Mr. 66

For proper etiquette, I guess that would be follow the local rules and laws when it comes to where you are riding. I don't think the brand of bike makes any difference if you are riding in a manner that is unsafe for you or others in the vicinity of your rides.

Yelbom15

This is why I love this forum!!

I treat the bike with love. Polished since I got it and slowly installing 80s Super Record when a sweet eBay deal comes up. I guess going off sidewalks was a bit exaggerated considering I’m still running the tubular 700x21s with record hubs. It feels like I’m breaking the bike as well as my bones!

Tampa is definitely filled with hooligans.

Classtime 

Posting a picture of the bike is proper. (Driveside. Like pinky up.)

The Golden Boy 

I don't know- if I had a bike that people would shank their mom for- I wouldn't be treating it like a hobo Huffy that I found on the corner.

It doesn't matter if it's "vintage."

momoman

I try to keep in the spirit when I ride my vintage bikes. I have metal bottle cages, basic water bottles, tan sidewalls, leather saddles on most of my vintage bikes. I don't have wool jerseys (yet) and I don't plan on riding with toe clips and straps unless it's an eroica event (which I am looking forward to riding one day!) I try to conform to what riders in the era rode with, but do add a few modern conveniences like clipless pedals and a Mips certified helmet. I don't look like I'm in an eroica event when I ride my vintage bikes but I try to keep in the spirit of the earlier era. I have a Garmin handlebar mount on all my bikes so I can use my Garmin on whichever bike I'm riding - my buddy called me out on that one. He said, "that Garmin looks out of place on your De Rosa."

edit: I also carry a frame mounted Silca pumps on most of my vintage bikes, but also carry a CO2 pump and a couple of cartridges.

edit2: I misinterpreted etiquette to also pertain to one’s appearance and not one’s conduct so my remarks don’t quite address the OP’s question.

CargoDane

I have a tweed jacket and waistcoat as well as tweed trousers and shorts. I don't have a vintage bike, though. And I don't go to the Tweed Run or Eroica or that kind of thing.

70sSanO

Ride it however you want, but you might want to check how much it will cost to replace the stuff you break.

Personally, if the original wheelset is in excellent condition, I’d pick up a cheap $100 compatible set. Make sure the headset is properly adjusted.

John

gugie 

And make sure you have the skills to do it properly to extend the service life of your shoulder.

Kabuki12

It is your bike and you can do what you like. Remember to be aware of your surroundings and thoughtful of others.

RobbieTunes

Etiquette is simply a way to say some people want other people to act in a way they approve.

RobbieTunes

True

Wear your mittens.
Don't run with scissors.

RobbieTunes

Or not.
OP's choice.

Germany_chris

It’s a mass produced bike, one of millions ride it however you want.

hsuBM

Etiquette: be a smaht ridah. Don’t make existing cyclist-hating car worshippers hate us more, don’t convert the cyclist-neutral into cyclist-haters.

being smaht: don’t ride bad-hard on old racing gear in traffic. It isn’t designed for that and will fail in that use akskx me how I know...) especially those old Campy hubs and whatever rims are strung up to them. It’s all meant to be as light as possible for someone to get a few years of flowing swiftly and gracefully up and down nice roads.

get some sweet archetypes laced with aerolites to some mean fixie hubs so you don’t look like a headphone wearing dummie walking a taco-wheeled bike out of the middle of the street.

cudak888 

First rule of proper etiquette when owning a vintage bike on this forum: PICTURES!

-Kurt

P.S: A quick reminder to those veering towards A&S with their replies: There isn't a single A&S-related topic above that is exclusive to vintage bicycles. Keep that in mind before turning a well meaning thread into Bike P&R.

Velo Mule

A "Hobo Huffy" . Did you come up with that TheGoldenBoy . I like it. I don't think all Huffy's are hobo Huffy's but I do get a picture.

CargoDane

A&S? P&R? I have no idea what those stand for

Yelbom15

Photo of it when I purchased it. It’s an all original 1985 Colnago Super originally equipped with perfect Campagnolo Victory group set. Currently replaced front and rear derailleur with Super Record and waiting for a decent Super Record crank to pop up somewhere. Black bar tape, Brooks C13 saddle and might throw on some Gatorskin tubulars. Im definitely sticking with the aesthetics of its era. I may slap a Cinelli Alter stem on but that’s about it. (I’m also proud of my Cinelli bottle so there’s an included pic)

I’m a big fan of black Modolo Professional group sets so that might be a future install.

CargoDane

Yikes, I'd worry about the wheels on that thing - jumping kerbs and whatnot. Maybe you jump kerbs different to me, but I'd have that bike for an hour or two before I'd wrecked those wheels.
I think you should listen to the people talking about the hubs and advising you to get some newer and stronger hubs/wheels to bomb around on.

scarlson 

I agree. Ride as it was meant to be ridden. I was bombing down some unimproved sand dune roads down the cape last year on my '59 Jack Taylor 650b tandem, when we wiped out at speed. All 3 of us (me, stoker, and tandem) came out relatively unscathed (sand being softish), but with a good story. Stoker will still ride with me! Tandem still rides fine! Great success!! And the Taylors always did have an affinity for the "rough stuff".

Note: C&V style chain wax is by far the best lubricant for riding on sand, because the drivetrain isn't sticky and won't pick up any sand grains. Unfortunately, it only lasts a few hundred miles, so it is not the best ultramarathon lubricant. If you ride from the city down to the cape, and then want to ride _on_ the cape, you will barely get a single trip out of a wax job. Which on an old front-drive tandem is quite an ordeal. So you have to drive there with a tandem in or on the car, which is possibly bad etiquette. Shrug!

The Golden Boy 

I probably should have said "hobo Magna," but the alliteration adds that certain special je ne sais quoi.

The Golden Boy 

There were millions of Colnago Supers made in 1985?

We should probably see more them around then...

bikingshearer 

First, nice score. I am always glad when a proud old steed like yours finds an owner who appreciates and uses it. If it makes you smile when you ride it, it makes my little heart go pitter-patter.

As far as etiquette, the only one I would actively advocate is: Don't make any structural changes to it that can't be undone. Replacing parts is okay; that can be undone (especially f you keep the originals). Spreading the rear triangle to accommodate later drivetrains is okay - that can be undone. Hacksawing off rear derailleur hangers is not okay - that can't be undone. Otherwise, it's your bike, do with it as you wish. That includes repainting it if you want, although I don't see why you would want to in this case as the paint looks good and appears to be in good shape.

Some bikes out there that are so rare or special that changing anything on them is a no-no. Example: Changing anything about Eddy Merckx's Hour Record bike would be a crime against humanity. Only a very, very few bikes qualify for this. Your Colnago is a wonderful machine, but it isn't not one of them.

I would also urge no head phones, but that's for safety not for etiquette. Hearing what is around you is very important.

Remember, these opinions are worth exactly what you are paying for them.

tricky 

@Yelbom15 This! Pics or the Colnago doesn't exist.

Edit: oops, jumped the gun. Beautiful bike!

gugie 

Of course.

Someone pointed out that mine was a typical track sprinter injury. So I've got that story going for me.