L’Eroica Gaiole 2023

At the end of September I made my annual pilgrimage to Chianti .

I choose the 1985 Colnago Kwantum Decosol , ex Adrie Van Der Poel Cyclocross bike. I rode it before back in 2016 at my first L’Eroica .

I built with a Campagnolo Rally rear derailleur , Stronglight 86 bcd crank arms , 42/30 chainrings and a 7 speed 14/32 freewheel cassette. Better for the climbs , I don’t like walking up loose surfaced inclines .

Once I arrived I assembled the bike, and entered it into the 2023 L’Eroica Concorso Eleganza…

The bike didn’t win any awards , probably because it had a few modern touches ,( cassette and cable tensioners), so not period correct , but it was a nice experience , and I was happy to see my friend Carsten win a prize…

I started the ride late , one of the last. Everyone had gone by 7.00 am , I rolled into Gaiole around 7.40.

Just as I was heading out on the route, another late rider appeared . My friend Franz from Austria , who attended the late Queen of England’s Royal Pageant Eroica event…

We had some catching up to do , once I hit the Sienna fuel stop there were more riders…

L’Eroica 2023
L’ Eroica 2023

The bike was an amazing climber with the set up I used . Down hill was not as fast as I would have liked , but with nobbly cx type tyres , better slower than crash on the tarmac .

Always good to catch up with friends too…

Looking forward to 2024 already !

Masi ‘Milano’ 3V ‘Wing’

I picked this up from a local bike shop last year.

As soon as I saw the sleeve lug I knew what it was , yet it had been forlorn in the back of the shop the past 3 years , no one knowing what it was…

It’s branded Milano for export outside Italy . Sr Alberto Masi told me #314 was one of the last he made, for a U.K. customer . You can see Masi on the drop out , M on the bottom bracket shell , and the famous Duomo Milano on the fork crown .

I later found a Masi USA saddle , and Campagnolo Record Titanium 8 speed gruppo to finish it .

Ernesto Colnago’s 91st birthday at La Collezione , Cambiago

I was fortunate to get invited to the Master’s 91st birthday at his museum, La Collezione in Cambiago by his grandson, Alessandro Brambilla…

Ernesto Colnago’s 91st birthday invite.

I was happy to see my friend Sr Alex Colnago, son of Paolino Colnago (Ernesto’s little brother)…

Alex Colnago

Here with Alessandro Brambilla , Ernesto’s grandson

Alex and Alessandro Brambilla Colnago

Also good to see my friend Sr Antonio Colombo..

Sr Antonio Colombo

Seen here with The Master …

Sr Colnago cutting the cake
Great to see Sr Gianni Motta again

Mr Stash and Nadir , the man who put the “Look Ma No Brakes” art exhibition in Toronto together , bring Mr Stash and Futura to design decor for Colnago Master Pista frames , and two roadbikes

Bikes at La Collezione from Futura and Mr Stash …

The collection at La Collezione…

Nadir ‘La Carerra’ and Mr Stash

Mr Stash art at La Collezione….

The Saronni Goodwood Super confirmed

1982 Colnago Super ‘Profil’ , Goodwood ‘82 World Champion Beppe Saronni bike.

(Photo author , at La Collezione private preview , 12/22)

A while back a bicycle enthusiast contacted me for Colnago information , stating he was writing an article , and wanted to link to my site (here). I refused, deciding it was plagiaristic and lazy.

Following one post which was written in 2020 and completely misleading, with false information, and seeing the writer choose to reference me , I sent confirmation of what Colnago stated the bike that won Goodwood is on their official Facebook page in 2021 .

The writer did not correct the misleading article once made aware, so it will now be addressed properly here.

“SARONNI’S 1982 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BIKE CONFIRMED “


Part of this confusion can be attributed to a sign that is attached to Saronni’s bike in the Colnago museum that says ‘SUPER – Acciaio’ which translates as ‘SUPER – Steel’. However, if you visit the Colnago website ‘Hall of Fame’ page, you will see Saronni’s 1982 World Championship bike with a caption saying he won this race on a Mexico. These two pieces of information are conflicting.

So I emailed Colnago with the question: Which bike was it, a Super (Profil) or Nuovo Mexico? I received a reply from Colnago’s Chief Press Officer advising that Saronni’s bike was a ‘New Mexico’, the website it correct, the placard in the museum was incorrect. So ‘case closed’ – you would expect.

However, I was recently contacted by a vintage bike enthusiast (refer comments section below) whom has written a long article discussing this same topic. The premise of his article contradicts the information presented on Colango’s website. The author states that he has confirmed with Mr. Alex Colnago and Mr. Saronni that the bike used to win these world championships was definitely a Super – that featured crimped tubes.

So, like you, I’m a bit puzzled as I would expect Colnago to be an authoritative source about their own cycling history?”

(Quote “Rouler” , author Cycling Obsession)

Well , the writer has no contact with the Colnago family , and never met Saronni to ask him .

Soon after , the official Colnago Goodwood info was posted …

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02JKpnS5Co5hWCKD7Jg3BJppRKZjpu8RX5aqZuooxqVPf4b8BUxV2LXTWsJkG8tpRcl&id=368678269130

The author posts a renovation thread , the only one on the whole site , re. a 1st gen circa ‘83/84 Nuovo Mexico , again with misleading info…

“The Nuovo Mexico is widely associated with Giuseppe (Beppe) Saronni and his successful Del Tongo team who raced on Colnago bikes. The Nuovo Mexico was no doubt instrumental in some of his victories which include the 1983 Giro d’Italia and Milan-San Rem”

As the above Colnago social media post states , Sarroni won the 83 Giro on a Super Profil.

Regarding “contradicts information”, one can find more misinformation on the authors site , eg, the C40 .

The first edition C40 had completely round tubes. As seen on one of the examples I owned….

https://www.flickr.com/gp/58441410@N04/D90M812jUo

Here in the writers article, he completely dismisses this as the first version C40 , simply because he hasn’t seen one ‘in the flesh’, or the correct catalogue …

“Colnago C40 Prototype (pre-1994)

When researching the C40 on the internet, there is mention of an earlier carbon lugged frame with round carbon tubes rather than the Master profile tubes usually found on the C40. However, I decided to only include C40 frames in this article that were listed in the Colnago catalogs and were therefore widely available to the general public.”

Quite arrogant to try and re write the history of one of the most iconic carbon racebikes .

Because of the authors lack of grasp of truth, one has to question his whole site . Titled as this…

“COLNAGO C40 – THE ULTIMATE GUIDE”

It clearly is not , it’s just an opinion of the C40 .

Here are the emails from 2019 where I am asked to give a third party access to my blog and intellectual property . The email states the intent to post on a third party site, which is compiled completely of others work.

Following the email request , the third party then posts about the Super Profil , with a very similar title to my own article .

The person clearly cannot ‘date’ vintage Colnago’s , as you see here they date the 84/85 Super Profil as an ‘82 . 84/85 has flat stay caps , where as the 82 is fluted .

Here is the 1982 Saronni Super Profil , that won Goodwood , photo mine taken on one of my Colnago factory visits and when I was invited to Sr Ernesto’s 91st birthday at La Collezione