I once read that the Pope returned the Colnago to Ernesto because, while he was indeed a fan of cycling, he believed that he would have gotten more use out of a "city bike". Ernesto then built this city bike and presented it to the Pope, although I have never seen a photo of it. Anyone? Also, I heard that the golden Papal Colnago was one of 3 built at that time. Does anyone know the whereabouts of any of these bikes? Matthew Bowne Brooklyn, New York
>From: oroboyz@aol.com
>To: gtsoftley@ozemail.com.au, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: [CR]Colnago ORO bike for the Pope...
>Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2006 19:42:55 -0400
>
>Greg:
>
>FFIW, I "heard" that the practice is that someone (manufacturer, etc)
>"gives" the Pope a conspicuous fancy item... then, after all the publicity
>has had a chance to take effect and a respectable amount of time has
>passed, the item is given back to the giver, in return for a nice cash
>donation to the Church. So Colnago receiving that bike back for permanent
>bragging rights was possibly not a surprise to anyone...
>
>Anyone have additional insight on this? Steven Maasland?
>
>Dale Brown
>Greensboro, NC USA
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: gtsoftley@ozemail.com.au
>To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Sent: Wed, 16 Aug 2006 6:51 PM
>Subject: [CR]Colnago gold
>
> Hi crew, am contemplating a Colnago Mexico Oro project and wish to know
>if any of the CR mob have an idea of the timeframe that Colnago changed
>its Oro finish from a gold chromovelato to actual gold plating. Have
>been studying late 70s and early 80s Mex Oros for a while and have an
>'80 catalogue which has the Oro gold chromovelato but have seen later
>ones with what seems gold plating mainly on the stays. The plating looks
>as though it may only be 18k or less in quality. Would also appreciate a
>comment on the Pope's bike that he most graciously handed back - wanted
>a bike with fenders, lights, soft saddle and city bars for doing laps
>around the Vatican. I can just visualise him riding with a bell,
>streamers from the grips and a skirt guard so as his purple robes
>wouldnt get caught in the chain and a huge grin on his face. Did Cinelli
>make him a special hairnet that covered his mitre?
>Greg Softley
>Coffs Harbour
>Australia