is partly due to the frame, however I think the biggest contributor has got to be the 32 spoke, cross 3 laced wheels and the Vittoria Corsa Evo CX tires. The Tires are amazing by themselves, however combined with the Campy Rims and hubs, were stunning. Truly, I kept uttering "WOW!" to myself as I rode to Doug's.


I rode up to Doug's Spoke and Sport, our meeting place for the club ride. Everyone was floored by the bike as I rode up, I'm sure I seen a few jaws drop While they all inspected and commented on it, I offered rides to anybody that wanted to take it for a spin around the parking lot... Many took me up on the offer, even members that were MTB today. I was told that the Bike shows as Museum Quality material. I suppose it should as most of the parts are new if not just new. I can't wait until the bike breaks in. Everyone agreed the ride was silky smooth, and that They have always heard this of steel Colnagos, they were not disappointed.


So we headed out, the first thing I did was switch the Index shifting over to friction. The Syncro Indexing is just not up to par, and I didn't want to fight with it on it's maiden voyage. In friction mode the the 1st generation C-record Derailleur really shifts fast and precise. It was not a problem at all as I just seem to have to flick my wrist a bit and it was in the next gear. There was some thing that felt so Primordial yet natural about this shifting... It was nothing like I remembered from my youth. I think I'll keep using it in the friction mode for now and quite happy with it here. If I ever get an approved Regina/Syncro chain, I'll try the indexing again, however I really did not miss it as much as I thought I would on the ride today.


The Brakes really are precise, but do require a bit more lever effort to start application. I would think a person's wrists would get quite a workout on long mountainous descents. Good thing I don't live in the mountains. Braking from the hoods require a slight hand articulation, with the thumb hooked around the hoods. Once I figured this out, it was easier, still not as easy as the New Record stuff, but effective. Power application is smooth and powerful. The Deltas get a bad rap for effective stoppers, however I found that they do work, they just require more pedal effort. These brakes drew a lot of admiring comments in the show and tell, and while on the road.


Overall the bike is smooth, so smooth in fact that I would say over regular roads, it is smoother than my Tuscany. However it's when you hit short dips in the pavement that you are reminded that this is a steel bike. It just drops into dips with a heavy thud, and then comes out with barely a hair tossed. The Tuscany on the other hand just seems to float over dips and rumble strips on the highway. One thing I think the Colnago was definitely better at was confidence in rumble strips. The Tuscany is scary going over those as it tends to transmit everything back to you, where as the Colnago just drops in, soaks up the rumbles like a tank.


Frame Flex.... In bench testing the bike while building, I have to admit, the Master flexed so much I thought it was broken. Seriously, while sitting on the bike and grabbing the bars it flexed so much side to side, I thought I might have been had, and bought a broken frame. I inspected it closely with a magnifying glass to be sure everything was alright. It was, however I was worried this would be too noodly for my 200 lb Hockey player physic. Let me say that all the talk about frame flex and how bad it can be is just that, "TALK". Even knowing what a noodle the Colnago is compared to my Tuscany, I never felt the flex as a bad thing while out on the road. Climbing in big rings and sprinting with it produced nothing that would have me say, "what a noodle". Taking tight corners with it and running at high speed down hill, the bike was solid. If it was a noodle, I did not know it. In fact I think that flex may have been what made the bike feel what is termed as "Lively"


I noticed the bike is really responsive to rider steering inputs. You really have to be careful for it feels it can turn on a dime. One time I was riding away and as I moved my left hand the friction of my glove and the Fizik bar tape stuck for a second, this little nudge steered the bike off line quickly with this marginal input. I said "Whoa! more respect". Even though it is fast in steering, it is very stable and seems to track very well. It's just a tad quicker than the Tuscany I think. As fast as the Trek? I'm not sure, it's been a while since I road that bike. Comfort? This bike is like a Chase Lounger in Comfort OK, maybe not as comfortable, but this is pretty darn close. I rode the 100 km in the drops for 80 to 90 percent of the ride. That has got to be a first. I found I just like being there with this bike. It could be a combination of the Cinelli 64's as they felt so roomy in the flats of the drops. I was floored with how much room there was down there and I think I found 3 hand body positions I could ride with in just the flats. These are very nice bars indeed. The Fizik Aliente saddle is with out a doubt one of the best saddles I have felt in a long time. Even better than my favorite Selle Italia Titanium Flite saddle that I so love. If things continue to feel as they do, I'll look at replacing my Arione on the Tuscany with an Aliente as well. It has such a motorcycle saddle feel to it that I really like.


