Colnago

Colnago

Colnago is a manufacturer of high-end road-racing bicycles founded by Ernesto Colnago in 1954 near Milano in Cambiago, Italy. Instead of following his family's farming business Ernesto Colnago chose to work in the cycle trade, apprenticing first with Gloria Bicycles at 13, subsequently taking up road racing. After a bad crash ended his racing career, he began subcontracting for Gloria, opened his own shop (1954) and built his first frames the same year. Much in demand as a racing mechanic, he was second mechanic on the Nivea team Giro d'Italia under Faliero Masi in 1955,[1] eventually being employed as head mechanic for the Molteni team of Belgian legend Eddy Merckx.[2]

The company became known for high quality steel framed bicycles, and later as one of the more creative cycling manufacturers responsible for innovations in design and experimentation with new and diverse materials including carbon fiber, now a mainstay of modern bicycle construction.

A Colnago model: Master Extra Light, steel racing bicycle

Contents

History

From the late 1960s through the 1970s, Colnago was generally regarded as one of the builders of the world's best custom road race frames. In 1960, Colnago saw fame as Luigi Arienti rode to a gold medal at the Rome Olympics on a Colnago bicycle. In 1963, Colnago joined the Molteni team as head mechanic, and riders such as Gianni Motta raced on Colnago bikes. A win on a Colnago in the 1970 Milan-San Remo race by Michele Dancelli for the Molteni team inspired Colnago to change his logo to the now-famous 'Asso di Fiori' or Ace of Clubs. [3]

After the demise of the Faema team, Eddy Merckx joined the Molteni team, and what ensued was mutual innovation--as Colnago describes it: "Merckx was an up and coming champion and I was an up and coming bike builder. So it was a real honour to work for a great champion like Merckx. It helped us to grow... when we made special forks, and special bikes." This included the super-light steel frame used by Merckx in 1972 to break the world one hour record.[4] This bicycle has been displayed all over the world, including in a display case inside a Brussels metro station named after the great rider. From his racing experience came Colnago's passion for light purpose-built racing frames, and some of the experiments, like drilled-out component introduced on custom bikes like Merckx's were then made available on production models.

With a growing reputation from their racing wins, Colnago plunged into the market for production bikes. In America, the early seventies were marked by the bike boom, and Colnago "pumped out bikes as though the future of humankind was at stake."[5] In the 1970s through the 1980s, the "Super" was Colnago's mainstay model, a high-end racing frame available as both a track and road model. To this was added the lighter framed Mexico model (named after the location of Merckx's hour record set in Mexico City), and later other models were added--like the Superissimo and Esa Mexico. While the finish on these bikes could be variable, they were great riding bikes and developed a cult-like following.

In response to criticism that his frames were not stiff enough, next Colnago experimented with ways to change the behavior of frame components. In 1983, he introduced the Oval CX with an oval-shaped top tube to add stiffness. He then experimented with various crimped-tube frames which became production models as their top of the range frames, beginning with the "Master." Later "Master-Light", Master Olympic and Master Piu extended the range. Over time the material of "Master" frames went through several iterations from Columbus tubing DT15V to "Ultimate Superlight" from Tange Japan. Colnago produced the steel (Columbus tubed) frame used in 1982, by Saronni to win the world professional road race championship, and a short-lived collection of bikes were badged with the Saronni name for a time.[6]

In 1986, the company introduced the "Precisa" brand bicycle fork. It was the first front fork with straight blades. The normal road racing ~4 degree fork rake was provided by the shape of the crown rather than curving the tubing of the blades. Colnago claimed that this straight-blade feature provided lengthwise elasticity similar to curved blade forks to dampen road roughness, but with much improved crosswise stiffness for sprinting. The design was also considered to be one of the lightest full steel forks.[7] Many modern forks, especially carbon forks, now use straight blades.

A second change was a new look to the Colnago frames with the Decor paint jobs which were composed of multiple airbrushed colors and patterns, including the trademark racer painted on the top of the top tube. While this set the Colnagos apart from many of the contemporary bikes, it also served to limit the ease of counterfeiting.

Since the 1980s, while Colnago has continued to produce high-end steel bikes, and has branched out into other materials, working with Ferrari to develop new carbon fiber technology, and has introduced titanium and aluminum frames. One of the unique frames from this period is the Bititan, a frame that has a dual titanium down tube. Crimped and oversize tubes appeared on the Tecnos (1996-2000)--one of the lightest production steel bikes produced, and these reappeared on the aluminum Dream frame. Colnago also experimented with multi-material frames, including the CT1 and CT-2 which were made with titanium main tubes, with carbon fiber forks and rear stays, and a similarly constructed although short-lived version of the Master with steel main tubes.

Before the collaboration with Ferrari, in 1981 Colnago prototyped the CX-1--a full monocoque carbon fiber bike with disc wheels that was shown at the Milan bike show.[8] The early attempts at carbon fiber frames were not commercially successful, but the lessons learned were embodied in their flagship frames, such as the C-40 (pat. 1994 and its successor, the C-50 – respectively named for Colnago's 40th and 50th years in bike building. These are carbon fiber frames that set standards of excellence. Interestingly, they used a modified form of traditional bike frame construction, substituting carbon fiber lugs for microinfusion cast steel, and carbon fiber "tubes" for the complex steel tubes used for steel frame construction.

Trademark

Colnago uses a black symbol similar to the ♣ ("Clubs") symbol used on playing cards.

