Ernesto Colnago didn´t intend to run his family's farming business and chosed to work in the cycle trade, apprenticing first and together with Faliero Masi with Gloria Bicycles at 13, subsequently taking up road racing.
After a bad crash ended his racing career, he began subcontracting for Gloria, opened his own shop in 1954 and built his first frames the same year. Much in demand as a racing mechanic, he was second mechanic on the Nivea team Giro d'Italia under Faliero Masi in 1955, eventually being employed as head mechanic for the Molteni team in 1963 which the Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx joined in 1968.
His frames were generally regarded as one of the world's best custom road race frames. In 1960, Colnago saw fame as Luigi Arienti rode to a gold medal at the Rome Olympics on a Colnago bicycle. Further Gianni Motta raced on Colnago bikes.
When Michele Dancelli won the 1970 Milan-San Remo race for the Molteni team Colnago was inspired to change his logo to the now-famous 'Asso di Fiori' or Ace of Clubs.
Coperation with Eddy Merckx at the Molteni Team Colnagodescribed as follows: "Merckx was an up and coming champion, and I was an up and coming bike builder. So it was a real honour to work for a great champion like Merckx. It helped us to grow... when we made special forks, and special bikes."
This achivements included the super-light steel frame used by Merckx in 1972 to break the world one hour record and is the reason for showing this achievement in the seat tube decal starting at 1975.
In order to sum it up, the company first became known for high quality steel framed bicycles, and later as one of the more creative cycling manufacturers responsible for innovations in design and experimentation with new and diverse materials and techniques. Just have a detailled look at the Fork Crown with shallow triangles cut into their backs.
With a growing reputation from their racing wins, Colnago plunged into the market for production bikes. In the U.S. following the bike boom Colnago "pumped out bikes as though the future of humankind was at stake." The mainstay of the Colnago line in the 1970s was the Super, followed by the Mexico, named in honor of the successful hour attempt.
Other models were added including the Superissimo, Roger De Vlaeminck, Saronni, Arabesque, Esa Mexico and many others. While the finish on these early Colnagos could be variable, they were great riding bikes and prepared the cult we know today.
As mentioned in Lightweight Techno Talk: How to identify a Colnago earlier I identified my Colnago Super to be a 1978 model.
Seatpost: Campagnolo Super Record, Colnago pantographed
Stem: 3ttt, Colnago pantographed
Handlebar: 3ttt
Pedals: Campagnolo Super Record
Frame tubing: Columbus SL
Fork tubing: Columbus SL
After a bad crash ended his racing career, he began subcontracting for Gloria, opened his own shop in 1954 and built his first frames the same year. Much in demand as a racing mechanic, he was second mechanic on the Nivea team Giro d'Italia under Faliero Masi in 1955, eventually being employed as head mechanic for the Molteni team in 1963 which the Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx joined in 1968.
His frames were generally regarded as one of the world's best custom road race frames. In 1960, Colnago saw fame as Luigi Arienti rode to a gold medal at the Rome Olympics on a Colnago bicycle. Further Gianni Motta raced on Colnago bikes.
When Michele Dancelli won the 1970 Milan-San Remo race for the Molteni team Colnago was inspired to change his logo to the now-famous 'Asso di Fiori' or Ace of Clubs.
Coperation with Eddy Merckx at the Molteni Team Colnagodescribed as follows: "Merckx was an up and coming champion, and I was an up and coming bike builder. So it was a real honour to work for a great champion like Merckx. It helped us to grow... when we made special forks, and special bikes."
This achivements included the super-light steel frame used by Merckx in 1972 to break the world one hour record and is the reason for showing this achievement in the seat tube decal starting at 1975.
In order to sum it up, the company first became known for high quality steel framed bicycles, and later as one of the more creative cycling manufacturers responsible for innovations in design and experimentation with new and diverse materials and techniques. Just have a detailled look at the Fork Crown with shallow triangles cut into their backs.
With a growing reputation from their racing wins, Colnago plunged into the market for production bikes. In the U.S. following the bike boom Colnago "pumped out bikes as though the future of humankind was at stake." The mainstay of the Colnago line in the 1970s was the Super, followed by the Mexico, named in honor of the successful hour attempt.
Other models were added including the Superissimo, Roger De Vlaeminck, Saronni, Arabesque, Esa Mexico and many others. While the finish on these early Colnagos could be variable, they were great riding bikes and prepared the cult we know today.
As mentioned in Lightweight Techno Talk: How to identify a Colnago earlier I identified my Colnago Super to be a 1978 model.
Bottom Braket: Campagnolo Super Record
Headset: Campagnolo Super Record
Crankset: Campagnolo Super Record, Ernesto Colnago pantographed
Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Super Record
Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Super Record
Shift levers: Campagnolo Super Record
Brake Lever: Campagnolo Super Record
Brakes: Campagnolo Super Record
Wheelset: Campagnolo Super Record with Mavic tubular rims
Saddle: Brooks ProfessionalSeatpost: Campagnolo Super Record, Colnago pantographed
Stem: 3ttt, Colnago pantographed
Handlebar: 3ttt
Pedals: Campagnolo Super Record
Frame tubing: Columbus SL
Fork tubing: Columbus SL
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