Campagman
Dirt Disciple
Colnago Oval Master Titanium Rebuild
I bought this bike during at the end of the first lockdown via Gumtree posting as a complete bike, with a mix of Campagnolo components. Its approx 2000/1/2 era from 6/4 Titanium made I believe for Colnago in Russia. Some good items with the bike like the 10 speed Record levers, 9 speed rear mech! Chorus chainset. The paint finish is the original ‘Geo’ design from that period and apart for the cracked area it was in excellent condition, bar some corrosion on the fork crown (Aluminium steer/carbon forks).
After an initial strip down I sold the wheels and chainset (not likely to use a 53/39 chainset now....but did refit one see later) and set about finding a Titanium welder - which turned out to be only in Macclesfield! £100 for the weld repair and back in a few weeks or so.
Next then was to get the paint repaired, a much bigger challenge. It needed someone who could airbrush the blue fade and replicate the signature. This took some time to find, quite a few emails to possible specialist, quotes from £150 to £400 ! Eventually selected the carbon repair specialists Target Composites near Antrobus, who looked at it as a bit of a challenge - but eventually gave up as he couldn’t get the etch primer to cure - he put me on to Colour-Tech in Dartford. So, that needed a courier there and back. I sent it in April 21, with suggestions 4 weeks - I got it back in Nov 21 after many phone calls and emails, but it was well worth the wait. The finish was excellent, plus he did the forks and a few chips of the chainstays, all for £195. The welding and paint repair was all done during lockdowns.
On return the frame sat in the kitchen for the next 6 months with occasional parts being added, seatpost/saddle/bottom bracket/bottle cage/brakes/front rear mech and eventually some wheels - my old Mavic Ksyriums.
Then one week in June this year I decided to finish the build. The final part being the refurbished Record crank that had spent 4 years on a sweaty turbo bike and was looking very sad, dull and pitted. However, many hours with some files, buffing wheels and much elbow grease it is restored to its shiny original look.
I’ve now ridden the bike a few times, it rides well on flat and small hills, I can push the bigger gears on 53/39, but wouldn’t want to do a big climb on these ratios. Smooth on good roads, but is quite flexible under higher loads. Downhills are another story, very whippy, especially if a bit bumpy, maybe as I’ve got used to wider tyres at lower pressure, narrow rubber at 90 psi plus skinny forks and a flexible frame don’t inspire too much confidence, several wheels wobbles experienced already, maybe a shorter stem. But I’m not overly concerned, it's not going to ridden at speed downhill, its for sunny dry days with no Garmin fitted (in pocket) when it's just nice to go for a simple ride.
I bought this bike during at the end of the first lockdown via Gumtree posting as a complete bike, with a mix of Campagnolo components. Its approx 2000/1/2 era from 6/4 Titanium made I believe for Colnago in Russia. Some good items with the bike like the 10 speed Record levers, 9 speed rear mech! Chorus chainset. The paint finish is the original ‘Geo’ design from that period and apart for the cracked area it was in excellent condition, bar some corrosion on the fork crown (Aluminium steer/carbon forks).
After an initial strip down I sold the wheels and chainset (not likely to use a 53/39 chainset now....but did refit one see later) and set about finding a Titanium welder - which turned out to be only in Macclesfield! £100 for the weld repair and back in a few weeks or so.
Next then was to get the paint repaired, a much bigger challenge. It needed someone who could airbrush the blue fade and replicate the signature. This took some time to find, quite a few emails to possible specialist, quotes from £150 to £400 ! Eventually selected the carbon repair specialists Target Composites near Antrobus, who looked at it as a bit of a challenge - but eventually gave up as he couldn’t get the etch primer to cure - he put me on to Colour-Tech in Dartford. So, that needed a courier there and back. I sent it in April 21, with suggestions 4 weeks - I got it back in Nov 21 after many phone calls and emails, but it was well worth the wait. The finish was excellent, plus he did the forks and a few chips of the chainstays, all for £195. The welding and paint repair was all done during lockdowns.
On return the frame sat in the kitchen for the next 6 months with occasional parts being added, seatpost/saddle/bottom bracket/bottle cage/brakes/front rear mech and eventually some wheels - my old Mavic Ksyriums.
Then one week in June this year I decided to finish the build. The final part being the refurbished Record crank that had spent 4 years on a sweaty turbo bike and was looking very sad, dull and pitted. However, many hours with some files, buffing wheels and much elbow grease it is restored to its shiny original look.
I’ve now ridden the bike a few times, it rides well on flat and small hills, I can push the bigger gears on 53/39, but wouldn’t want to do a big climb on these ratios. Smooth on good roads, but is quite flexible under higher loads. Downhills are another story, very whippy, especially if a bit bumpy, maybe as I’ve got used to wider tyres at lower pressure, narrow rubber at 90 psi plus skinny forks and a flexible frame don’t inspire too much confidence, several wheels wobbles experienced already, maybe a shorter stem. But I’m not overly concerned, it's not going to ridden at speed downhill, its for sunny dry days with no Garmin fitted (in pocket) when it's just nice to go for a simple ride.
| Frame | Colnago Oval Master Titanium 6/4 | Approx 2000/2001 build |
| Forks | Colnago Star Carbon/Aluminium steers 1” | Original forks |
| Wheels | Mavic Ksyriums currently with clincher 25 mm Roubaix tyres and tubes | I bought these in 2004 for my Merlin Ti |
| Gears | 10 Speed Record, carbon | Again I bought these back in 2003 for my Merlin Ti |
| Brakeset | Record Titanium | Ebay some time back |
| Seat post | Carbon Colnago | Came with original bike |
| Chainset | 53/39 square taper bb | Not sure where this came from maybe eBay a good while back |
| Bottom bracket | Chorus 102 mm | Ebay some time back |
| Cassette | 13-26, I think it's a Miche cassette, its unbranded but very light | Came with original bike |
| Headset | FSA, cartridge | 1 “ low stack height |
| Stem | Deda Newton 1 1/8” steerer with sleeve to 25 mm bars | Came with original bike, along with a longer Colnago branded stem - too long for me |
| Bars | ITM Regal Pro 44s I think | Had these many years, on several builds, so period correct but levers set high |
| Saddle | Selle Italia Faite Titanium rails | Came with original bike |
| Pedals | Look Keo Carbon | Not period correct, but fit my shoes |
| Bottle cage | Campagnol Carbon | Maybe not period correct but fits the build, now fitted a second one |
| Chain | 10 speed KMC | Came with original bike, probably change out later |
| Cables | New Campagnolo cable set | |
| Bar tape | Simple black tape with some gel under the tops to make up for narrow diameter bars |
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