Colnago Super comes home 4 years, 11 months and 22 days later
04-15-18, 10:02 PM
#1
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Colnago Super comes home 4 years, 11 months and 22 days later
Some may remember the Colnago I restored some years back, made extra nice with the help of Jon and Jeff. Back in 2013, my interests shifted to vintage motorcycles and the majority of the bikes were parted with, including the Colnago. Soon after the sale I developed severe seller's remorse, but I figured what's done is done and at least it went to a good home, though the remorse never left me.
Fast forward to 2018... I see a post referring to a Colnago that sounds like it could be "mine", click the provided link to the member's Flickr and low and behold, there it was. Turns out the gentleman who bought the Colnago was a member of BikeForums all along (VintageDude).
A quick message and a few emails later, he agreed to a deal and a meeting. I was soon reunited with the bike.
This particular bike is special to me as it was my first true restoration, my first decent drillium, some gorgeous drillium by Jeff, and milling by Jon Williams.
The following pictures are as it was received by VintageDude. He tells me he rode it only once/twice, showed it in a couple local shows and stored/displayed it over the last 5 years. It's basically in the same condition I sold it in, except for some dried out hoods and dirtier bar tape.
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
Fast forward to 2018... I see a post referring to a Colnago that sounds like it could be "mine", click the provided link to the member's Flickr and low and behold, there it was. Turns out the gentleman who bought the Colnago was a member of BikeForums all along (VintageDude).
A quick message and a few emails later, he agreed to a deal and a meeting. I was soon reunited with the bike.
This particular bike is special to me as it was my first true restoration, my first decent drillium, some gorgeous drillium by Jeff, and milling by Jon Williams.
The following pictures are as it was received by VintageDude. He tells me he rode it only once/twice, showed it in a couple local shows and stored/displayed it over the last 5 years. It's basically in the same condition I sold it in, except for some dried out hoods and dirtier bar tape.
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
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04-15-18, 10:05 PM
#2
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Thread Starter
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on FlickrSome more detail shots of Jon (stem and seat post) and Jeff's (shift levers and brake levers) work:
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
1974 Colnago Super by alex ries, on Flickr
Last edited by shnibop; 04-15-18 at 10:34 PM.
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04-15-18, 10:22 PM
#4
Senior Member
Great looking bike. Does this mean you can go home again?
For the bar tape, if it were mine I would consider staining it with tea or Italian coffee and then shellacking to hold the color and make it durable. then you could use it without concern about getting the tape dirty.
For the bar tape, if it were mine I would consider staining it with tea or Italian coffee and then shellacking to hold the color and make it durable. then you could use it without concern about getting the tape dirty.
04-15-18, 11:34 PM
#5
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I remember those terrific pix from years ago. Welcome home 
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
04-16-18, 04:29 AM
#6
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I'd have serious separation anxiety too. Great that you got it back. I suppose (VintageDude) is now going through those same empty feelings you went through.
Fantastic photos of a remarkable bike.
Fantastic photos of a remarkable bike.
04-16-18, 07:53 AM
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Beautiful bike and I too found out you can come home again.
In my case it was a one of Custom Stevenson, built as a gift to myself, but then a marriage failed, and there were too many memories. A year after I sold it, I realized what I had let go.
[cue music]
"Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone..."
Joni Mitchell
So the years passed and I returned to biking with a Felt and then a nice Bianchi but they weren't the Stevenson, nothing else could be as that was made to just fit me. I shared my lament with my LBS and years later a phone call from the LBS staff, my bike was for sale on craig's list the same city I had sold it in! It was the same man, a quick call and ... yes, you can come home again.
But now I know what I got, it goes to a grandchild after I'm gone...no sooner.
I share your joy.
P.S. And twenty years later, and raising four kids together, found not only my life companion but my stoker too, and a Stevenson Custom tandem for the years to come.
In my case it was a one of Custom Stevenson, built as a gift to myself, but then a marriage failed, and there were too many memories. A year after I sold it, I realized what I had let go.
[cue music]
"Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone..."
Joni Mitchell
So the years passed and I returned to biking with a Felt and then a nice Bianchi but they weren't the Stevenson, nothing else could be as that was made to just fit me. I shared my lament with my LBS and years later a phone call from the LBS staff, my bike was for sale on craig's list the same city I had sold it in! It was the same man, a quick call and ... yes, you can come home again.
But now I know what I got, it goes to a grandchild after I'm gone...no sooner.
I share your joy.
P.S. And twenty years later, and raising four kids together, found not only my life companion but my stoker too, and a Stevenson Custom tandem for the years to come.
Last edited by since6; 04-16-18 at 07:57 AM.
04-16-18, 07:56 AM
#9
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An orange drillium Colnago in my size.........where do you store it and what regular appointments do you have outside the home?
04-16-18, 07:57 AM
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Nice! What year is it, and where did you get the decals? And are you happy with them? I'm in the middle of a '73 restoration and am about to order decals.
-J
-J
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The man who dies with the most toys…is dead. - Rootboy
04-16-18, 08:19 AM
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Awesome
04-16-18, 03:42 PM
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This thread is warm-fuzzy-inducing in the extreme 
Glad you were able to bring her back home!
DD
Glad you were able to bring her back home!
DD
04-16-18, 03:54 PM
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Wonderful story about a heartening community and a gorgeous bike.
04-16-18, 04:18 PM
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Nice storey, beautiful bike and wonderful photography @shnibop. Two questions: what bar tape did you use and what brand is the black chain?
Cheers.
Brad
Cheers.
Brad
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Better bike .. Better life!
Better bike .. Better life!
04-16-18, 04:30 PM
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Beautiful bike and a great story. Glad you came to your senses, @shnibop.
04-16-18, 04:34 PM
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Fabulous. What’s with the cork?
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
04-16-18, 04:40 PM
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Beyond sexy. A total holy grail bike!
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From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
04-16-18, 05:08 PM
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Story goes something from the days of Six Day races at the velodrome. Symbolic or represented one had a spirt left in his tank. Popping a cork, leaving a competitor behind...
The wealthier spectators had premium seating with servants to pour their champagne. Popping the cork, the ladies swooned their fave and strong rider alwhile enjoying the bubbly. The stud would collect a cork from their admirers and dangle it under the saddle.
And onto the OP - absolute one terrific bike and story! Do recall seeing pics of it elsewhere. Thanks again for sharing 🎰
The wealthier spectators had premium seating with servants to pour their champagne. Popping the cork, the ladies swooned their fave and strong rider alwhile enjoying the bubbly. The stud would collect a cork from their admirers and dangle it under the saddle.
And onto the OP - absolute one terrific bike and story! Do recall seeing pics of it elsewhere. Thanks again for sharing 🎰
Last edited by crank_addict; 04-16-18 at 05:12 PM.
04-16-18, 08:56 PM
#23
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um wow that is gorgeous!
04-16-18, 09:19 PM
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Beautiful!! Congrats on getting her back.
04-16-18, 11:30 PM
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In 1975 I sold off a frame set plus cranks, pedals. In 1983 I ran across the fellow I sold it to, bought it back a bit worse for wear essentially the same otherwise. I still own the bike an still pleases me to ride. Could use redone chrome the interim owner did not keep that up unfortunately, but I still have the pleasure of owning it.
In 1976 a different bike got stolen... still hoping that one turns up on CL or ebay one day. Time is marching on though.
In 1976 a different bike got stolen... still hoping that one turns up on CL or ebay one day. Time is marching on though.
