Is this a Colnago Super?

[C40_guy]

I bought this bike many years ago, updated some parts on it and stashed it at my inlaws in Florida. For a while I exercised it every year when I visited...I haven't seen it in a while.

Would someone confirm that it's a Colnago Super? I *think* the fork and crankset are original. Brakes, rear derailleur have been changed, I think the bars/stem as well. I can't remember if I swapped wheels...

Thanks!

Colnago Super 2 2.jpg

[GonaSovereign]

Is COLNAGO stamped on the chainstay?

[C40_guy]

I bought this bike in 2003. The seller described it as a "Super 91". Victory Group installed, Cinelli bars/stem. Maybe I didn't swap the bars... (I have the original text and a bad photo from the ebay listing...). He also called it a "beautiful custom build..." but I'm not sure what that means...

I'm 1500 miles away from the bike right now, so I can't check details.

[Spaghetti Legs]

It’s hard to tell from the picture. A Super has crimps on the inside of the chainstays. Here is some info that may help.

http://www.velo-retro.com/colnagotline.html

Ahh we posted simultaneously, timeline might not help for a later model. If it is Columbus SL, I would lean toward a Super or Superissimo but I don’t have a lot of knowledge of those early 90’s models.

[C40_guy]

I assumed it was a mid/late '80s bike. Victory Group was introduced in '85.

And Colnago moved to straight fork blades around 1990. My '89 Spiral Conic SLX had curved fork blades; the '90 Spiral Conic SLX had straight. Of course, other models may have changed earlier or later...

[alexstar]

I had a '91 Super Piu and that's what yours appears to be - curved fork blades, sloping crown (clover engraved), and internal routing on the top tube for the rear brake cable. Mine was Columbus SL. Hope this helps.

[Bentley]

Looks to be a 55? Where in FL, happy to help out "excercising" your bike if you need some help? )

Ray

[Hindmost]

The frame color, are those shadows or is it a black / blue fade? If it is a fade I think that's pretty unusual.

[zmudshark]

Originally Posted by alexstar

I had a '91 Super Piu and that's what yours appears to be - curved fork blades, sloping crown (clover engraved), and internal routing on the top tube for the rear brake cable. Mine was Columbus SL. Hope this helps.

I don't know Colnago's, but from what I can make out from the tubing decal, it appears to be SL.

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by alexstar

I had a '91 Super Piu and that's what yours appears to be - curved fork blades, sloping crown (clover engraved), and internal routing on the top tube for the rear brake cable. Mine was Columbus SL. Hope this helps.

Thanks, that helps!

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by Bentley

Looks to be a 55? Where in FL, happy to help out "excercising" your bike if you need some help? )

Ray

Bike is in Boynton Beach. It measures 52cm c-t seat tube, 52cm c-c toptube.

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by Hindmost

The frame color, are those shadows or is it a black / blue fade? If it is a fade I think that's pretty unusual.

Yep, it's a fade...and I think it's original paint...

[Bentley]

Originally Posted by C40_guy

Bike is in Boynton Beach. It measures 52cm c-t seat tube, 52cm c-c toptube.

I'm happy to keep it well exercised for you, I live up the coast

Ray 😀😀

[11.4]

Supers were made starting in the early 70s (1972?) and continued into the 80s. The "Colnago" on the chain stay appeared later. Early ones had a simpler clubs than on here, had more braze-ons, and semi-flat fork crowns with clubs, usually chromed. Beautiful frames. What you have looks like a Piu, very late 80s. The airbrushing didn't start til about then. But yours has some simple features that make me think it might be one of the lower priced frames (akin to the Celo) that Colnago made around then. There are so many variants and so many exceptions to each rule that you really have to get someone who's steeped in Colnago lore. Hey, it's a nice frame and you like riding it. Enjoy it.

[CSTRider]

How has that paint held up in the Florida salt air? I don't recall paint was a strong suit on those steel Italian frames ...