Re: [CR]Colnago Mexico

(Example: Production Builders:Teledyne)

From: "Thomas R. Adams, Jr." <kctommy@msn.com>
To: skipsinatra@hotmail.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Colnago Mexico
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 16:49:51 +0000


First, of course, it's your bike and you should do what you want with it. There is no "right" or "wrong" per se, although we all have opinions and preferences. Hang it on the wall, ride the tar outta her, sell her for tons of dough, or give her away, it's all good. The only "bad" resolution would be to destroy it or toss it in the trash and not let someone else enjoy it, but hey, it's a free country. Of course no one on the list would speak to you if you did either of those. :-)

Having said that, if it were mine in my size, and I really wanted a Colnago (which I do, but if I recall the auction correctly, this one isn't my size) I'd probably sell something else to make room for it, especially given the unique parts like the six arm cranks and rims, which are rather rare specimens. If all my pre-existing bikes are more desireable or useful than the Colnago, I'd offer it to the CR list as a whole bike for a fair price. (I have no problem with you making a profit on the deal, as you're doing a favor for your friend and a service to the List by preserving a rare piece, and your trouble and time is worth something.) Or if I wanted some of the parts off it, I'd offer the frame and any unique Colnago parts I'm not going to use to the list and use or sell the rest as I saw fit. If no one wanted it on those terms, off to eBay.

The only real concern I have philosophically is that I'd try to make it possible for the cranks and rims to stay with the frame, or else go to another person who would appreciate them and mount them on a Colnago. I'm not even sure if I'd ride the cranks myself, given the scarcity of six bolt chain rings. Maybe the ideal solution is to have a mere NR crank for riding, and re-install the sixer for shows or riding at the Cirque or Velo Rendezvous. But as Chuck S. has pointed out recently, who in this group rides any one collector bike enough to wear out the chainrings? If it's not pristine showroom quality, I'd ride her, especially if I could stock up on a few extra six bolt rings. The frame itself is next in my concern, and should also go to a 'good' home.

So my advice is to try to keep the whole bike together, while not shooting yourself in the pocket book and give the CR list 1st crack at it. Not all of us are eBay hounds, an someone pining for a Colnago might not have seen the auction. But if that doesn't work, do what you gotta do. Just don't tell us about it if you end up junking her or installing an STI drivetrain!

Tom Adams, Shrewsbury NJ


>From: "skip sinatra"


>To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: [CR]Colnago Mexico
>Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 16:17:08 +0000
>
>Guys & Gals:
>
>
>Looking for a recommendation. I have had a vintage Colnago Mexico
>fall ( or more accurately thrown) into my lap. A few weeks back,
>someone posted some supplemental pics to an ebay auction. I
>forwarded those pics to a friend of mine who bought it. It turns
>out he was in hot H2O already for too much bike crap. To prevent
>either divorce or a shallow grave scenario, I bought it from him (as
>it was my fault to begin with, you see)
>
>Now the question is what should I do with it? In looking through my
>stuff, I don't really have room for it. Its a genuine Mexico with
>full pantographs. The frame is in so-so shape---a few dings,
>scrtaches etc in no means show room---the full SR Campy group and
>the interesting 6arm crank are in great shape. It even has Colnago
>embossed rims. Do I keep the bike intact or part it out selling the
>groupo as a whole? Is such a bike common, somewhat rare, really
>rare? Shoule i make room to keep it or should I install a kickstand
>and safety levers and list it on ebay as 'vintage' 70's machine?
>
>Not to sound ludicrous, but does one have a responsibilty to
>preserve such cycling relics (or is this more commonplace). I tried
>finding Marc Boral to ask him but have had no response...
>
>Any advise, philosphical or otherwise would be appreciated........
>
>
>Skip Sinatra, a distant cousin
>Frog Level, Virginia
>
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