My 1981 COLNAGO "Super" possible early "PIU" variant

[74PARISSPORTJJG]

SEASON'S GREETINGS AND BELATED HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
I live in and ride from the Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada area and own three vintage road bicycles. I am a 70-year old retired Electronics Technician and prefer riding my bicycles in three of the four "Vancouver seasons", locally, solo and with a modest size group that meets 5-minutes from my home, all of us riding vintage road bicycles. My only machines are:
1. a 1972 MERCIAN 'Olympic" 10-speed built around a Reynold 531 frameset assembled in Derby, England with very nearly all British and French made components right down to the 630C x 32mm MICHELIN 'Select' 90-PSI, tan wall tires and MICHELIN inner tubes.
2. a 1974 PARIS-SPORT "Paris-Roubaix" 12-speed, built around a Reynold 531 frameset assembled in France with very nearly all French made components right down to the 700C x 23mm HUTCHINSON 'Fusion 5" black wall tires and MICHELIN inner tubes. I bought this frameset new in 1975 after it sat in a bike shop for over 1 year.
3. a 1981 COLNAGO "Super" (or possibly an early "Super Piu", yet to be confirmed) 12-speed, built around a COLUMBUS "SL" frameset bought by my late uncle and assembled in Italy with very nearly all Italian made (or branded) components. There has been a bit of controversy online concerning the next statement: My cousin (the son of my late uncle who purchased the frameset with the front fork in Italy in the early 1980's. He and my uncle had transferred nearly all the components from an old, destroyed IDEOR "Ace" frameset and began riding the Colnago by late 1982) as well as the COLNAGO Customer Care department in 2021 confirmed via email, based on several photos I sent to them that the frame set is a 1981 COLANGO "Super" BUT I wondered if this is a possible early "PIU" frameset because it has the following features:
1. COLNAGO brand embossed rear frame end drop outs and front fork ends.
2. The Rear Brake cable is confirmed, as on the frame as originally purchased, and is routed through the Top tube.
3. There are two originally installed pairs of 'Bidon' cages bosses, one pair on the Down tube and one pair on the lower Seat tube.
4. Chrome plated Head tube logs with the little 'tear drop' shaped cut-outs on both sides of both lugs.
5. "Spindle" shaped lower stays bridge.
6. Mostly original red paint and original Down tube, Seat tube and Head tube decals, of a little less common variety, in my experience: The COLNAGO "Ace Of Clubs" emblem for this decal set is situated in the center of the letter "C" of the COLNAGO name on the D/t and S/T. Not after or before COLNAGO. The "five colour band emblem" is located only before the letter "C" on both tubes: "Blue, yellow, black, green, red. These five rings represent the five parts of the world which are won over to Olympism and willing to accept healthy competition".
7. The derailleur cables are routed under the bottom bracket in individual slots of a "single bolt fastened", dark plastic (or Delrin?) cable guide plate.

Any comments are appreciated.

Cheers!

John G.

[attachment=3320]

[Jake1]

You need help from @Painkiller and @Jesper . They both know older bikes.

I cannot see your photo, but it sounds like a much later model. Of course, I cannot refute your knowledge of the bike's history.

The only thing that is odd in your statement is "assembled in Italy with very nearly all Italian made (or branded) components"; and then you state "He and my uncle had transferred nearly all the components from an old, destroyed IDEOR "Ace" frameset and began riding the Colnago by late 1982". Not much wear on components (or if new or used with low mileage) from a 1981 bike where they would need to be replaced one year later.

My questions are these: why would a completely assembled bike with new components need to have used components taken from a donor bike installed on it? Did your uncle buy the bike brand new? Has anyone who has responded to your question, other than Colnago, agreed with 1981 being its model year?

It seems that the history/timeline is a little in question; but I cannot refute Colnago's identification either; but be warned Colnago has had one of their own historic bikes misidentified online in their museum for decades (confirmed by the actual rider, and labelled correctly on the frame); so take what Colnago says with a grain of salt. The patrons of Colnago have kept a better line on their bikes than the company itself. If Colnago had all the answers then one would have expected them to have answered those ambiguities years ago and not have owners continually banging their heads to figure out a year and model. If Colnago does not know their own frames' evolution than how can we know it?

