Italian art and craft

Profiled and gradient

Delighted with the bike in its new outfit , at the time of purchase I was not really aware that this was actually a special version. Besides the appearance and color style combined with the brand's reputation and the low price, there was one particular feature that I liked about it; the profile and thickening in the top and down tube. It wasn't until recently that I learned that this is actually the unique Colnago Tecnos feature.  My little neo-retro project had meanwhile increased further interest for steel frames, which I had always admired anyway, so I decided to do another bike-building exercise and my first thought was to look out for a Gios Torino. I had always liked the classic blue & white color bordered by Italian flag stripes, especially when combined with a chrome fork. But speaking of forks: I soon found out that once used to the straight-bladed steel fork, curved forks no longer appealed to me.

Straight forward..

Besides the sleek look, straight forks had also proved to have a range of further advantages such as better stability, higher rigidity and better vibration absorption. But no Gios with straight forks, as this turned out to be a particular.....Colnago feature. Since the late eighties actually, so that quickly narrowed the search. Besides this nice innovation, other characteristics like paintwork in terms of color combinations and patterns, chrome-work, ornaments etc. again proved Colnago to be the most attractive and technically superior bike by far anyway.  So Colnago it would be. Luckily in fact, as it appears to be the most widely spread & preserved bike, still being well available, be it in different conditions. Searching the internet for steel bike frames also quickly learns that there is one specimen whose reputation is vast and undisputed: The Colnago Master. Based on a revolutionary tube design with four symmetrical flutes, adding more stiffness to the frame. Masters are renowned, well cherished and come at high prizes. 

The frame can actually

Mastery..

still be ordered new, against the price of app. EUR.2300.- and patience,  due to the high demand. Having reviewed numerous Masters in different outfits on the web however made me realize that despite its great appeal, there was something missing. It was the feature I had immediately liked so much about my own proudly owned Tecnos:  The thickened tubes with its multiple ribbing which give the frame more volume. Where the four-grooved Master tube remains evenly slim in the same diameter over its full length, The five-grooved Tecnos tube's diameter increases towards the center and give the frame its extra substance. Moreover, this special structure also increased the tube's strength which made it possible to use thinner steel, making the Tecnos the lightest ever produced steel bike-frame. So the choice was easy:  Another Tecnos.

Old steel..

Back in the daylight...

At the beginning of this century, when carbon frames were becoming the standard for racing bikes and steel was simply getting outdated, I had the opportunity to buy a beautifully styled Colnago, which kept me riding for the next 13 years. A new old stock steel bike, on sale at a local bike shop which obviously wanted to get rid of it fast, as I was able to obtain it for less than half the original price. So it wasn't until 2014 that I had my first carbon bike and until that time the old-fashioned steel Colnago served me to full satisfaction.  After that, the Colnago was spending its time at the loft, but was in fact never quite forgotten.. In recent years, catching glimpses of it each time entering the place,  a plan for re-rehabilitating the bike finally materialized. It was a nice exercise to overhaul the bike, which was limited only to new cables, compact handlebar & tape and switch to carbon wheels with a rear-wheel free-hub body from Shimano Ultegra 11 speed to Campgnolo 10 speed. Amazingly, after 13 years both the headset, Shimano Deore and crank, Campagnolo Chorus, were still fully solid without any play and the gears still shifted flawlessly. I now use the bike for relaxing tours enjoying the surroundings and wandering around just taking it easy without even wearing my helmet..

Bike Love

My admiration for Italian racing bikes such as GiosTorino, De Rosa, Wilier, Bianchi, etc, but in particular Colnago, goes back to my early teenage years in the late Seventies. Being the best well admired vintage brand of today, the great reputation, high profile, classy design and top of the bill technique already made Colnago the number 1 bike in those days. Its character arising from the ever appealing appearance, continuous innovation and a history of technical supremacy and fame makes it the most celebrated racing bike of all time. My personal knowledge of the brand, its history, and applied techniques is still modest, but it's the vibe and beauty of the old-fashion steel tubing and paintwork that ignited a true love for this type of bicycle. Not being able to afford one in the early days and losing sight and interest in biking for a number of years, made it last until 2001 before I could finally own one. Riding new generation carbon during the last years, the bike spent almost a decade at the attic once I decided it deserved a second life. The overhauling process turned out to be so inspiring, that it triggered me to look out for a similar project to which I like to dedicate this site Just as a tribute to old-fashioned steel and painting art from days gone by of which I hope it will contribute to a wider appreciation of this the wonderful bike style.