Colnago Master Olympic build thread

[kiwifraser]

My father in law was hugely into cycling, and a big Colnago fan. He recently passed away, and we have a plan to build a tribute bike from the many frames, parts, and a lot of lovely nos kit that he has in his garage.

A number of the Colnago frames from the 70s/80s are very well used, but there are a couple that I think are circa 1995 which are great build candidates.

The first is a blue frame which he rode most often as a summer bike. It has a few marks/ and on close inspection a touch of surface rust on bare steel that would probably clean up well. As he rode it circa 150 miles a week in mainly dry weather, it has been fitted with what looks like more modern componentry/ bars/ seat/ etc. He always used clips and straps, which I may keep on?





The second frame on close inspection looks almost brand new, and is only part built currently. We think it is a limited edition Team Rabobank Master, and all of the components look older, but almost new. It has probably only been ridden a few times in the dry. At the moment, this one looks like the better frame to choose, unless anyone knows better?





The spare componentry looks like high quality kit, some of which is nos still in packaging. There is a brand new white leather seat, and loads of bars and wheels, which I will work through this week. Any thoughts on keeping the downtube shifters, or changing to more modern brake/shifter combination units?

There is a very wide selection of chainrings, cassettes, race blocks, chains, derailleurs, brakes. I need the bike set up suitable to actually ride rather than as a showpiece. He loved the Bealach Na Ba, so I will do this on the bike and need appropriate ratios fitted.

Any thoughts appreciated, and I'll update this thread as I get on with the build

Edited by kiwifraser on Saturday 7th September 08:53

[Rouleur]

Nice. I'd go for orange bar tape, black saddle and tan sidewall tyres. Not sure about keeping the clipped pedals though!

[kiwifraser]

Orange bar tape would look good. I'm contemplating taking the black bars and stem off the blue bike, but not sure.

If I take off the toe clips and straps, then I'd need to get pedals/ clip in shoes to suit. Anything you would recommend to suit the bike?

[Rouleur]

I think white ones would go well with the silver chainset.

[LRdriver II]

both are nice frames, and should both be Gilco tubing ( crimped or 4leaf clover in cross section). I would think they are both pre 1996 as that was when the olympic games got the hump with Colnago and banned him using the term Olympic..but thats just a guess...
The fork to use would be the chrome one and combined with silver components this would work well with the chrome lugwork of the frames

Regal saddle and normal quil stem are also period correct features of the era.. these newfangled ahead stems are easier to use, but dammit they are klunky looing things on a steel frame.. quil stems are soooo much more elegant to look at

Edited by LRdriver II on Saturday 7th September 18:37

[kiwifraser]

Rouleur said:

Nice. I'd go for orange bar tape, black saddle and tan sidewall tyres. Not sure about keeping the clipped pedals though!

Like this Rabobank one? A pity it's missing the chrome lugs




Edited: sp

Edited by kiwifraser on Monday 9th September 20:15

[Rouleur]

That's a CX bike

But yes it looks roughly right. Yours should look great when finished.

[Magic919]

Sorry to hear about your FiL.

Great to see you posting about an excellent project! Maybe you can do some decent 1/4s on it :-)

[kiwifraser]

Magic919 said:

Sorry to hear about your FiL.

Great to see you posting about an excellent project! Maybe you can do some decent 1/4s on it :-)

Thanks mate. I know he would have wanted one of his bikes to be ridden, so I think this is a pretty good idea.


A hell of a different 'build' than what we were racing down Avon Park/ Shakespeares

[kiwifraser]

Rouleur said:

That's a CX bike

But yes it looks roughly right. Yours should look great when finished.

I have to admit I have no idea what that means

As a complete guess, is it a Technos or some other type of Colnago with a Rabobank Paintjob? Or is a CX something special I have never heard of?

[Rouleur]

Cyclocross!

[Rouleur]

Cyclocross!

[kiwifraser]

Doh, I was racking my brain for a more complex answer

[kiwifraser]

LRdriver II said:

both are nice frames, and should both be Gilco tubing ( crimped or 4leaf clover in cross section). I would think they are both pre 1996 as that was when the olympic games got the hump with Colnago and banned him using the term Olympic..but thats just a guess...
The fork to use would be the chrome one and combined with silver components this would work well with the chrome lugwork of the frames

Regal saddle and normal quil stem are also period correct features of the era.. these newfangled ahead stems are easier to use, but dammit they are klunky looing things on a steel frame.. quil stems are soooo much more elegant to look at

Edited by LRdriver II on Saturday 7th September 18:37

Thank you. I have a feeling there is a genuine colnago quill stem and seat post amongst the parts. I will definitely keep whatever period parts suit the bike, but may 'upgrade' things like the current downtube shifters while it's being used. That way, I can choose to put it back to original whenever I like.

I do like the chrome fork, and given your advice is to use the same, I'll keep that one on

[kiwifraser]

Looking for colour and component ideas, I found these pics on 2 other build threads.

Both I gather are a slightly different year Rabobank frame, as it is white at the seatpost rather than blue.

Edited by kiwifraser on Wednesday 11th September 11:24

[ndg]

Keep the downtube shifters, they suit the period and really aren't that hard to get used too!

[Rocksteadyeddie]

:YES:

You'll also be needing a nice Cinelli quill stem, and a suitable Campag period seat post.

[Grandfondo]

And if your planning the Bealach na Ba get a good set of legs to push that gear up there!

[Glassman]

[Glassman]