[Jake1]

I can update this after receiving info regarding research by another:
Colnago frame from early to mid nineties, either Columbus SL or mixed tube sets. Model unknown, but assumed to be mid range Super variant. Owner noted that Columbus tubing decal was replaced and is probably incorrect (decal at present: SL ♣ w/helical reinforcement) unless verified.

[enkei]

(01-27-2025, 08:19 PM)74PARISSPORTJJG Wrote:  SEASON'S GREETINGS AND BELATED HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
I live in and ride from the Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada area and own three vintage road bicycles. I am a 70-year old retired Electronics Technician and prefer riding my bicycles in three of the four "Vancouver seasons", locally, solo and with a modest size group that meets 5-minutes from my home, all of us riding vintage road bicycles. My only machines are:
1. a 1972 MERCIAN 'Olympic" 10-speed built around a Reynold 531 frameset assembled in Derby, England with very nearly all British and French made components right down to the 630C x 32mm MICHELIN 'Select' 90-PSI, tan wall tires and MICHELIN inner tubes.
2. a 1974 PARIS-SPORT "Paris-Roubaix" 12-speed, built around a Reynold 531 frameset assembled in France with very nearly all French made components right down to the 700C x 23mm HUTCHINSON 'Fusion 5" black wall tires and MICHELIN inner tubes. I bought this frameset new in 1975 after it sat in a bike shop for over 1 year.
3. a 1981 COLNAGO "Super" (or possibly an early "Super Piu", yet to be confirmed) 12-speed, built around a COLUMBUS "SL" frameset bought by my late uncle and assembled in Italy with very nearly all Italian made (or branded) components. There has been a bit of controversy online concerning the next statement: My cousin (the son of my late uncle who purchased the frameset with the front fork in Italy in the early 1980's. He and my uncle had transferred nearly all the components from an old, destroyed IDEOR "Ace" frameset and began riding the Colnago by late 1982) as well as the COLNAGO Customer Care department in 2021 confirmed via email, based on several photos I sent to them that the frame set is a 1981 COLANGO "Super" BUT I wondered if this is a possible early "PIU" frameset because it has the following features:
1. COLNAGO brand embossed rear frame end drop outs and front fork ends.
2. The Rear Brake cable is confirmed, as on the frame as originally purchased, and is routed through the Top tube.
3. There are two originally installed pairs of 'Bidon' cages bosses, one pair on the Down tube and one pair on the lower Seat tube.
4. Chrome plated Head tube logs with the little 'tear drop' shaped cut-outs on both sides of both lugs.
5. "Spindle" shaped lower stays bridge.
6. Mostly original red paint and original Down tube, Seat tube and Head tube decals, of a little less common variety, in my experience: The COLNAGO "Ace Of Clubs" emblem for this decal set is situated in the center of the letter "C" of the COLNAGO name on the D/t and S/T. Not after or before COLNAGO. The "five colour band emblem" is located only before the letter "C" on both tubes: "Blue, yellow, black, green, red. These five rings represent the five parts of the world which are won over to Olympism and willing to accept healthy competition".
7. The derailleur cables are routed under the bottom bracket in individual slots of a "single bolt fastened", dark plastic (or Delrin?) cable guide plate.

Any comments are appreciated.

Cheers!

John G.

Your image attachment hasn't worked. I don't know if you want to try fixing that.

[74PARISSPORTJJG]

GREETINGS EVERYONE!

