The Rake's Progress - 83 Colnago Super Evolution
 

I got back into road bikes in 2006. I was looking for an orange Colnago Super to replace my 1978 that had gotten stolen back in 1982. I found this red 1983 Super frame with white logos in mid 2006. Many Colnagos had yellow decals which IMHO looked like dreck on a red frame.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e09ed7357c.jpg
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I had Ed Litton check the alignment and asked him to set the dropouts at 127mm rather than 126mm. I always set my dropouts and fork ends .5mm to 1mm wider than standard which makes for easier wheel insertion. Turns out he set them at 128mm so that I could use either 126mm or 130mm.

Anyway I have and have had lots of all Campy bikes but I wasn't enamored with stuff from Vicenza when I assembled this frame. I built it up using a mishmash components that I had on hand: NOS Stronglight/Spidel 105 drillium cranks, a new Phil Wood BB, a 1974 Shimano NOS Crane RD, a VG set of Campy wheels plus new or almost new for the rest of the stuff.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...58db390d7d.jpg

I'd been running 1/2 step gearing 49T-45T chainrings with a 13-26T freewheel for years. After dying trying push 45" gears at 62 up these Bay Area hills, on one of my first CR rides, I noticed that all of the guys where riding 28T FWs with 42T small sprockets. Immediately switched to a 13-28T FW and 49T-38T chainrings.

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Photo before I sold the bike to BF member Eric last summer.

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Eric's 1st changes: saddle, seatpost, bars and stem plus I put on an NOS 14-28T Singapore made 7 speed Shimano Hyperglide FW for him.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...662fa3608f.jpg

The original fork had some rust on the crown and where a speedometer was attached to the right blade. I had an NOS original Colnago replacement fork that I'd never gotten around to installing. I replaced it for him last year.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c7428c28cc.jpg

Just finished an upgrade this weekend. Replaced the Stronglight 105 49-38T cranks with Campy Victory 50-35T cranks and changed the Shimano Crane RD to a Campy Mirage medium cage drop arm with a floating upper pulley. Shifts smooth as glass! Put in a new Phil BB to match the Victory crank. With 33" gears it climbs like a mountain goat. The 700 x 28c tires smooth out the ride.

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verktyg

It's a really fun bike!
While making a few changes for fit, and preparing for of time riding the hills, I've tried to install the best components.
Without resorting to carbon fiber. So, it has grown from 22.2 lbs last summer, to 22.6 lbs now.
But I've gained a few pounds at the same time, so I really need to add on the miles.
In the last photo, it's obvious I need to get a longer rear brake cable.
Pretty amazing vehicle, especially considering it's now 40 years old.
:ride:

Ambrosio 19 rims… until a folding tire’s bead stretches, these can be a challenge to work with.
tires with prior use, much easier.

I forgot about the Mirage group, so many groups appeared then vanished.

I found that pair of 28mm Panaracer Rolly-poly for a very cheap, and easy to mount. They're so-so, feel a little floppy/mushy. Next time I'll probably go with GP5000's or Vittoria Corsa Control's, but I hear ya - mounting may be painful.
Campagnolo Mirage... a passing dream...

Mirage, Veloce, Centaur-Daytona are really solid groups/components.

I have some Xenon but haven’t used them to offer an opinion.