[CR]A word about Colnagos, Bob Jacksons, and side by side comparison

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Cinelli)

Date: Fri, 28 Jun 2002 21:12:19 -0700
From: "Brian Baylis" <rocklube@adnc.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]A word about Colnagos, Bob Jacksons, and side by side comparison

Brian Blum and whoever else,

Once I realized I had planted my foot in my mouth by naming Bob Jackson and Colnago I immediately thought of Brian Blum. I remember talking to him on one of our San Diego vintage rides a while back. I remember that he is very fond of Bob Jacksons. Before I step back in the turd, please allow me to apologize for offending Bob Jackson and Colnago in specific. I will explain the origins of those opinions next. Actually Bob Jackson Cycles are of various degrees of quality depending on the period and level of frame one has. Harry Quinn in the early 70's were actually part of what I was thinking about. Minimum insertion of dropouts to stays and forks at times left an impression on me a long time ago. It's probably no big deal. But this experience I had resulted in two of my personal favorite bikes; my Bob Jackson trike was built to my order in 1990 or '91 as was my Hetchins Magnum Opus vibrant track bike. I sent a set of Nervex professional lugs with the seat binder already filled (they leave them hollow I believe) for use on the trike. I ordered the optional rear rack. Nicely holds a cooler. For the Hetchins track bike I sent a set of Columbus PL tubes for the main triangle. The 22mm track fork blades and the rear stays are Reynolds 531. I specified fastback seat stays "just to be different". I also sent a set of Campagnolo track dropouts for use on the frame because they were going to use Shimano (thank you, no). I also paid the extra 25 pounds sterling to have the frame silver brazed. I sent a full scale drawing which I still have. It turned out beautiful and exactly to specification. The only thing that sort of irked me was that both bikes came fitted with Campagnolo SR headsets installed. Both of the bikes had the headset cup parts hand ground to size to fit the ID of the unmachined headtube. The machineing on the fork crown race looked like it was done in a meat grinder. That stuff is really minor but they buggered two perfectly good SR headsets. A sharp tool for milling the fork crown race wouldn't hurt either. I Shall retract my statement that they are crudely built. First, they are a lot of bike for the money, both of them. I don't know what methods were and are in use at Bob Jackson so I have nothing to base that on. Both of my bikes ride fine, although I have nothing else to compare the trike to. Jacksons also have distinctive and beautiful paint jobs oftentimes.

Notice we have to avoid how they ride as a tangent since we already got nowhere with that one and many things are desirable, and even poorly make bikes can ride very nicely and last lifetimes. I've got my 1971 Peugeot PX-10; I'm sure it will last forever.

Colnago is actually very dear to my heart on two accounts, no make that three. Number one is that right after I got my PX-10 I got a 1970 or '71 Colnago super. I bought it in 1972, new but having been on display for about a year. It had the "playing card" decal set, was 50cm, and was medium orange. It was the first bike I fell in love with. The only thing I ever almost fell off of on my Peugeot was a VERY large steep cliff. Reason number two is that Colnagos of those first two years were absolutely charming as a bug in your ear. They have serious MOJO in my book. Those are the coolest Colnagos without doubt. The next two years are still very very nice also. My interest begins to plummet to earth and burn up upon reentry right about '74 or '75. From about that point on Colnago lead the charge in marketing, production increases, probably some innovations, and all kinds of great bikes at the rate of 100 to 200 per day, regardless of wheather or not they have the charm of the early ones. Number three is that Colnagos ride more to my preferance than a similar size Masi. Actually the best racing geometry in my opinion is the Colnago steering combined with an 8cm drop. Gotta appreciate that much of the pantograph era was due to Colnago as well.

But there is no doubt Colnago also operates aggressivly and means business. He has in fact created styles and trends that made the production of bicycles more effecient and profitable while making nice bikes at the same time. There is genius in that for sure.

So I don't have a vendetta against any of these bikes. Bikes are good. If YOU like it then it's good. It would be very interesting to have a large cross section of frames to examine in the side by side taste test. Then we all can see what lots of different bikes look like. Having done it recently I can attest to the fact that it is fun to do. Has to be at least as good as the round of "Name That Lug" that several of us played with Richard Sachs in the lobby of the Battleground Inn.

I propose that we get at least one of everything and hopefully more for comparison at Velo Rendezvous. We must have bare frames and forks in order to see as much as possible. Think about what you have. I'll bet I could easily bring 10.

Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA I hope I left the rest of that mess on the grass.