PhillB
GT Fan
I do love my old British Bikes, but I also have a soft spot for Italian ones too. I've tended to avoid the 'big names' (mainly because they attract a massive brand premium to the price) But I am always interested in one that needs saving. So, as a result of a late night random search online this now one joins the project queue.
It's a rusty old Colnago Super. I think it is a 1976, might be 77.
It was a bit of a gamble, as I bought it unseen but it made me smile when it arrived.
I really don't know much about Colnago as it was not a brand I ever expected to own to be honest, but am learning rapidly.
In my experience, whilst rust is rust, there is a difference between a much used bike that is rusty through wear and use and one that is rusty through neglect - unfortunately this is the later. I understand it has not been used for at least a decade. Given that there were spiders under the saddle and in the fork steerer when it arrived - I suspect it was in a damp shed. The kind of rust this one has comes from the repeated condensation cycles and poor air circulation you get in an old damp shed. The bad news - it is every where, the good news, it is all surface....so fingers crossed, I should be able to get rid of it... although the bits on the fork crown - not so much... we'll see.
Still, the good news is that it will have another chance to shine again! Although it might take a little while.
As you can see tyres are shagged. Straight in the bin.
I am a sucker for pantogaphed bits, which as they are Alloy will clean up nicely with some elbow grease.
Somehow it ended up with Suntour components on it - it also has a GB handlebar and Weinmann brakes and levers - odd.
Hubs are Campagnolo Record though and should clean up ok with some work
The spokes are screwed though, there were chromed it seems but the rust has burst through the chrome plating! Rims are Mavic and might be salvageable.
Saddle is not ripped, so I'll try to bring it back to life too...
To be continued.....
It's a rusty old Colnago Super. I think it is a 1976, might be 77.
It was a bit of a gamble, as I bought it unseen but it made me smile when it arrived.
I really don't know much about Colnago as it was not a brand I ever expected to own to be honest, but am learning rapidly.
In my experience, whilst rust is rust, there is a difference between a much used bike that is rusty through wear and use and one that is rusty through neglect - unfortunately this is the later. I understand it has not been used for at least a decade. Given that there were spiders under the saddle and in the fork steerer when it arrived - I suspect it was in a damp shed. The kind of rust this one has comes from the repeated condensation cycles and poor air circulation you get in an old damp shed. The bad news - it is every where, the good news, it is all surface....so fingers crossed, I should be able to get rid of it... although the bits on the fork crown - not so much... we'll see.
Still, the good news is that it will have another chance to shine again! Although it might take a little while.
As you can see tyres are shagged. Straight in the bin.
I am a sucker for pantogaphed bits, which as they are Alloy will clean up nicely with some elbow grease.
Somehow it ended up with Suntour components on it - it also has a GB handlebar and Weinmann brakes and levers - odd.
Hubs are Campagnolo Record though and should clean up ok with some work
The spokes are screwed though, there were chromed it seems but the rust has burst through the chrome plating! Rims are Mavic and might be salvageable.
Saddle is not ripped, so I'll try to bring it back to life too...
To be continued.....
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