Olmo Columbus Air?

[AJ 1967]

Hey everyone, I'm building up a Columbus framed Olmo with a mix of Campy 9 speed bits. The frame I think is pretty special. I'm trying to identify work out what tubing it is made from to put the correct Columbus sticker on and the model if possible.

The frame is 1940 grams ish and the forks 640 grams. The current sticker that shows which Columbus tube set was used is a replacement used for repaints.

I have only found one other Olmo that's similar on the Internet. This is a link to it. https://www.registrostoricocicli.com/rsc/registro-altre-marche/olmo-005/ It's like my frame with round tubes and the shifter bosses on the side and labelled as having Columbus Air tubes and it features the same chainstays and brake bridge are the same as those fitted to the Columbus Air frames as seen in this link https://www.peterbrueggeman.com/cr/catalogues/olmo-ssn-bike4120-Jaseyjase.pdf I'm thinking it's either a custom Air setup or SL / Air hybrid. I'm certain my forks are Columbus Air forks as I have seen many other Olmos with Air that have the shifters on the top of the down tube with these forks.

There is no ribbing inside the tubes, so no SLX.

The bottom Bracket is a Cinelli BB. The link below is to the Cinelli steel SuperCorsa which is still in production today. It has the same hidden brake line bosses and the fork crown is very similar though not identical.

Do have any further information on this / views or information on Columbus Air thoughts? Do you know what model this was badged as?

Thanks!

https://usa.cinelli-milano.com/collections/supercorsa

 

[AJ 1967]

Looks like I have found some more answers, though nothing conclusive. Not using a full set of Columbus Air tubing for the build only the fork tubes and seat stays which have a flattened profile is a thing with more than just Olmo.

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads...roduced-original-paint-and-components.438967/https://www.velowizard.com/shop/bra...rame-columbus-air-fork-48-cm-red-2-301g-copy/
Somec Air SL & Air
https://veloseven.com/frames/1338-somec-air.html

 

[Jonny69]

Columbus Air has an ovalised seat tube and a specific seatpost that goes with it. I can’t tell fully from the pics, but yours looks like it’s round. The fork crown looks more like it might be Columbus Max and the deep rear stays also look very Max. If you measure the ODs of the tubes you should be able to confirm this by comparing to the quoted dimensions of the tube set.

 

[AJ 1967]

Olmo bikes have come back and said Cromor. IMHO I think Cromor iss too heavy to be correct. Looks like a mix to me. I'll do some measuring.

 

[AJ 1967]

Just checked the weight again after removing the BB. The frame is 1925 grams and the forks 637 grams. The fork weight is commensurate with other Columbus Air forks I've seen and the frame weight is similar to SL.

The main tubes are round and the seat stays are aero shaped. It also has the brake bridge only seen on Columbus Air tubed bikes.

I suspect it was a custom build for a rider. I am relatively convinced I have my answer. Opinions welcome ....... pretty please.

 

[Botty Kayer]

I agree with Johnny the fork and chainstays look more like Max than Air to me.

And that's not a bad thing,.might not be quite as light but rides real nice and they're sought after. Cool bike.

 

[AJ 1967]

Thanks for the view Botty. Found these:

SL with Aero stays.
https://www.peterbrueggeman.com/cr/catalogues/olmo-ssn-bike6424-Campyrecord007.pdfhttps://www.peterbrueggeman.com/cr/catalogues/olmo-ssn-bike8435_LukeGadd.pdf
Ciocc Air frame, showing Air stays.
https://steel-vintage.com/products/ciocc-frameset
I will be starting the repaint in a couple of weeks, I can't wait to get on it.

 

[AJ 1967]

Found another, though not exactly the same shifter mount is on the top of the down tube. Listed as an Olmo Leader (Columbus Air/SL/SP tubes). The frame is from1983 and one of the first made partial of Columbus Air tubes.

Suspect Olmo would build what you specified.

https://www.pedalroom.com/bike/olmo-leader-c-record-6364
Sorry if I sound obsessed........ but I am.

