In my 2-3 years of posting and reading - and viewing countless posts on Cervelo, Kestrel QR, etc. - it recently struck me that I do not recall ever seeing a post about Colnago. I have a QR tribike and recently bought a Colnago Ti road bike. I love that Colnago. Their website shows three different tribike/TT models: Carbonissimo, Oval Krono and Dream Triathlon, each with distinct geometry, ranging from slack to mid-range to steep. Anyone out in Slowtwitch land have one of these bikes or has test ridden it enough to comment? I’m starting to lay the ground work for a new tribike (the wife takes a bit of work, but should come around nicely, at a cost though)! Yes, before Tom launches ;), I will go with fit first!
Colnago’s are, well they’re Colnago’s, the bicycles we all lust for. Anyone who hasn’t dreamed of owning one probably doesn’t have a soul. They are beautifull. They handle. They’re fast. Historic. Did I say beautiful. About five years ago I had a friend who bought a Colnago Tri bike. He loved it, talked about it, but always raced his Lightspeed. Always said it just wasn’t the right day for It. You figure it out. That’s all I know about them
I had a C-40 Tri frame a few years ago. It was gorgeous but ho hum as far as performance. It was a 76 degree 650c wheel bike with round (master profile) carbon fiber tubes and lugs. It used the round steel straight bladed fork.
$3800 price, $3000 paint, $800 frame.
-SD
You mean people actually ride Colnagos? I thought they were Italian works of fine art that you hung on living room walls.
just from a visual aspect i think these bike’s have the most hideous paint jobs…except for the anniversary edition…i don’t get the lust after these bikes from a beauty standpoint…in fact most bike companies have the worst graphic design…but the colnago paint scheme…ugh…obnoxious…vulgar…just don’t get it
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Hi RA. Like you, I recently got my first Colnago road bike, a steel Master Olympic with AD10 colour scheme (I swapped an old TCR frame and a pair of wheels for it. It was too big for the guy who had bought it). I’ve ridden a lot of bikes over the last 25 years or so, but there’s just SOMETHING about this Colnago that’s special. It’s not particularly light (the tubeset was developed for Paris-Roubaix) and I just use it for training, but I just love riding it. Beautiful paint, 50 years of tradition, stable, fast, great handling and SOOO comfortable. It just feels like I’m riding a little bit of cycling history and tradition. I’ve also had the opportunity to ride a friend’s C40 for a few miles. What a beautiful bike THAT is. Maybe Colnago don’t make the best or fastest tri-specific bikes out there, but at my ability level a few minutes here or there on the bike leg won’t make much difference. If I was going to spend a significant sum on a new bike, I’d definitely be getting another Colnago. And remember this, in 5 years time you’ll just have a 5 year old Cervelo or Litespeed, but if you buy a Colnago you’ll still have a minor work of art. Are you going to buy with your head, or your heart?
http://www.trialtir-usa.com/2004-colnago/dream-tri/tri-dream-lx4.html
p.s. just found THIS on the Trialtir website. Now, what am I going to tell the wife?
I had an old (and I mean old- like Mercx era) Colnago that I got off of a guy a few years back. I regret selling that bike. That was truly magical, even though it was totally devoid of the now “typical” Colnago paint.
But, in test riding a friend’s newer C40, it was a nice bike with nice geometry. I cannot vouch for their tri stuff, but it isn’t a focus of theirs. But I think you’re paying for great paint and a great legend. I have come to the realisation that most Italian steeds are quite a bit overpriced. Fondriests are probably the best values when on sale. In my opinion, if you want something with great craftsmanship and great paint, go with a Mandaric (or it’s sister brand for tri, yaqui), get the polished stay on a non-carbon stayed model, go with the internal cabling (as it looks like it could be the best internal cabling I have seen; albeit only on a website pic), and either see what Ves could come up with for paint or send it to Cycl Arts for an extreme paint job. I guarantee that you’ll STILL spend less money and have an even nicer bike.
Let me tell you something: my bike team is sponsored by Colnago. With our discounted price, we are still paying $1200 for what should be about a $1500 frame retail. I am staying with my GT Course (nice, underrated 853 bike) until I can get the funds together for a custom Mandaric.