Well that's all the good, is there any bad? Sure there is but nothing that a bike from the 80's can't be forgiven of. First off, this bike is heavy. At 20.5 lbs, it is heavy and at times it feels like it on the road. I'm sure that's part of why this thing rides so smooth as well, more weight, less bouncing and jouncing around. Climbing hills with it that I normally fly up with the Tuscany, the Master felt heavier in side to side swings, and in over all climbing speed. Seeing as I did not have a computer on the Master I can only say the slower climbing speed was perceived and may have to do with other factors as well. It may also be because it's hard to shift a down-tube shifter bike while climbing, so I had to climb in the gear I had chosen. This leads me to the gears of this bike. At times I can imagine what it must be like to ride a Fixie, as I found a lot of the times rather than reach down and shift, I would just grind it out or spin it out in what ever gear I'm in. It was kind of cool actually. The Shifting of this bike will take some work. The biggest problem has got to be the 8 speed Dura Ace chain I'm running on it. Hopefully a Regina/Syncro chain will fix this. I will say that riding this bike felt very special and in the grand scheme of the ride, it never really slowed me down much, if at all. In fact it was a proving reminder that overall performance isn't in the bike, rather in the engine. I have no doubt I could ride this bike with the A-Group Club Riders/Racers and still keep up. It just takes a bit smarter riding that's all Now if only those wimps would come out riding when it's 0C out


If this was to be my only road bicycle, I certainly would be looking to upgrade some of it's parts for modern efficiency, however I feel very lucky to be able to have a bicycle like this where performance isn't it's primary purpose, rather it serves as a touch stone to remind us of how beautiful cycling can be at times, for I certainly felt a lot more special today than I have felt in a long time during a bicycle ride... I know it was a combination of all the comments and emotions the bike seemed to envoke in everyone around me, in the club and with in myself during the ride, all the polished aluminum parts and jewel like gleam that until today, I realized is missing in most modern bikes, but never missed until now. The simple elegance of a bike from this era reminds me that moments like this are to be treasured. Not only is this a beautiful Bike to look at, it really is a Beautiful Bike to ride.


Thanks For reading, I have some pictures of course.


Heading to Doug's


Serendipitious shot


Eyeing it up at Doug's


Hans (who was MTB'ing) takes it out for his turn

ViperZ

Delta Brake


View Looking Back


View from the Top tube


Classic Downtube Shifter in Friction mode


All that gleams maybe Chrome and plolished Aluminum


Love the Gleam of the Polished Aluminum


Everyone loved the Lugs


It was a Fantasic Ride today


Strange looking guy

WithanF

My God that's a pretty bike.

dekalbSTEEL

This part of your ride report deserves a Sticky! Nice write-up! God, I love that fork!

ViperZ

Thanks for your comments deKalbSTEEL & WithanF, It was great and memorable ride today.

blandin

Magnificent report ViperZ, felt like I was there, and it seems that all the hard work has paid off is spades, or perhaps I should say clubs since it is a Colnago. It's also great to hear your comments about the Aliente, between your findings and my friends consent praise, I guess I have another saddle to try out.

Reynolds 

Congrats on your first ride! Glad to hear the Colnago rides as good as it looks.

ViperZ

Thanks Blandin, that saddle is one good feeling saddle. 100km and I never gave it a thought other than 'What a great feeling saddle'


Thanks Reynolds, I wish I could convey the feel of the ride today. It was alike a never ending happy pill, and it seemed to even effect those around me

R900

Viper, excellent review. I'm very glad you are so pleased - it is a beautiful bike.

John

ViperZ

Thanks John, I was thankful for such a perfect day!

