Ex-pro Rabobank Colnago Dream cyclocross bike, 58cm

For sale is a Colnago CX bike. Apparently it was owned by Marcel Duijn, who wasn’t that good, but it’s similar to the ones used by Richard Groenendaal when he won the worlds in 2000 and Sven Nys at around the same time.

Pictures are at: http://imgur.com/a/tdciE

The frame is Columbus Airplane aluminium (unfortunately the sticker washed off a couple of years ago), and it’s in decent condition for a CX bike of its age. There are chips, scratches and some rough areas, but no dents or cracks and everything’s structurally sound and all the fittings and threads are good. The top tube is 58cm.

It’s built up with:
• Deda Logo stem (110mm)
• ITM Super Pro 260 handlebars. (42cm)
• Team issue Dura-Ace Easton seatpost
• Team issue Dura-Ace 7700 cranks
• Dura-Ace headset – it’s a threaded one that’s been converted to be threadless. Works like a normal threadless. Not sure why they’d do it, other than sponsorship?
• 9s Tiagra shifters (sorry, but they work well)
• 105 5700 rear mech
• TRP EuroX brakes
• San Marco Strada saddle
• Mavic Aksium wheels
• Challenge Strada Bianca tyres (but I can swap them for some Vittoria XG Pro clinchers if you prefer)
• Carbon “Zornyc” fork – took me ages to find one with a 1” steerer!

And I’ll also include in the package:
• The original steel fork (I’ve seen it called a Precisa CX before). This looks the business, but it has been bent in the past. The previous owner said it had been repaired, but it definitely hasn’t got enough rake. It’s steel and about 50kg, so you could probably get it sorted out if you were so inclined.
• The original brakes – Spooky Aluminium cantilevers in silver. Rare as hen’s teeth, but the TRPs are easier to adjust.
• The matching wheels – Dura Ace 7700 hubs on Open Pros, 28/32 spoke. The rims are worn out and the hubs are in need of servicing and maybe some new bearings, but they’ve got the original titanium freehub.
• My race wheels – alloy Mavic Cosmics from about the same era as the rest of the bike, with Vittoria XG tubulars glued on (and hardly used).

I’ll let the whole lot go for £900, or the Cosmics for £200 and the rest for £700. If you think I’m having a laugh at that price, feel free to make an offer. I'm based in Redditch - I'm well aware that that's not in London, but I'd be able to arrange postage (if you bear with me).

Reason for sale is that it's just not getting used - it was my favourite bike for a while and I'll be really sorry to see it go, but I now race a modern CX bike that always breaks and ride on a road bike that was too expensive not to use.

Edit - forgot to add: obviously feel free to get in touch if you've got any questions or want to see more pictures.

These are lovely-great that you kept the original fork to go with it! even if they're a bit industrial they still look the business. Did you buy it off Ed on Retrobike?

I've had both one of the Rabobank team bikes and still have another ex-pro model from Italy-it's actually far more fun to ride than their current alu CX disc frames, and probably lighter despite inexplicably having a carbon fork.

The sponsorship model Shimano cranks etc are definitely rare and a nice touch-GLWS!

Glad you like it! It's a really good weight if you put on some lighter wheels and yeah, I'm a big fan of the team issue Dura Ace stuff!

So much want but too many unfinished projects. This is lovely GLWS

this is great.
re: headset i had and have some which i bought from the netherlands that were converted 7410 headsets for threadless. was told it was done for a pro-team and i reckon its because in those early days of threadless, dura ace was unbeatable even bodged/modified.
actually, theyre still running like silk 20 years on so makes sense.
the cranks are also beauties..

wonderful, if it was road and not CX I would have bought it!

@Rodolfo interesting about the headsets - I'd always assumed it was a pro team thing, and was glad it was still smooth so I could leave it in!

@kantonin I've always liked riding it on the road too. Being able to fit fat tyres is a right treat.

I have so much want.

ùbér_grùbér yep, that was mine although it looks like it's had quite the overhaul since I sold it with the Team Issue groupset. And, like a fine wine, it's appreciated in value over the years.....

@Big_Ted yeah, that's right, I got it from you! Unfortunately the rear mech had to go when it was worn out, and the Spooky brakes aren't adjustable like the TRPs, but I've tried to strike the right balance between what's 'right' for the build and making sure it's a bike that you wouldn't be afraid to jump on and ride.

I have been considering this bike and if I'm honest with myself I just want the frame. And I understand why you'd not want to split so this is a call to the wider forum. Would anyone be interested in the build kit while I take the frame?

Hey guys,

Cheers for all the nice comments - I'm glad you like the bike! I'm knocking off £50, so prices are now:

£950 for the whole shebang
£750 everything except the Mavic Cosmics

Time for another price drop - how about:

£700 for the bike
£900 for the bike and the Cosmics

Still available! I think I'll leave this up until the end of the week and then try and sell elsewhere - maybe even gasp eBay!

1: you're bumping your thread without a reduction.

2: Still a pretty ambitious price TBH-it was more desirable as a vintage ex-team build with the original parts, which it doesn't have any more, and as a modern cross bike it's well... not very modern so I think that reflects the interest you've had.

To put in context-I got my ex-team Rabo CX bike with Ti stem/seatpost and proof of ownership for 200 euros. I got another ex-team Nag cx bike delivered from Italy with full DX groupset for £300 quid on ebay. Then there's the fact that for a comparable Colnago Dream Alu road frame that's had a much easier life you'd struggle to get £300 so a CX frame that's been horsed around for 20 years isn't a very sound investment...

Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely bike and they're much fun to ride but you can get second hand 2015/16 Colnago World Cup CX bikes with discs for £350-500 on ebay so you're always going to struggle.