I am new to road bikes, so forgive my ignorance. I found a Colnago road bike at a garage sale today, and I would like to know what it is, what vintage, etc. I don't know where to start. It is black, yellow decals. Chrome fork. Mavic G 40 wheels. Campagnolo brakes, seatpost, crank, deraillers, etc. It has a Phil rear hub, Cinelli Perfection handlebars. How can I find out how old this thing is, and how do I know if I got a good deal?

I am new to road bikes, so forgive my ignorance. I found a Colnago road bike at a garage sale today, and I would like to know what it is, what vintage, etc. I don't know where to start. It is black, yellow decals. Chrome fork. Mavic G 40 wheels. Campagnolo brakes, seatpost, crank, deraillers, etc. It has a Phil rear hub, Cinelli Perfection handlebars. How can I find out how old this thing is, and how do I know if I got a good deal?

An easy way is to go on ebay, look up 'campagnolo rear'- see what rear derailleur matches what you have. Then google the model. This will give an approximate vintage. The g 40 rims were common during the eighties I think.

To figure out what model bike you've got in your sights, it's best to concentrate on the the various markings on the frame itself, and to ignore the componentry hanging off of it. Is there a model name on the top tube? Is there a sticker, perhaps on the seat tube, that might tell you the model and maker of the frame tubes? Other aspects should be investigated, too. Are the lugs chromed? Is the top tube (or any of the other tubes, for that matter) a simple cylinder, or is it crimped, shaped and fancy? Is the paint job simple, fancy, or ultra fancy? Is there, for example, a little man on the top of the top tube, busy cycling away (like what you see on my Avatar)? All these clues will help one of the Colnago xprts on the board figure out what it is.

In any case, if the bike isn't a phony, is in good rust-free, fairly ding-free shape, and is about your size, go for it. Though some may quibble, Colnago never made a bike that wasn't near or at the top of the heap in any particular class. When you get it running, you'll love it.

[QUOTE=Cru Jones] I found a Colnago road bike at a garage sale today, QUOTE]

garage sale? where do you live?

better get to bed. tomorrow's sunday and lots of garage sales with goodies just waiting for the picking :D

odds are if you got a colnago at a garage sale, you probably got a good deal. post a pic.

Thanks for all the help guys! I bought it for $65 from a guy who was about 70 years old. My heart started beating faster when I saw this bike sitting there. Amazingly, people around here don't bike, because it had not sold after a day or two (!) and nobody expressed interest in it. I think it was an awesome find. It has "patina". It looks good though. It's not mint, but looks to be gently ridden for about 10 years and stored for a while. I think he must have bought it used about 10 years ago. From what I can gather, it looks to be from the 1980's. The Campy RD has "Pat. 83" on it. The frame is black with black lugs. It rides sweet. Fast and smooth. I'm really getting attached to it. I was going to trade it for another bike, but I'm gonna hold off and get to know this one a little better!

I haven't taken pics yet, and I'm not sure where to host them....

sounds like the kind of find legends and dreams are made. a "good deal" is probably a big understatement. it's more like a fantastic deal! good score.

I haven't taken pics yet, and I'm not sure where to host them....

You can upload them in a message, no need to host them on another site. They have to be under 150K file size so edit them if they are high resolution.

The bottom of the editor has section labeled "Additonal options", with a subcategory labeled Attach Files, upload photos. Just follow the instructions and you're all set.

Yeah... it probably didn't sell very well since it wasn't a Trek ;)

I also dont like the sloppy job on the bar tape and the cables sticking up a mile. But who cares for $65.00. I'm gonna ride it and enjoy it.

How much do you think this thing is worth?

Ok...snapped some pix. This bike has a crappy saddle on it and I dont like the water cage, but the rest of it is pretty cool. I removed a rear cargo thingie (what do you call those?) and it came with a vintage Campy tire pump which isn't in the pics.

More pics...Someone did some touch up painting...who knows when. The rust doesnt look structural....Maybe a professional repaint would be nice.

Wow!! Fantastic find. This must be the find of the year. Congats on your purchase.

More pics...Someone did some touch up painting...who knows when. The rust doesnt look structural....Maybe a professional repaint would be nice.


The components are late 70's (Campy Nuovo Record derailleurs and brakes, Super Record crank). Those Phil Wood hubs are excellent .

The model is probably a Super. The rust isn't a big deal. It can be repainted if you really want to but it's not necessary.

You got the buy of a lifetime there.

I also dont like the sloppy job on the bar tape and the cables sticking up a mile. But who cares for $65.00. I'm gonna ride it and enjoy it.

How much do you think this thing is worth?

$65?!?!?!?!?!?! You lucky, lucky, stinkin' lucky humanoid!! It's worth hundreds of dollars, but not thousands. The wonderful nature of this bike will not be matched by the $$ you could sell it for. Keep it. Fix it. Ride it. Love it.

Or, if you're not that into it, sell it to someone in this group, who will give it the care and attention it deserves.

Good score, dude. You have no idea how rare Colnagos of that era are in North America. It's a true classic.

Thanks everyone. Looks like I got lucky! I would like to learn more about it. So, if anyone has any further info about these bikes and would like to share it, I would appreciate it!

Thanks everyone. Looks like I got lucky! I would like to learn more about it. So, if anyone has any further info about these bikes and would like to share it, I would appreciate it!
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Italy/Colnago/colnago.htm
Here is a good place to start.

agree with everyone else....nice find!!! my guess for the year is early 80's. the serial number will be on the right rear wheel dropout, but it's little use in finding out the year or model. the model is probably either a super, mexico, export, or international. i don't see the columbus sticker near the top of the seat tube. if the columbus tubing was SL, then the model was either the super or mexico. if not, then probably the export or international.

here's a link for bike catalogs that might help. http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/

agree with everyone else....nice find!!! my guess for the year is early 80's. the serial number will be on the right rear wheel dropout, but it's little use in finding out the year or model. the model is probably either a super, mexico, export, or international. i don't see the columbus sticker near the top of the seat tube. if the columbus tubing was SL, then the model was either the super or mexico. if not, then probably the export or international.

here's a link for bike catalogs that might help. http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/


Thanks for the info! I've been riding the bike and thoroughly enjoying it. The rear derailer says "Pat. 83". Doesn't that designate 1983? It might be early 80's--at least the RD might be from the early 80's.

that is the kind of find that cyclists DREAM of, dude...

you have just won the lottery...enjoy

Great find. I'll double what you paid for it :)

Holy Shiite!!!


I hate you.