My COLNAGO bicycle, although we originally thought it to be a "Super", was actually a special-order frame and front fork, 1987 built early version COLNAGO "Super Sprint" made from COLUMBUS "SL" and COLUMBUS "CROMOR" tubes! This timeline is now confirmed by my cousin as this bicycle was re-assembled from used components on hand in late 1987. Before I received the bicycle in the 2000's, my cousin had removed the very nearly disintegrated COLUMBUS-COLNAGO SL-CROMOR" Seat tube decal and replaced it with the first "SL" decal he could find, which was sadly the WRONG decal because it included the important word "ELICOIDALI" in a smaller font! This caused a lot of confusion for me and everyone trying to help with this identification process, for which I apologize. Many of you probably know this, but if not, according to the COLUMBUS web page: "COLUMBUS "CROMOR" is a 25 CrMo4 steel, seamed and cold drawn, butted to variable thicknesses using shaped mandrills. This set is for the more demanding riders who favour versatile, high-performance light frames, but can also be used for larger frames. Cr Mo Steel - Weight: 2190 g "
Mine is a somewhat unusual bicycle frame and fork set bought by my late uncle in Italy in the late 1980's and after he stopped riding altogether, ended up first in the hands of my cousin and then in my hands so, three owners. Rather than have a frame built of all "SL" tubes, my uncle was told at the time he ordered it some of the ride benefits of the "CROMOR" tubes AND that they could be used at a somewhat lower cost than a frame of ALL "SL" tubes, hence the reason he was able to add other non-standard features.

The "usable" bicycle components on my bike now, were nearly all transferred by my uncle from an old destroyed IDEOR frame and fork, but of course, my cousin had rebuilt the wheels and I have installed some new parts since acquiring the bicycle.

The special-order frame features (Marked with an *) and other standard features are:

*Chrome plated "new decorative" upper and lower Head tube lugs. These lugs have the little 'tear drop' cutouts on the sides of the lugs.

*The Rear brake cable is routed through the inside of the Top tube (TT), Front entry on the bottom of the TT and rear exit on the top of the TT. I only more recently discovered that one early example of this type feature appeared on the four red COLNAGO bicycles (the so called "Mexico Quartet") made for the Russian racing team at the 1980 MOSCOW Olympics. The 1983 COLNAGO catalog on the COLNAGO web site shows this option was available not too long after the 1980 MOCOW Olympics.

*There are two pairs of Bidon cage bosses, one pair on the Down tube and one pair on the lower Seat tube.

COLNAGO brand Rear frame drop outs and Front Fork ends were standard on these "SS" frames.

*NO COLNAGO embossed Seat Stays, and a "Full" Bottom Bracket (There is NO "Ace Of Clubs" cutout AND NO stamped letters on the non-drive side, top surface of the BB). There is a plastic Derailleur Cable guide fastened to the bottom of the BB with a single bolt (Just like the later "Super '91" COLNAGO frames) and some later "Master" models. The lack of frame embossed Seat stays & a brazed on BB Derailleur Cable guide was not standard on all of these frames, but if requested, it would lower the cost due to less brazing required.
I added Italian Flag colours (Green, White, Red) paint to the Top tube and Rear Seat Stays using an easily & safely removable, non-permanent paint to celebrate "ITALIAN DAY ON THE DRIVE" in Vancouver, B.C. Canada last year AND the correct COLUMBUS COLNAGO "SL-CROMOR" Seat tube decal!

Cheers!

John J. Giardino
Vancouver, B.C.

[Jesper]

@74PARISSPORTJJG

Sorry I missed the original post by you, as I was not following the site while touring.

I see no photos, and I too would have been confused by the initial description given.

I xan say that with the mix of custom and stock features in the frame build it would have been better off to get stock frame except if desiring a very specific size and frame geometry. Be advised that Columbus' descrition of their tube sets is for marketing and is not completely realistic as to why builders use specific types or mix them.

"SL" was a standard for lightweight seamless tubing from at least the early '60s. "Cromor" was a newly designed seamed tube set from the mid '80s (helped compete with new Reynolds and other competitors) creating a less expensive, but still lightweight tubing. Builders would often use a mid to high end tubing for the 3 main tubes while using anything from high tensile steel to better alloys for stays and fork to create frames at certain price points to satisfy a broader market. Another reason was to give a different degree of stiffness and/or strength to the rear triangle depending on a model's designed usage and/or frame size. If "Cromor", per Columbus' marketing, was "for the more demanding riders who favour versatile, high-performance light frames" then wht sid pro riders not get frames made? Great marketing meaning nothing as it should have stated a lower cost tubing using a lower cost production method creating tubes of reduced durability (seamed!).

