Thanks for all the replies to the question I posted a few days ago, about the Colnago-or-not-Colnago. So far it seems that the 'it's definitely not a Colnago' outnumber the 'yes, that looks like a Colnago' by at least 2 to 1. After some thought (remember, i don't know anything about Colnago's), I've decided that it just doesn't look like a Colnago, much more like one of those locally built frames of which you have (rather: had) so many in the low countries. Very much no-nonsense, no-frills, but well-built (in this case with some nice touches) and 100% aimed at racing. Brandon added how different Belgians look at their bicycles cmpared to Americans; although I'm Dutch, and not Belgian (yes, it gets different south of the border), I can fully agree with that, and it goes for the Netherlands too. After talking to some (now old and retired) framebuilders, hearing the sories, and having seen or owned and ridden/raced many locally built frames, I think I have to write some kind of story about that aspect of the classic racing bike history (and post it here of course). Yesterday I had a 30 mile ride on my 25 year old Visser Vainqueur (who has ever heard of that!), built by 'Witte Ko', and the ride still is amazingly just right. Not glamorous or anything like that, but interesting. Look out for my story in the coming weeks!
Freek Faro
Rotterdam Netherlands