Team and rider sponsorship

Colnago has sponsored at least one professional team every year since 1974, often sponsoring more than one. In addition, other teams in the peleton have competed on Colnago bikes. In the early 1970s, the Molteni team which included Eddy Merckx rode on Colnago bikes. Giuseppe Saronni rode Colnago bikes throughout his career, from 1977 with Scic, later with Gis Gelati and with Colnago-Del Tongo. Colnago was well-known as the sponsor of the Mapei Professional Cycling Team throughout the 1990s. For 2005, Colnago sponsored the professional cycling team Rabobank. Colnago has also been the bike sponsor for the American domestic team, Navigators whom the Australian sprinter Hilton Clarke rides for.

For 2006, Team Milram joined their list of professionally sponsored teams featuring well-known Alessandro Petacchi and Erik Zabel. In addition, Colnago serves as a co-title sponsor of the Landbouwkrediet-Colnago professional cycling team that competes on the UCI Europe Tour.

In addition to current sponsorship agreements, Colnago will be the official frame supplier to Team Tinkoff for 2007.

Colnago sponsored teams since 1968 [9]

All years are inclusive.

Current production overview

Until 2005, Colnago produced their entire frameset range at their Cambiago factory, although persistent rumors of subcontracting out of the more basic frames go all the way back to the 1970s. In March, 2005, they announced that they were joining the Taiwanese based A-Team, whose members include Giant, Merida and SRam--the first Italian manufacturer to do so, to produce mid-ranged bicycle models for the Japanese and European markets.[10]

Beginning in 2006, Colnago sourced mid-level aluminum frames from Giant Bicycles of Taiwan. One was the Primavera, the second was the Arte. Both received favorable reviews, although some thought the shift of manufacturing out of Italy was a matter of some regret.

There was some controversy in 2005 over whether Giant would be producing additional models, including carbon frame models, for Colnago. According to statements by Ernesto Colnago, founder and president of Colnago, this was not the case:

"For the 2006 model year, Colnago will be sourcing two entry-level aluminum road bike models from Giant, made to Colnago's spec and frame geometry and for sales in Europe and Asia only. All other Colnago bicycles are assembled in Italy. No Colnago carbon fiber frames are made at Giant and none will be, as Mr. Colnago has a long-term sourcing agreement in place with ATR for carbon fiber bicycle frames."[11]

Despite this denial, since 2007 Colnago's carbon monocoque CLX frame has been manufactured in Taiwan.[12]. In 2008, a second Colnago carbon fiber model, the CX-1 was sourced in Taiwan.

The top Colnago frames (C59, C50 (now discontinued), Power Extreme, Extreme C) continue to be manufactured in Italy, and in a series of public statements, Colnago has insisted that all the designs originate with the Italian design team. The mid-range carbon offerings are currently being sourced from Taiwan, a move which is shared across most bike manufacturers.

Materials--especially the carbon fiber used for construction has been sourced variously--both from [13] and ATR Group Materiali Compositi Avanzati and most recently from Toray.

2007 production

  • Extreme C, specialist climbing frame in carbon fibre
  • Extreme Power, as above but stronger for the demands of sprinting
  • President LdV (Leonardo da Vinci) (special edition) — carbon fiber
  • President (special edition) — carbon fiber
  • Brerart (special edition) — carbon fiber
  • C50 Crono (special edition) — carbon fiber
  • C50 Pista (special edition) — carbon fiber
  • C50 — carbon fiber
  • Cristallo, monocoque carbon fiber, has curved seat stays to assist with braking power
  • E-1 — carbon fiber
  • Dream — aluminum
  • CT2 — titanium/carbon
  • Mix — aluminum/carbon
  • Strada SC — aluminum/carbon
  • Active — aluminum
  • Rapid — aluminum
  • Master X Light — steel. Frame was produced from 2000–2004, then dropped for 2005, and returned in 2006.

Pre-2005 production

Bibliography

  • Rino Negri - Quando la bici è arte, ed. Landoni, Legnano, pag. 216, (The story of Ernesto Colnago)

External links

References

  1. ^ http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/features/?id=2004/colnago1
  2. ^ http://www.retrocyclingvintage.com/a-history-of-colnago-bicycles
  3. ^ http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/sponsors/italia/2004/colnago/?id=colnago3
  4. ^ http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/sponsors/italia/2004/colnago/?id=colnago5
  5. ^ http://www.sheldonbrown.com/vrbn-a-f.html#colnago
  6. ^ http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/sponsors/italia/2004/colnago/?id=colnago6
  7. ^ The bicycle tubing manufacturer Columbus tubing marketed the fork under its own brand name "Elite" but in fact it was the same fork as Colnago "Precisa".
  8. ^ http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/sponsors/italia/colnago02/?id=bikes
  9. ^ thewashingmachinepost
  10. ^ www.bikebiz.com/news/read/colnago-s-entry-level-bikes-to-be-produced-in-taiwan/02071
  11. ^ John Crenshaw, "Colnago Rebutts Sourcing Reports," Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, August 15, 2005. Excepted here: http://business.highbeam.com/103/article-1G1-135579315/colnago-rebutts-sourcing-reports
  12. ^ Italian appetizers from Colnago and Pinarello, 2007-08-08, http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/italian-appetizers-from-colnago-and-pinarello, retrieved 2010-08-03 
  13. ^ http://www.flag.be/html/organisation.html?organisation=1350 IPA

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