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@JamesNQ
Hi all,
had a bit of a shitty few weeks, maybe talking about my bike will cheer me up!
thought I'd show the progress of my baby...
Story behind this, I've been after a 54cm 1994 Colnago Master Olympic in the AD10 paint scheme for literally 3 or 4 years, searching eBay once a week, waiting for the right one to come up, it never did. They were either NOS, meaning I didn't want to pay stupid money and use the frame, or totally battered, which I also didn't want.
I rang a good friend who collects vintage bicycles, to see whether he had any frames good for winter use (this was last October). I turned up at his workshop for him to show me terrible frame after terrible frame, and then I saw it... the exact size, the exact model, exact condition I was after.
"Is the Colnago for sale?"
"Errrrrrr, mmmmmmmm, I guesssss?"
We shook hands on the deal, I went to the cash machine as fast as I could, just in case any passer-by happen to look in his workshop and also be on the hunt for a 54cm Master Olympic in AD10 paint...
Walking home with the frame in my hand, I was able to feel the Gilco tubing. I know it's only a bike frame, but I feel proud that I've finally got one.
As soon as I got home, I cleaned the frame internally and externally, before claying and waxing. This is what I was left with:
Condition is 'used', but the chrome is fantastic, paint has a few chips and scratches here and there, but it is almost quarter of a century old!
I then put some parts together, to try and get a build going...
I quite fancied having the bike built up period correct, as I had a brand new Tarmac running some nice kit, but I later sold that bike to fund a different project, so I'm just left with the Colnago. I then purchased more 8 speed parts, until the shifters arrived... I got them out the bag and held them in my hand, absolutely no way was I going to use them. The shape of the hood itself was not nice, plus I didn't like how it shifted. I thought I'd just go to 9 speed, but they wheels wouldn't take it, literally every single part was wrong! I sold all of the parts, so I was down to just the F&F again, 2 steps backwards!
I wanted modern campag on my Italian bike, but I quite like Ultegra and Dura Ace, and I didn't feel comfortable paying DA money for mid range campag, so Veloce 10 speed it was. It feels a little plastic and not as precise as D.A etc, but I do quite like it, but I wouldn't fit it to any bike other than a beautiful Italian number.
Here's where she's currently at...
Asthetically, the build is a little uninspiring, but it does ride amazingly well. I had about a week without a bike when I sold my Tarmac, so I basically purchased everything in 1 day to get it build for that weekend. Turbo saddle and simple campag wheels not really my first choice, but I just wanted to get it built.
I still have a lot of work to do:
. 1 1/8th adapter, black Zipp stem (slammed, no less)
. Black carbon seatpost, possibly FSA K-force de-branded and lacquered
. Arione or SLR saddle
. Clincher gumwalls (any reccomendations? I haven't tried any of them)
. Slowly upgrade each component to 10 speed record if I stick with campag, but I'd like to put eTap on it.
. Upgrade wheels, either 38mm carbon or shamal mille
Thanks :)