14max

Damn good stuff, Viper. And that's not the St. Peter's Cream Stout talking. Very cool in-the-saddle shots, too.

ViperZ

Thanks Max!

Having a good Drink? Sounds good

55/Rad

So I just came in after a quick 25 on the Giordie and immediately settled in to find your report. Fantastic write up. Not just about the physical aspect of riding the Master but you also captured the spirit of why knuckleheads like us have these things. I found myself nodding in agreement with almost every word.

Just one question - where the heck are the clips?

55/Rad

cuda2k

Great ride report Viper. Happy to see her out on the road and to hear that you are enjoying the ride as much as you did the build. Personally though, I'd be scared to death to take both hands off the bars on a bike that beautiful. I'm not the most stable hands off to start with I suppose, so that probably has something to do with it.

I know exactly what you mean about riding with the downtube shifters and sometimes either grinding or spinning instead of shifting. I've got friction downtubes on one bike, 8sp Shimano index on the other. I've leanred to spin up hills a lot more than I used to because out of the saddle it's next to impossible to shift when climbing. I really should get the Barracuda back on the road (need a 100mm 26.0 stem or a 26.4 stem and a Cinelli bar to match) and do the friction downtubes again on that bike. It does take a bit of artistry.

Great photos as always, wish I was able to put in a 100k today, tomorrow though, another day, and hopefully another half Metric.

+1 to what Rad said too!

(looks like all us vintage steel riders got out for a good spin today, I did 31 on the Gazelle this morning with my own LBS's group. Avg'ed 17.6mph. The last small climb of the day I jumped out of the pack and sprinted at 25.5+ without a single shift... ok, it wasn't that much of a hill by some standards, but it still goes up. )

dgasmd

Very very nice. I am in the process of a vintage Italian build myself, so posts like these make me even more anxious about getting my ride up and running. Very nice pictures. I have to hand it to you for riding so much despite all that cold and snow. Riding in the cold is something I refused to do a long time ago, then again, I live in South FL now.

ViperZ

Us Ka-Nuckle heads? It took you to talk me off the cliff of modernization on this project

The Clips?.....? Uhm, ahh..... I traded them to a kid for a bag of Ju-Ju beans? Seriously I still have them, I just put on a set of SPD pedals for the ride for it's easier to wear booties with clipless than it is with clips & straps. I didn't want to chew my booties up



Thanks Cuda, sounds like a good ride today for the Vintage boys, I got out, you did and so did Rad

I forgot how much I loved doing the double shift on Down Tubes where you shift the Big Rings and the cogs at the same time Real Artistry as you say!

ViperZ

Thanks Dgasmd Excellent on your Italian Build! I'll be riding all winter through each day to work. It's dark when I get to work, it's dark when I leave work. Plus the roads will be like rutted, rolly skating rinks And it'll be about -40C for weeks on end in January, ask me then if I still like cycling

DrPete 

Beautiful pics, Viper... makes me want to hurry up and get that Campy group on my Pinarello...

I can only hope that in 2047 there'll be someone on BF who scrounges up the parts to make a project like yours.

cyclintom

Those particular C-Record cranks with the cut logo failed ALL the time. The right arm would break off right at the logo and strand you out in the boonies. That's why Campy went to painted logos.

Now, granted that you had to be a pretty strong guy but I knew one guy that broke four of them in a single year. That gave Campy a bad reputation that those Delta Brakes and that pissy weak springed C-Record front derailleur only helped to further blacken.

Luckily Campy finally did something - probably kicked the butt of their chief engineer - and started making good stuff again. With the advent of the first Syncro-II stuff Campy's been the best since then.

And by the way, the Syncro-II downtube shifters were the best ever made.

ViperZ

Thanks DrPete! I'll be approching 86 years old then, It'll be interesting to see how bike look then, and how well all the bikes we have today have aged



Funny how all that makes C-Record, especially First generation 1985 stuff the most sought after of all Vintage Campagnolo groups

I got these contankerous units the other day

DrPete 

Guess that'll be the real test for carbon fiber...