Hello Vintage Bicycle Community! I’ve had this Colnago Super for about 6 years and have put on a few thousand miles since. I recently needed to replace some things to keep the Campagnolo Nuovo Record group set on here and this has sent me into a world of confusion about this bike. I have the original derailleur and brake shoes but put on some parts that were lying around, while I wait for the new jockey wheels and brake pads. I decided it could be a good time to break the bike down, tune it up, clean and polish the Campi stuff, and refurbish it a bit.
I also looked into getting some replacement decals and this sent me into the rabbit hole. I always thought the bike was a 73’ or 74’ but, looking hard at it now, this bike has some real strange inconsistencies. I do think it’s a real authentic colnago (guess I could be wrong though) but there’s just some odd stuff going on with this bicycle and I’d like to hear your guy’s thoughts. Specifically what year is this bike, had someone replace the decals already or repainted it, was it a custom build, why is there so much weirdness?
Issues
1. I have never seen decals with this color type.
I can’t find one image of a colnago with black letters with white outlines.
2. WC Flag above the colnago decal on the seat tube has no writing in it at all. It usually says Record Ora, Mexico, 1972.
3. The three cable guides braised on. When they started braising guides the standard was 2.
4. The four additional holes drilled and painted around the Club Bottom Bracket.
5. No chrome on the lugs of the fork. They’re ompletely painted silver with the Yellow Club painted over that.
6. I can’t find another example of that style colnago pantographed Campi seat post.
I also wanted your advice on the decals. Looking into it, it seems like enthusiasts are pretty passionate about keeping the original ones on if possible, regardless of condition. I’m not even sure if these are the right ones but I probably wouldn’t change them if it’s going to really effect the value of the bicycle. I would really prefer new ones though, if it doesn’t matter (or the correct ones, if these aren’t right.)
Some quick, maybe helpful info. It was a cellar find a new home owner in Italy came across while cleaning out the house, that I had imported in. I replaced the original San Marco seat and bar tape with Brooks, and the old black brake cables with this new yellow. The Campi stuff all has patent pending 1973 stamped on it.
by JerryGarciasAshes
2 Comments
Well, I’m mainly an English bike guy, so not a Colnago expert. But I think it’s most likely a genuine Colnago, I have never heard of a fake having the club cutouts in the lugs. It’s just too much work for a faker who just wants to slap some decals on a cheap bike and sell it. It’s also clearly a well made, high quality frame.
I think the bike was probably repainted, which explains the decal and chrome inconsistencies. When it was repainted, the top tube cable guides may also have been added, which could explain that as well. I don’t know whether Colnago was doing those in ’73-74, most other brands didn’t have them until the late 70’s or early 80’s.
Best guess, and again I am not a Colnago expert, is that this is either an early 70’s bike that has some modifications and a repaint, or it’s a late 70’s bike that has a repaint.
You may be able to contact Colnago with photos and the serial number to get some more information.
Try here, many guides to help identify, https://cycling-obsession/