Crimped and oversize tubes appeared on the Tecnos (1996-2000)-one of the lightest production steel bikes produced, and these reappeared on the aluminum Dream frame. One of the unique frames from this period is the Bititan, a frame that has a dual titanium down tube. Since the 1980s, while Colnago has continued to produce high-end steel bikes, and has branched out into other materials, working with Ferrari to develop new carbon fiber technology, and has introduced titanium and aluminum frames. While this set the Colnagos apart from many of the contemporary bikes, it also served to limit the ease of counterfeiting. Many modern forks, especially carbon forks, now use straight blades.Ī second change was a new look to the Colnago frames with the Decor paint jobs which were composed of multiple airbrushed colors and patterns, including the trademark racer painted on the top of the top tube.
#1997 COLNAGO C40 CARBON ART DECOR FULL#
The design was also considered to be one of the lightest full steel forks. Colnago claimed that this straight-blade feature provided lengthwise elasticity similar to curved blade forks to dampen road roughness, but with much improved crosswise stiffness for sprinting. The normal road racing ~4 degree fork rake was provided by the shape of the crown rather than curving the tubing of the blades. It was the first front fork with straight blades. In 1986, the company introduced the "Precisa" brand bicycle fork.
#1997 COLNAGO C40 CARBON ART DECOR PROFESSIONAL#
Colnago produced the steel (Columbus tubed) frame used in 1982, by Saronni to win the world professional road race championship, and a short-lived collection of bikes were badged with the Saronni name for a time. Over time the material of "Master" frames went through several iterations from Columbus tubing DT15V to "Ultimate Superlight" from Tange Japan. He then experimented with various crimped-tube frames which became production models as their top of the range frames, beginning with the "Master." Later "Master-Light", Master Olympic and Master Piu extended the range. In 1983, he introduced the Oval CX with an oval-shaped top tube to add stiffness. In response to criticism that his frames were not stiff enough, next Colnago experimented with ways to change the behavior of frame components. While the finish on these bikes could be variable, they were great riding bikes and developed a cult-like following. To this was added the lighter framed Mexico model (named after the location of Merckx's hour record set in Mexico City), and later other models were added-like the Superissimo and Esa Mexico. In America, the early seventies were marked by the bike boom, and Colnago "pumped out bikes as though the future of humankind was at stake." In the 1970s through the 1980s, the "Super" was Colnago's mainstay model, a high-end racing frame available as both a track and road model. With a growing reputation from their racing wins, Colnago plunged into the market for production bikes. From his racing experience came Colnago's passion for light purpose-built racing frames, and some of the experiments, like drilled-out component introduced on custom bikes like Merckx's were then made available on production models. This bicycle has been displayed all over the world, including in a display case inside a Brussels metro station named after the great rider. when we made special forks, and special bikes." This included the super-light steel frame used by Merckx in 1972 to break the world one hour record. So it was a real honour to work for a great champion like Merckx. Īfter the demise of the Faema team, Eddy Merckx joined the Molteni team, and what ensued was mutual innovation-as Colnago describes it: "Merckx was an up and coming champion and I was an up and coming bike builder. A win on a Colnago in the 1970 Milan-San Remo race by Michele Dancelli for the Molteni team inspired Colnago to change his logo to the now-famous 'Asso di Fiori' or Ace of Clubs. In 1963, Colnago joined the Molteni team as head mechanic, and riders such as Gianni Motta raced on Colnago bikes. In 1960, Colnago saw fame as Luigi Arienti rode to a gold medal at the Rome Olympics on a Colnago bicycle. 4 Colnago sponsored teams since 1968 įrom the late 1960s through the 1970s, Colnago was generally regarded as one of the builders of the world's best custom road race frames.