M1T

Trying to date what I believe to be a 1969 Colnago Super. The head tube lugs changed after 1970, but my bike has the 1970/71 slightly more fancy, ornate design. But the bottom bracket has the 1968/69 9 hole pattern, and the rest or the bike fits the 1968/69 standard. My thought is the bike was built right at the end of the 1969 season with a mix of 'old' 1969 lugs and new 1970 head tube lugs. Thoughts?

merziac

@M1T

H**Y CRAP MAN!

Either way, that is freakin awesome, hopefully its the older.

VtwinVince

Quick, somebody call Eddy and tell him this guy ripped off his bike.

bikemig 

+ 1

BlueDevil63 

From what I know you seem to have called it pretty well as to the date. Beautiful bike.

repechage

Interesting bike.

the transfer(s) in the fork blades are really curious. Non standard, maybe an attempt to cover a scratch?

the chainstays are really short for the time- the axle is half way back about and the tire to seat tube gap would almost vanish with the wheel all the way forward in the dropouts.

the mix of metal features is what I recall of some way back. In 1972 these were rare at the races, the features varied. Unpresented are the appearance of the fork reinforcements if any.

a bit early for the brazed on cable guides on the bottom bracket in general, there are always exceptions.

Do attend to the brake block alignment on the front brake. (Actually, check them all ) Consider shortening the cable housing a bit for the rear brake.

This is my favorite graphics package.

M1T

I've had this Colnago sitting a box for 6 months and just put it together for some quick photos. I'll have all the stuff triple checked before riding... Broke my neck and back this summer as a result of riding a 130 mm rear dropout with a 126 mm (unknown to me at the time) wheel. Never again. It does have the inside and outside correct front fork blade supports.

I posted this question/pics on another vintage site and the replies were mixed. The consensus, if you can call it one, was this easily could be a late 69 bike, that it wasn't an early repaint, and that manufacturing details and processes were not what they are today. At appx. 51 years old, who knows, but it is a cool bike and I can't wait to ride it. Thanks for the replies!

panzerwagon 

That’s one heck of a beauty!

Whenever you get the chance, would love to see more photos, parts details, some history if you have any. Thanks for sharing, what a treat!

repechage

A bit surprising not to sport Campagnolo brakes. They were introduced in 1968, Colnago was receiving them, traditionalists may have been used to Universal’s, but one did not go to Colnago for a budget build.

that short rear triangle suggest to me this bike was “to order” not a standard frame.

OldsCOOL

Great find. This is when knowing the story of the bike gnaws at the curiosity. Nice!

bikemike73 

Absolutely Phenomenal !!!!!

I would hang it on the wall in my Sport room !!!!

Of course , I would ride it a " few times" before

VERY RARE !!!!

Congrats !!!

SJX426 

Help me understand this statement. My 83 doesn't look much different to my eye.
1983 Colnago Superissimo on Flickr

bikingshearer 

In the late 1960s, racing bikes were, generally speaking, still sporting longer wheelbases and longer seat stays than either the OP's or yours. Over the next few years, wheelbases and seat stays shrank until, by the mid-1070s or so, most racing frames were sporting the shorter dimensions. The quality of road surfaces had something to do with it, and at least in the US, the relative popularity of criterium racing helped drive the trend. The former made giving up a bit of stability and compliance for a bit more snappy handling viable. The latter made it downright desirable, at least stateside. The fact that the pros rode it made it even more desirable.

So it isn't shocking that the 1969 and 1983 geometry look so similar, but it is at little bit, shall we say, noteworthy. I suspect that is why repechage noted it.

SJX426 

bikingshearer - Thanks that does make sense. The Le Champion of 1972 had much longer stays.
1973 Motobecane Le Champion 24" on Flickr

As did the Bottecchia (27"wheels)
1972 Bottecchia Giro D'Italia (Professional conversion) on Flickr

repechage

I have a 49 cm Super from 1972 or 73, take your pick.
The rear end dimension with the axle all the way forward is 410 mm. A lot more room between the seat tube and the tire.
Colnago incrementally tightened up the bikes as time went on.

repechage

I have a '68 super, rear end is 415mm
A '72, and 73 super same size, 410, 407mm
top tube on the '68 is 1 cm longer.

the "'70's" geometry was pretty stable.
When short reach brakes, and the revised shorter dropouts arrived, things began tightening up.
In the 80's the top tubes got a bit shorter again too for a given size, on average 5mm

bikingshearer 

I've had similar experience with Cinellis. My 1965ish ones (64/61.5 cm ctc) have 44.5cm chainstays, the 1972ish one I used to have (60/57.5) had 43cm ones. Interestingly, the 1965ish ones have a 108cm wheelbase while the 1972ish one came in at 102.5cm. Even allowing for the size differences, that's a significant shortening of the overall frame.

Kabuki12

Having just got my 75 the observations make sense. Mine has the short dropouts with the externally mounted springs for the axel stops. I am still able to have a smooth shifting high and low range with a 53/41 chainring set up and a 28 tooth low on the FW with a NR derailleur. For such a short wheelbase bike it tracks very well and has great stability in tight corners. I don’t know how much if any they changed through the years, but the person I bought mine from also had a 73 and said the ride was identical . That’s why he sold me mine.

repechage

Colnago soon enough tweaked things for short reach (piccolo) calipers. Then a bit later came Allen key attachment.
for me, when the seat stay top eyes had COLNAGO cast in, that is the confirmed next phase of the geometry.

as noted this was a broad brand progression.
masi Cinelli, Gios ( they shortened up early )
Pinarello all got shorter.

heve to give the racers something to trade up for.

Brad L 

According to Velo Retro, Colnago began using the "club" logo after Michele Dancelli's Milan San Remo win in 1970. The playing card decals, as I understand it, were 1970 only.
This is my 1969 Super.