Blasphemy!! Thou shalt prostrate thyself in front of the altar of Merckx, and repeat 100 times “I shall never again speak the name of Colnago in vain”
Socialrookie has a point! I bought my Dream B-stay (the one I bought is not a tri bike) last year, but I had some doubts when I first took a look at the design. But I ordered it in red, and it is actually very very pretty, blue is also nice.
I’m with ya brother. I must confess that I bought the bike, in large part, based on lust . . . but unlike Tom’s hot bank teller story, mine fit well, was responsive, and the lust turned to love. I bought the Ovalmaster Ti in the Geo paint scheme, which is like a world map with Italy on the top tube. It is quite a sight (perhaps obnoxious to some, but a work of art to me). The bike truly does handle like a dream. It is a super stiff Ti frame, which is also great for me since I’m a bigger rider (+/- 185). It handles well enough for me to contemplate a Colnago tri-bike, but unfortunately, I cannot find one in a bike store, and am retiscent to order one on-line. Thus, I turn to you experts.
I’ll toss a positive vote in for the Dream Tri. I helped a friend sell her ill-fitted Softride and ti-QR bikes and then fit her onto a Dream Tri, sight unseen. As posted above, if it has the Colnago name, one can trust they have thought out the ride. A bike has to have soul. Look at photos until something speaks to you. A curve of the stay, the graphics, the image the company is projecting, something will click. Then look to see if that company’s fit philosophy works with your own physique. (eg: I think highly of Kestrel and Cervelo, but their top tubes are too long for me.) We paired her frame with a Reynolds aero fork and a DuraAce group. The bike portion of an Ironman race went from something she did, to something she loves. Improving the fit was obviously the first step, but she loves her bike. She rides the bike, rather than the bike riding her. The bike reminded me of slowman’s original kilo frame but with Colnago’s crimped ‘master’ tubing. Clean, classic, and she says it rides like a dream. (sorry for the pun)
I have seeeeeeeen the Colonago (revrend voice)
I have riddeeeen the Colonago…
Lest he who hath no Colonago be the doubter of the purity of the soul of the Colonago…
However…Aneeeeeeey soul who may destroy the soul of a Colonago with ShimaNO gear shal have the fleas of 1000 camels infest his groin.
One word: Rabobank Yes, Colnago is a temple. But give it up. On the pave of the Roubioux, the Rabobank guys get it done with Shimano. In the dirty world of cyclocross, the Belgians sweep the podium with Shimano, and this year even heir Ullrich will be riding gasp Shimano. (although which model shifter hoods he ends up with will be interesting to see) The stuff works. 1000 fleas?
On a funny note, a teammate shreaded his rear derailuer housing on somone’s pedal in a crit and had to race the next day. The only gear housing I had on hand was clearly marked DuraAce. His beautiful full campy record colnago geo has this little pimple on it’s butt to this day, now a season later. Even I had a hard time putting that housing on.
Even Colnago gives a nod to the fine precision Japanese equipment on the celebratory 50 year bike:
"The Anniversary has been created in two versions; one version has the new Shimano Dura Ace 10 speed group personalized exclusively for Colnago, with the Colnago 50th anniversary logo on each component. The other version of the Anniversary has Campagnolo’s 10-speed group with Colnago’s carbon fibre crankset, also personalized with the Colnago 50th anniversary logo. "
Now why do I feel the need to be scratching?
Colnago and Campagnolo. Can there ever be another combination to rival the beauty, style and drool factor? From the moment I purchased and rode mine, I knew there never would, and never could, be any other.
Shimano… Don’t they make fishing reels?
just from a visual aspect i think these bike’s have the most hideous paint jobs…except for the anniversary edition…i don’t get the lust after these bikes from a beauty standpoint…in fact most bike companies have the worst graphic design…but the colnago paint scheme…ugh…obnoxious…vulgar…just don’t get it
I’m with you there. Can’t stand the paint jobs. There’s just too much going on.
My deepest apologies for typing quickly and not thinking about it. I will learn to spell. As for boycotting France, are you crazy? I have no idea what those folks are thinking. I would not eat and drink as well as I do without the culinary contributions of France. And my traning rides through Napa would not be dotted with winery after winery tempting me to stop and enjoy their offering.
Honestly I’m still puzzled why Colnago didn’t put Campy on their 50th anniversary bike.
How DARE you?! 
I’d never ride a bike named after someone with such a ridiculous overcomb.
regards,
Frank