COLNAGO MASTER: a frame born perfect
Colnago has been part of some of the most beautiful and exciting chapters in professional road cycling.
Between the late sixties and up to the mid seventies, Colnago bikes carried the most acclaimed champions to victories in Grand Tours as well as the Classics.
The Super and Mexico models were among the most coveted by enthusiasts of the time and are still sought after by collectors today.
Baronchelli, Bitossi, De Vlaeminck, Maertens all won on Colnago bikes during these years. Most famously, Eddy 'The Cannibal' Merckx won a world championship, two Tour de France, a Giro d'Italia and beat the hour record in 1972, Mexico City.
Despite the enviable palmares, it was no time to rest on his laurels and on the eve of the company's 30th anniversary, Ernesto Colnago was eager for more success.
The 1980s had begun and after years of stagnation in bike technology, new ideas and aerodynamic concepts for frames and components were explored. But these were merely experiments that in most cases went nowhere. Something more incisive and relevant was needed.
The turning point came from Columbus, the leading manufacturer of steel tubing for frames. Gilberto Colombo, patron of Gilco Design (a branch of Columbus) developed a special machine, an oleodynamic drawing machine called T15.
This machine created different thicknesses to very high-performance micro-alloyed steel 25CrMo4 (with a high chromium content) and 15CDV6 (with Chromium-Vanadium) tubes.
Based on this innovation, it can produce a star section tube: in practice, the classic round drawing is shaped with four ribs to make it more rigid.
It is called Profilo S4 and with this, Columbus designed the Master frame exclusively for Colnago.
The Master's production started with prototypes and the bicycles were tested by the professionals.
Colnago's protégé was the young Giuseppe Saronni, an undisputed champion who, at the age of just 21, won his first Giro d'Italia and in 1982, with his red Mexico, was first over the line at the World Championships. And so Saronni, with the rainbow jersey on his shoulders, rode the brand new Colnago Master to victory in the 1983 Giro d'Italia. The Master was an immediate success, both on a sporting and commercial level.
Colnago's protégé was the young Giuseppe Saronni, an undisputed champion who, at the age of just 21, won his first Giro d'Italia and in 1982, with his red Mexico, was first over the line at the World Championships.
And so Saronni, with the rainbow jersey on his shoulders, rode the brand new Colnago Master to victory in the 1983 Giro d'Italia. The Master was an immediate success, both on a sporting and commercial level.
So what makes the Master frame so special? The star profile increases stiffness without adding weight. In fact, the double-thickness tubes are thinner in the central part and this is shaped with four ribs that give rigidity to the whole frame. No flex, greater reactivity, superior stability: whether you are looking for performance in sprinting, climbing or descending, the Master does not disappoint.
Over the years, the Colnago Master proved to be a frame of undisputed quality, lightness and performance. It was also available in time trial and track versions (1984 and 1985), with a split diagonal tube in the Dual series and with offroad geometry on the first MTBs (1987). In 1994, the octagonal tube section was even used for the C-40 carbon fibre frame, confirming the greatness of the design.
| YEAR | FRAME |
|---|---|
| 1983 | Master |
| 1984 | Master Crono (star-shaped vertical tube, but curved to follow wheel profile) |
| 1985 | Master Pista |
| 1986 | Master Krono (wheels with differentiated diameter, front 26", rear 28") |
| 1987 | Master Dual (split downtube for greater rigidity) |
| 1987 | Master Mountain Bike (26" wheels, Shimano SIS rear derailleur, straight handlebars) |
| 1988 | Master Più (rear brake cable inside top tube, new type of linkage) |
| 1989 | Master Più (Colnago 35th Anniversary graphics, Precisa straight fork) |
| 1990 | Master Ibex (MTB) |
| 1991 | Master Olympic (Tange chrome-molybdenum-vanadium tubes with octagonal section) |
| 1994 | Master Olimpic Art Decor (dedicated graphics) |
| 1994 | Master Light |
| 1998 | Master X Light (Columbus SL steel DT15V tubes, bike weight <8 kg) |
| 2007 | Master X Light (with high carbon chainstays, Precisa 1" steel fork) |
| 2008 | Master X Light (the frame returns entirely in steel, available with either a Street-Carbon 1" fork or Precisa 1" steel fork) |
| 2009 | Master 55th Anniversary Colnago (dedicated graphics) |
| 2013 | Master 30th Anniversary model (dedicated graphics) |
Even with the advent of carbon fibre could not supplant the Master. It has never been left out of the Colnago range, continuously updated and improved. In fact, it is still produced today, with its dynamic and aesthetic qualities unchanged.
Even with the advent of carbon fibre could not supplant the Master. It has never been left out of the Colnago range, continuously updated and improved. In fact, it is still produced today, with its dynamic and aesthetic qualities unchanged.
The diameter of the tubes and the head tube (1") remain faithful to the original design, as does the rim brake only option
but the frame can now accommodate modern components and 11/12-speed cassettes.
Combined with the Precisa straight fork (another iconic Colnago design), the Master is for those who want to savour the performance and sensations that only steel frames can deliver, with the added awareness of riding a timeless Italian frame.
The Master frame is available to order in 17 sizes (from 49 to 65) and in 8 different colours, from the iconic Rosso Saronni to the more eclectic Decor and Mapei colorways.
Master Colnago available
We offer custom build options on groupsets, wheels and accessories to meets everyone's needs.
