1984 Colnago Superissimo

[Canuckbiker]

Like many of us, my better half thinks that I already have too many bikes

So, a couple weeks ago I was surprised that while on a weekly river ride with the guys and stopped at the pub she shared a FB group post with a Colnago road bike listed very inexpensively by a member of the trailer park in Birch Bay where we also have our trailer.

I frantically messaged the seller and agreed to etransfer the funds, agreeing I could pick the bike up the next time I was at the park. Definitely a higher level of trust among park members.

I picked the bike up a week ago and have enjoyed tinkering with it for the last 10 days or so while staying down at my trailer.

As picked up:







The date code on the rear mech is 84’, my research points at the bike being a Superissimo model rather than the Super model due to the chrome head lugs, please correct me if I am wrong.

Okay, so the size…. I am 5’-7” and the frame is a 59cm, I knew from the start this frame is way too big for me. I did go for a spin the day the bike was collected with the seat height set fairly low and a swap to a lower slung Flite saddle temporarily. What an amazing ride! Definitely felt the extra length in the cockpit.



I already own two vintage steel Marinoni’s which are my size, one fitted with almost all 1st/2nd gen C-Record (1990 model) and one with almost all Super Record (1984 model).

The first order of business was to gift/swap out some parts from the Colnago to my Super Record Marinoni: the 84’ rear mech (much nicer shape than my non-dated last generation version), the Super Record brake calipers (I was previously using Triomphe calipers with a similar look) and the gorgeous Cinelli 1R stem (replacing a Nitto/Specialized unit I had be using).

My Super Record Marinoni was built in 84’ so it’s nice to get my hands on period correct parts to swap. I believe I will also go to the trouble of swapping my current Weinmann silver rims for the black Mavic MA40s. My current hubs are the nicer Record hubs that came with my Marinoni and the hubs currently laced to the MA40s are 1251 Nuovo Tipo, the rear has a very narrow 120mm spacing as well.

My Marinoni following the parts swaps:

 

[Canuckbiker]

A couple other points I noticed on this Colnago: C Record/Chorus era aero levers, I’m guessing swapped a few years after it was purchased, the non-fluted crank arms are a bit of a mystery, I believe they are the final generation of SR cranks from around 86’? Possibly they replaced a failed set? I was surprised to see the Regina CX chain still kicking, my chain checker tool indicates very little wear, I’m guessing this is a very low milage bike.

So what to do with it? Sell it as a complete bike with a few parts swaps or part it out and sell the frameset? I know I could get more parting it out but kinda leaning toward selling it complete locally to the right (tall) buyer.

The fork, chainstay and head lugs did have surface rust spots and some spots have left a permanent mark on the chrome but not bad for it’s age, I used the aluminum foil/salt water method for the first time and was impressed with the results.

Some pics taken following lot’s of elbow grease, Turbo saddle cleaned up nice with some black color added here and there, as mentioned, rust removed as much as possible followed by some T-Cut and wax. I really love the original paint and the decals are very well preserved.

I would have loved to add a Colnago to the stable but just having one pass through my hands for a few weeks has been a privilege.

 

[Canuckbiker]

 

[Canuckbiker]

It still needs new cables/housings and some of the bearings overhauled, some fine tuning if I decide to sell complete

 

[vtwinvince]

Keep us posted, that's my size.....

 

[Nob]

That’s looking like a nice find