So, aside from cost, not sure why your uncle decided on the tubing mix (probably just an since weight difference would not be perceptible and the added cost of internal cable routing and extra bidon mount would have cancelled out most of the savings. If he was a larger man and frame is around a 58-60cm seat tube it would make sense to get the "Cromor" complete set which is less expensive than the "SP" (slightly thicker walled seamless version of "SL") full set and negligably lighter than "SP" (depending on "SP" vintage). "Cromor" and "SL" both used the reinforced steerer tube (check for 5 helical ridges at bottom of steerer; if absent then "hi-ten" or other cheaper tube was used). If loading the bike for touring purposes "SP" and "Cromor" would be better over "SL" in the rear triangle regardless of rider's weight. I would suspect that the frame is tretubi "SL" with "Cromor" stays, and possibly the entire fork is "Cromor" as I would not expect a mixed tube fork. Cheaper bottom bracket shell is definitely a cost savings, but adds weight so cancels out "SL" tubing weight savings. Not much in the actual frame build makes any sense except for personal preference of extra bidon mount, chrome, and internal routing. Internal routing had been around for decades before Colnago did it, and it was an option possibly as early as the late '70s, but definitely by the early '80s, it was used on team, custom, and stock bikes in the early '80s. It became more standard on mid to late '80s frames so getting it in '87 was not really a custom feature except that it would not have been used on a "Cromor" level frame.

It sounds like he got a late version "International" frame built (early "International" had "SL" only frame). The "Sprint"/"Chorus" was essentially just a renaming of same frame but always had embellished stays. Obviously internal routing, extra bidon mount, and newer chromed head lugs (classic Prugnat lugs were being phased out in the late '80s) are not stock "Internation"/"Sprint"/"Chorus" frame features. I am not sure what BB shells "International"/"Sprint"/"Super Chorus" used (possibly the same, but unknown); and "Internationals" did not originally have embellished seat stay ends which matches your description. I would just refer to it as a "custom International" since it does not come close to any other model unless the stay ends are branded; then a "Sprint/Chorus" would be next closest. It would be impossible to know without having details of what tubing was used for each part of the frame. You can verify "SL" and "Cromor" seat tube if the seat post is 27 2mm (other than seat tube, fork blade and head tube, "SL" & "Cromor" have different thickness).

Regarding the decals; Colnago is not consistent with decals. I have a bike that the decals do not match others of the same period. I have seen the type you describe, but do not recall the year it was on.

Regardless of what you care to define it as it should be a decent ride just a little heavier than a true "Super". It deserves at least mid to upper tier parts regardless of whether they are Italian or not.

It would be nice to see a photo of the bike since the initial post photo did not display.

[Jesper]

@74PARISSPORTJJG

Would reaaly like to see images of your bike.

Here is an example of your decal (I believe it is what you describe) found on down and seat tubes. From a c. early-mid '80s frame.
   

[Jesper]

@74PARISSPORTJJG
Another example in my files of your decal, but found on an early-mid '70s frame. It is not the original decal.

That might indicate that those decals were only available as none stock and not necessarily for era match usage. The prior example appears to be on a repainted frame (possibly also custom built due to odd features) itself so the theory holds true for now. I assume Colnago did not supply period/model correct decals and the decals you have are given to separate an original livery from one refurbished at some point. Thus, your decals instantly show it as either a repainted/re-decaled frame or a non-stock build. Just a guess, but best I can come up with. Now high quailty reproduction decals are available so most owners attempt to match original stock livery.

   

[Jesper]

@74PARISSPORTJJG

I forgot to add my own bike which also was custom painted by Colnago's contracted painters. The frame also has those decals that you describe.