A day getting fit by the best

Triathlon Forum
1

I’ve been a bike racer for 25 years (as of this summer). During those years, I’ve been fit a number of times. Further, I’ve gotten pretty good at knowing what works for me.

Nevertheless, I’ve always wanted a “custom” Colnago. Perhaps it’s the 70,000 KM ridden on my C40 (along with 9 Ironmans), but I just love Colnago bikes.

Needless to say, my year in Europe would not be complete without a trip to Cambiago, Italy. Fortunately, a friend of mine was able to schedule a tour of the Colnago facility along with a “fitting.”

Last Monday, with my current bike in hand, I showed up at Roadie-Mecca. I didn’t know who would be fitting me… I couldn’t believe it when it turned out that Paolo Colnago (Ernesto’s brother) was the guy. For those who don’t know, Paolo fit Merckx and has fit just about every Colnago pro for the past 40 years.

He watched me ride my current bike on a trainer, asked some questions, took some measurements, tested my flexibility… All, while muttering things in Italian (apparently, he said, “why am I fitting this guy who’s clearly comfortable on his current bike”).

Then it came… The moment where I’d finally be told how “unusual” my physique is and how I’d need somethings “special…”

Or not… Apparently, I traveled 9,000 miles to learn that I ride a stock size (size 52 sloping with a 55 cm top-tube to be specific). Well, it wasn’t the answer I expected, but arguing with Paolo would be about as crazy as arguing with Dan about Tri Bikes…

Of course, Colnago has 22 standard sizes so that could be the biggest reason that I’ll be riding a stock bike.

Anyway, it reinforced my belief that a good fitting/sizing prior to purchasing a bike is the most important decision you can make. At a minimum, it ensures you walk away confident that you’ve made the right decision.

Now, I just need to choose a color for my new EPS… Either Zabel (PRZA) retro-cool or the ultra-Euro (time for some techno-music) AMBL (blue fade)…

Anyway, this was just a nice brag (and a reminder that one should get a fit before buying a bike).

Cheers,
Puskas
P.S. Pics are at www.tridiver.blogspot.com

2

"I traveled 9,000 miles to learn that I ride a stock size "

I’ve always believed that for 98% of us, “custom” frames is more marketing than anything else. For people with very unusual body proportions the custom frame is the ticket, but most of us are fine on stock frames, especially when you’ve got 22 sizes to chose from.

If nothing else it’s good for you to know that you’ve done it right. I originally set myself up on my old P2K based on reading Dan’s articles. I was sure it was right but still not sure. Finally I broke down and paid for a FIST fit at Endurosport in Toronto, one of Slowman’s recommended shops. I was told to go to a 1 cm shorter stem and everything else was bang on. Like you, in one sense it was disappointing, but in the other reassuring.

3

Like you, I started racing in almost 25 years ago as a teenager having recently moved to Italy. (Not to race, but it quickly took over my life) Most bikes at that time where all “custom” as the local frame builders rarely kept enough stock for people to walk in and “buy off the rack”. I lived and raced in Bologna, and had my share of “custom fittings”. Some worked well, others were flat out disasters. My “custom” Moser fit performed by their Chief engineer, was the worst bike I have ever rode. Though in typical Italian flair as he explained each measurement was going to be hugh step up in performance from my custom Masi 3V. The 3v was a “custom fit” performed by Alberto Masi. Nice guy, but a better salesman. He put me on 53 X 53 after measuring just about every part of my body. Same size that his retailer in Bologna said I needed without even taking a single measurement.
After living in Italy for 15+ years, the one thing I learned is all these guys at Colnago, Masi, Moser…have a flair for showmanship that is unrivaled anywhere else. The “custom fitting” is a well choreographed ritual, that repeats itself in almost every sector of Italian life. It does not always produce the best results, but makes Italians some of the most lovable people anywhere.
I hope that you enjoy your new Colnago. The fitting process does create an extra bond beteen man and machine. My Colnago Master that I purchased in '85 was the fastest crit bike I’ve ever rode.

4

I vote for the Blue Fade. The Zabel blue would look great on a Master X-Light. Maybe you need 2 new bikes?

Maybe you should ask for a custom paint job, after all it’s a frame you’ll own forever.

I bought a C50 17 months ago and my only regret is that I waited so long to do so! Call me biased but once you’ve ridden Colnago you’ll never ride anything else :slight_smile: Unless it’s a TT bike of course as I still think they need some help in that area :wink:

Now we have two Colnago’s in the family :slight_smile:

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w231/rhaywood2000/Colnago_C50/Colnago_C50006.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w231/rhaywood2000/Colnago_C50/Colnago_C50002.jpg

5

Nice bike!

If I didn’t already own so many bikes (and a Colnago C40), I’d be drooling over adding a Master X-Light (a bike I wish I’d never sold a few years ago).

I’m leaning toward the Blue Fade as it is really pretty in-person (pictures don’t really do the pearlescent paint justice on that bike).

“Custom” paint was sorta possible (for another 500 Euros and 5 more months). In the end, I’d have ended up doing “custom” with a previous “stock” paint job so I’ll opt for a 2009 color scheme. In some respects these paint schemes all get better with age (I didn’t originally order my AD23 Rabobank paint scheme, but I love it now).

Cheers,
Puskas

6

That is an awesome story…

I have a colnago problem as well… (here is two of them)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3225/3156598891_365144d08f.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3054/2967078773_184114f6bd.jpg

7

that is very cool
thanks
.

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Whoa. That is a cool experience. You wouldn’t happen to have shot any photos would you? That would be cool to check out.

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I have a few shots of Colnago’s facility, but none while I was being sized. If someone can tell me how to post photos here, I’ll hang a few.

It was definitely cool to see Merckx’s Hour Record Bike. Camenzind’s WC bike… Well, lots of bikes in the Museum.

The row of WC, Yellow, Pink, and other championship jerseys run around the shipping room floor is pretty amazing.

Cheers,
Puskas

10

So cool,

I love my Colnago C50, the ride is just awesome. Here is a picture of the frame I found of the web (mine is identical with DuraAce components).

http://i39.tinypic.com/n56jgg.jpg

Derek

11

How did you post the picture?

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upload on tinypic.com and use the link for message boards
.

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Cool. Here are some pictures from the weekend…
http://tinypic.com/usermedia.php?uo=wBSKTePIwdSNke62bsOGOQ%3D%3D

http://tinypic.com/usermedia.php?uo=wBSKTePIwdSFNZoB7cabJA%3D%3D

http://tinypic.com/usermedia.php?uo=wBSKTePIwdSC%2F9IBlWVBBA%3D%3D

http://tinypic.com/usermedia.php?uo=wBSKTePIwdQeQgqEr0TE8g%3D%3D

http://tinypic.com/usermedia.php?uo=wBSKTePIwdSp67AL8DH37g%3D%3D

http://tinypic.com/usermedia.php?uo=wBSKTePIwdTY9Jr1Ld2f3w%3D%3D

14

Awesome

http://i40.tinypic.com/2dv8lxf.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/jb1riw.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/209rg5c.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/175xz4.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/106fpeb.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/30acfhc.jpg
.

15

Notice the 5 x Paris Roubaix winners on the wall… Heck, the C40 just owned the cobbles in the 1990s/2000…

Now, the big manufacturers are paying so much for a Team that Ernesto has simply decided it’s not a good ROI to sponsor a Pro Tour Team (rumor has it that it costs around $3 million for a bike manufacturer to sponsor a team… I’m sure Gerard could provide better data).

I’m leaning toward the AMBL paint scheme (over the Zabel paint scheme)… Tough decisions:-)