Here’s an interesting one…
- Frame: Colnago Superissimo 1990ish
- Forks: Colnago Precisa
- Wheels: Campagnolo Eurus
- Chainset: Campagnolo Centaur
- Levers: Campagnolo Athena 8/9spd – original NOS
- Bars: Deda RHM02 – white
- Stem: Deda zero 1 – white
- Seatpost: Velo Orange
- Saddle: Selle Italia Trans Am Flite
- Front Mech: Campagnolo Cantaur
- Rear Mech: Campagnolo Athena NOS 8spd
- Tyres: Schwalbe Durano
- Brakes: Campagnolo Athena
- Pedals: Shimano
- Bottle Cages: Tioga – I also have a set of VO moderniste cages
Any other components worth a mention?: Deda Colnago cork bar tape, Campagnolo Athena headset
Tell me a bit about it:
I bought this lovely machine on ebay with the intention of a rebuild. I got carried away and the only original part is the frame. It came with a lovely Cinelli bar and quill stem combo, the only problem it that it had been in a crash at some point and the alloy bars were bent in on the left drop. I straightened them, but it never felt right when riding. I decided to replace the bars and stem with a quill adapter to go with a more modern look stem and bars. I’m glad i did, because it changed the way it rides to a much more comfortable experience. Her name is “Cecilia” and she rides and climbs beautifully.
I’m concidering a slight change in the paintjob. I would appreciate your thoughts on this too. You can see the options at Felis Bike Art.
Some of you might remember Steve from before when he asked for my thoughts on his hand-painted frames – this is one of his own examples.
Following on from Chris’ Condor earlier in the week, the classic style of the bike possibly needs the same, slightly adjusted approach… or at least it would if it wasn’t for that stem switch. You see, in switching that stem to something more modern you’re immediately bringing the ‘collar & cuffs’ back into play – switch the stem and the seatpost need an update too. That’s not to say there’s anything particularly ‘wrong’ per se about the stem switch, but personally I’d have at least chosen something silver.
Otherwise there’s an all-round reasonable build going on here. I think the silver rims match quite nicely, and the period-correct (ish) silver groupset works really nicely. I’d like to see a set of the deeper section old school Campag aero rims on this as I think they’d set it off really nicely, but equally something really low profile would work too. Again, I hate to say it but I’d like to see what a set of skinwall tyres does to the look of this bike – purely because I know it works well on this colouring.
I’m less keen on the saddle to be honest – it looks like a Flite replica with extra graphics? I think a nice clean Flite 1990 saddle would look better, or perhaps a San Marco Regal, Turbo or a nice big Rolls sofa! Those cages are nasty too – get the VO ones on there, or perhaps a set of nice, neat Blackburns.
I reckon it’s a 6/10 – nothing dazzling, but nothing awful either.
As for thoughts on the paint job Steve, I’m afraid to say I think you should revert to the original colouring as per the pic on the left below. Much as I like the ‘PR99′ style white scheme I’m a big fan of the original Colnago colour options and I think this bike would benefit from that!
Readers: Head over to Steve’s site and see which of his paint options you’d like to see. Comment back here – let’s see a straw poll!
Tags:bike crit-ique,Colnago,superissimo
2 thoughts on “Bike Crit-ique: Steve’s Superissimo”
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I like the white… The only thing would be if you could carry the seat stay chrome up past the brake bridge so that it better balances with the fork… Stem wise, my first choice would be the Cinelli you took off and a matching Cinelli bar, which would necessitate the use of a Campag polished seat post (and break Rich’s ‘collar and cuffs’ rule…). If you wanted to stay with modern stuff, Ritchey has a polished stem/bar/pillar set that might work… I’m not a fan of ‘thick’ rims on a ‘thin’ tubed bike, I think the bike would look better with some polished low profile tubs (but then I would say that…), Polished Records would be beyond cool, but likely cost you more than the bike…
It’s a fine line between aesthetics and ride quality. I must admit I do enjoy the odd bit of bike porn. There is true art in a well presented bike. As this was always going to be a bike I was going to ride, I had to make some comfort considerations. Firstly, As I am a poor starving artist, everything is on a very tight budget. The wheels I bought for $100. They are truely magnificent wheels to ride on and simply glow when the sun is out. The bars and stem are more comfortable than the old cinelli (which had been compromised in a crash – not me). On long rides I don’t get the shoulder pain I used to. There is more comfort and stability when climbing out of the saddle. The Selle Flite Saddle I have on 3 bikes and I find for me they suit me well – no pain during or after a 130km ride. This one, the Trans Am is from late 90′s & is in excellent condition, so it is from the same decade as the frame and gears.
I agree with the chrome on the seat stays, but unfortunately, when I was stripping the tired old paint back, that is as far as the chrome went originally. I just can’t afford to get it rechromed. I see all my bikes as a “work in progress”, so maybe someday? Also, I agree, the white is clean and simple. I have been contemplating a polished stem, but that would probably necessitate a set of polished bars too as the current ones are white and both work nicely when viewing the bike as a complete package or from the front.
Also, you’re right that thick rimmed wheels can look odd on a thin tube steel frame, but then, ride over aesthetics??? Tricky one.
I think I’ll change the bottle cages back to the VO moderniste and leave it as it is for the moment and just anjoy the ride. When I ride it, I am amazed how responsive and comfortable Colnago steel frames are to ride – especially with the Eurus Wheels.
BTW, I tried for months to get a Campy Aero seatpost on ebay but could never afford the price they are going for.