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Determining tubeset on a Colnago Master Olympic?

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Determining tubeset on a Colnago Master Olympic?

Old 08-02-21, 05:56 AM
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th0m
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Determining tubeset on a Colnago Master Olympic?

A while back I bought a Master Olympic that was missing its tubing decal. I assumed that it's made from Columbus Gilco, so that's the decal I bought, but I later found out that for a short while around the time when this frame was made, the tubing used was actually Tange Ultimate Superlight. Is there any way to determine for sure which it is? I've checked the fork steerer and there is no Columbus logo stamped on it if that helps.

A photo of the bike in question:
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Old 08-02-21, 07:45 AM
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Quick pics from my 40th anno (1994) catalog. Does your top tube have a clover leaf or bike rider? The bike rider replaced the clover in 1997 as best I can tell.


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Old 08-02-21, 08:13 AM
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Originally Posted by Spaghetti Legs
Quick pics from my 40th anno (1994) catalog. Does your top tube have a clover leaf or bike rider? The bike rider replaced the clover in 1997 as best I can tell.


It has the clover leaf. Assuming the frame and the groupset is from the same year, it should be from '94 as you say.
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Old 08-02-21, 08:17 AM
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I have come to the conclusion that it's more likely Tange than Columbus, but it would still be nice to know for sure.
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Old 08-02-21, 09:48 AM
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Originally Posted by onyerleft
Gilco? is my guess, sticker or no. Those squished tubes didn't do anything at all except make cleaning more difficult. Just sayin'.
Gilco is the designer of the tube. Not a tubing manufacturer. Just sayin'
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Old 08-02-21, 09:55 AM
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Originally Posted by onyerleft
Gilco? is my guess, sticker or no. Those squished tubes didn't do anything at all except make cleaning more difficult. Just sayin'.
The Tange tubes were crimped exactly the same as Gilco, so there's no way to tell just from the tube shape sadly. Going by the paintwork, the lack of a Columbus logo on the steerer and the '94 Record groupset that was originally on it, I'm about 70% sure it's Tange since that is the correct year, but as I said, it would be nice to be able to say for sure
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Old 08-02-21, 10:23 AM
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One thing is the tube profile in the catalog pic is square whereas my understanding of the Gilco tubing is I think star or other type profile. Maybe that might help.
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Old 08-02-21, 12:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Spaghetti Legs
One thing is the tube profile in the catalog pic is square whereas my understanding of the Gilco tubing is I think star or other type profile. Maybe that might help.
Gilco is also "square" (or "star" shaped as they call it), as you can see in this picture of the Gilco profile. There's no way to tell the difference just by looking externally as far as I know. If I had an identical frame in the same size I could potentially weigh them I suppose since the Tange tubes are supposedly lighter
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