Yet all this, and more, is true of Ernesto Colnago's C40, which almost 10 years on from its first competitive appearance remains the most sought after machine in contemporary cycle culture.
One, however, is so right, so outstanding, so complete in concept and execution, that it seems impossible that it should have been almost a decade in production, or that in that time it should have accumulated a palmares ranging from stage races to the hardest of the one day Classics, or that it should be virtually unchanged from the original test mule. Some are excellent in most respects but lacking a little something when it comes to the overall picture. Most have been competent enough, at least in the short term. There have been many attempts at building a carbon fibre road bike frame. the washingmachinepost is extremely grateful to Richard Hallett for the foregoing.
#Colnago c40 b stay black yellow full#
The following article was originally printed in Cycle Sport, February 2003 and is reprinted here with full permission. May give away the maker to those people who can remember these details.Īny clues to who made this (not very lightweight) frame and rough date will be appreciated.Societa colnago | colnago c40 | colnago c40hp | colnago c50hp | colnago dream |Ĭolnago teams since 1968 | robert millar c40 review | colnago clx | colnago c50 2007 |Ĭolnago arte 2008 | colnago eps | colnago cx-1 | ernesto colnago interview 2008 |Ĭolnago clx centaur | colnago ace | colnago clx 2.0 | colnago super | colnago c59. The rear chainstays to the seat tube fixing Green trim faded in on the top and down tubes. The colours are deep red (a bit like the British Leyland Maxiĭamask red (the worst car I ever owned!), a pearlescent white/silver for the main parts of the frame tubes with There are no visible stamped numbers on the frame or lugs so probably went through manufacturing with a card label tied to it for eventual colour and specification. Two bottle carrier mounts, brazed on gear shifter mounts, front shifter mech brazed-on mount and hidden rear brake cable fairings were fitted. No mudguard lugs so it was probably originally sold as a "racing bike". There is no visible rust and the chromed bits are excellent. What was revealed was a fancy original paint job. The black rattle can paint had been applied over a white undercoat/primer, was up to 1mm thick in places and came off quite easily using a stanley knife blade. Strip off the stickers and black paint and give it a quick spray-over and mount it on the indoor trainer. It was obvious, looking at it, that is isn't a "good" frame and to stop it masquerading as a Colnago I decided to Apparently it was not allowed because it was a fake. That it could be ridden in an Eroica event. The story was that the frame had been purchased in good faith as a Colnago and then equipped with good items so There seemed nothing close to home until this "Replica Colnago" turned up on ebay. I only wanted an old frame to mate onto my indoor magnetic turbo-trainer to save shredding the rear tyre on the roadbike.