 

[Jonny69]

My error here: I thought Max had round tubes, when in fact they are ovalised.

 

[Jesper]

@AJ 1967 Here is what a full "Air" tubeset would be initially: teardrop shaped DT, ST, & S-Stays; oval shaped TT & C-Stays; round HT. Later it had teardrop shaped C-Stays. Also, the seat tube had 2 configurations: teardrop shape to the top requiring the same teardrop shaped seat post, and a version where the top of the seat tube was round and accepted a standard post. If you have any teardrop shaped tubes then it would seem that it might be "AIR" tubing used, but not the whole frame as you have already determined. Do not get confused with oval and teardrop; they are different pertaining specifically to "AIR" tubing. If a mixed tubeset (not uncommon, often to meet a price point, add another slight difference to differentiate between similar models, and/or for a specific model's designed use.

"Air" was not the lightest "Cyclex" alloy tubeset at the time; it was all about the shaped tubes for TT bikes. "CROMOR/MATRIX" was not a heavy tubeset by any means and was probably not much heavier than the "Air" tubes ("SL" 1925g, "TSX" 1945g, "SLX" 1966g, "CROMOR" 2190g, "SP" 2215g, "PRX" 2266g?, "SPX" 2325g; "Air" ?g). I think "Air" was introduced circa 1981 and phased out circa 1985. "CROMOR" fork blades could easily be made by Columbus to have a similar shape to "AIR" fork blades. I am not saying that this is the case with your frame/fork, but it is not beyond the realm of possibility. "CROMOR" is the same alloy as "AIR", it is only the manner in which it is formed and wall thickness that differentiates it from other "Cyclex" tubesets. That is why it is not much heavier than, and is also lighter than, other "Cyclex" tubesets.
Note: weights and years might not be exact. Weights are based on a specific size tubeset before cutting to length; smaller frames having butts/ends cut down will be lighter than a stock tubeset even given a completed frame with paint/chrome.

I am not familiar with the "MAX" tubing (circa '87-'88 ) other than I know is was shaped and was made of the new "Nivacrom" alloy, and lightweight (1900g).

The fork decal looks like the later "CROMOR" style design, so if it is original that helps confirm what Olmo stated. It would also date the frame well after "Air" tubing was presumably phased out (not accounting for possible date errors in the history of the tubing, or old stock in manufacturers' supplies). I would, given the fork decal and the wavy lines on the seat tube Columbus decal (need a better photo of it; not "AIR", "MAX", or "CROMOR" decal, but looks like a "riverniciato"/repainted decal which opens up a can of worms!), date the frame late '80s, and possibly early '90s. My much earlier Olmo has a serial number so I would assume that there would be one on it somewhere that would help nail down the date and possibly the model. I assume the "53" on the BB shell is seat tube size (c-c?).

Head lug design might also narrow it down. Possibly a Prugnat variant?
What is the seat post diameter?

"CROMOR" started as being named "MATRIX" (name was very short lived); legal action by Trek forced name change, and from then on the "CROMOR" name was used by Columbus.
Here are examples of "CROMOR/MATRIX" decals, both early ("MATRIX" circa '86-'87, "CROMOR circa '87-'89) and later ("CROMOR" circa '89 and later) versions. My Fusar Poli/Rossin is an early ""CROMOR" frameset with "Gilco S4 like" fluting done inhouse by Rossin. You never know how the frame manufacturers themselves might alter the tubing shape.

Photo of my original fork decal (early version).


Early version decals


Later version decals (aa seen on your fork; note wavy lines)


Riverniciato/repainted decal. When I see these I cringe. This one was on a frame I had and although it was a standard "SL" butted (rinforzati/reinforced) frame, it had the wrong decal on it after being repainted implying it had the internal spiral reinforcement ridges (rinforzi elicoidali/Helical Reinforcements) like "SLX", or "TSX" tubing. The other version has a blue border for the "Rinforzati" tubing. Also, these "repainted" decals give you no idea regarding frame age since they might be used on a frame manufactured well before Columbus changed their decals incorporating the wavy lines on them (circa later '80s).