Colnago Master x light

Squillinossett

I have just discovered this frame and seriously fallen in love!!

Would be interested to hear from anyone that has one as I am putting serious thought into selling a couple of my watches to fund a classic build of this, much like this:



I must say, as Iam happy with my carbon and Alu bikes, and never liked the look of steel bikes, but after seeing a photo of this, I have changed my mind!

Lillywhite

Brought one of those for my son in the late 80's when he raced as a juvenile. It's made of Columbus tubing. Nice frame but doesn't compare with modern carbon frames.

Oh, and the saddle should be parallel with the top tube!

Squillinossett

Already got a new carbon jobbie, this will be my bike to go out with the Mrs on for a nice long ride!

Lillywhite

Squillinossett wrote:

Already got a new carbon jobbie, this will be my bike to go out with the Mrs on for a nice long ride!

Save your money and stick with the carbon would be my advice unless you are in to retro and have a mullett.

Have you sorted out that tape on the Boardman yet?

Squillinossett

I did, it was perfect, then the shifter broken on the left side, so its back in Halfords getting fixed. No doubt they will ruin the tape again....

Smokin Joe

It's all too easy to be seduced by an attactive paint job, and I must admit that older frames were better finished than today's dull offerings.

However, nothing to stop you getting a cheap alu frame and having it respayed the same colours, forks and stays polished to substitute for the chrome.

markos1963

Guy in our club has got one, built up with modern Record(carbon) groupset and Mavic Kysrium Elite wheels and a carbon fork I think. Doesn't seem to hold him back in the fast group at all and looks a million dollars doing it as well.

Squillinossett

Its more the little details I like, the lugs etc!

I NEEED ONE!

markos1963

This is more like it. Buying decisions based on the heart rather than the head.

Squillinossett

Well im thinking Athena 11 on it, so classic looking handbuilts (Shouldnt be expensive)

Mrs Squill is going to kill me...will be 3 bikes in 12 months...

majormantra

It's a lovely looking frame, although I can't help thinking it might look even better if it had curved forks and a quill stem. But still...

OTOH if I had that kind of coin for a classic styled build I'd be tempted to look to high end Ti (De Rosa Titanio anyone?) or something like a Cinelli XCR just because it's soooo shiny and nice.

Matthew

2alexcoo

The Master is a beautiful bike, no doubt. I've not had much saddle time on one but I know people who've bought one as a 'Sunday best' type of bike and end up riding it nearly all the time.

I'm waiting (and waiting, and waiting...) on a De Rosa Neo Primato frame, and have been piecing together the components over the winter, so here's my two penneth on how to build up a modern Italian steel frame:

Groupset - Athena 11, definitely. If you can find some 2009 Centaur shifters you can swap the internals over so you have nice shiny alloy 11 speed shifters. I have some here in my grubby paws, and very nice they are too

Wheels - Ambrosio Excellights are a nice rim, Italian made as well. Either find some 2000-2006 Campag hubs in silver on Ebay, or go with Ambrosio Zenith hubs (cheap and well made). Current Campag Record hubs are available in black only

Finishing kit - Nitto do nice bars, stems and seatposts in polished silver finish. Most other stuff is only available in black.

Tyres - Veloflex Pave are a skinwall tyre for that retro look

Saddle - San Marco Regal, or the reissued Turbo saddles that come up often on Ebay.

Done right, you'll be looking at £2500 for the whole bike. Alternatively, scout around Ebay and the Retrobike forum and you might be lucky and find something secondhand. Also look at other Italian builders - Tommasini, De Rosa, Gios, Bianchi, the list is endless...

Anonymous

I'm contemplating selling my Cervelo and getting one...

Monty Dog

I just had my 1983 Gios repainted and rebuilt it with period parts. I have modern bikes in carbon and titanium, but there's something about the handling and ride of a well-sorted steel frame. The great thing is they are timeless - you don't need to worry about it being the lightest, having the latest parts or groupset - it's just a really nice bike.

balthazar

Get it. It might not be subtle, but it's beautiful in the unabashed way that only something proudly and magnificently italian can be. Think of the Riviera, Maserati Ghibli, Coppi and Bartali. It'll work as well as any other bike, while looking fabulous. Equip with Athena / silver rims / Veloflex skinwall tyres, and a grin on your face.

CarbonCopy

I know where there is a brand new colnago C50 frame and forks for 1700 quid. Size 158cm its to big for me or i would of snapped it up .If your interested pm me and i will sort something out.it will cost you though as these frames are as rare as rocking horse poo.

nicensleazy

Check this out

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=35

bigpikle

must be something in the water....

I have been lusting after a classic steel framed bike for a little while. Maybe not quite ike and maybe a custom UK built frame, but there is no doubt (to me) there is a little more mystique in a bike like that than a mass produced carbon framed techno bike. Of course, we all need one of those as well

perfect1964

I've been riding one of these, built up with campag centaur on some black ambrosia rims, for 3 or 4 years now and it is brilliant. It's steel, so nowhere near as light as your fancy carbon aluminum churned out of far eastern factories, but it looks and RIDES a dream.

Been off it a few times and as it's steel nothing breaks, apart from the lovely paint being chipped

My advice sell the watches and get one. They're not going to be around forever, and I'm seriously thinking of getting a spare frame to hoard.

nferrar

Similar to the OP really, not a big fan of retro bikes in general and happy with my modern plastic one but the Colnago keeps calling to me Fortunately it's not cheap enough (for me) to get as a Sunday bike (think its like £1500 for the frameset) and it's a bit on the heavy side to make it worth spending a lot on to become my main bike. It's on my lottery list though

Squillinossett

Well, im still trying to persuade Mrs Squill, that buying a 3rd bike just as we have bought our first house is a good idea....she is so far, not seeing my point....

I also had the "my good bike can live in our spare room" talk to her yesterday.

Went a bit like this...