I'm pleased to read the CR list cut-off date advances each year. I pick
up one of my early 1990's 'Winning' magazines & see European racers climbing
steep mountain passes on steel bikes with chrome lugs, sporting C-Record
groups, some of them running non-aero brake cables & wearing toe clips...and
I wonder why the list cut-off isn't 1993, rather than 1983.
I got interested in Italian bikes back then, in the early 1990's, after
buying an old 1970's Colnago from a neighbor.. The assured handling of the
Colnago was instantly evident, but the 'good vibe' feeling after 100 miles
of riding was a surprise. The bike felt as if it enjoyed being ridden. My
earlier bike, a then-current model Trek 1500 with all the lightweight
gram-shaving bits... well, it didn't like being ridden, at least not far.
What was the difference? Of course.... the Colnago was designed by
someone who knew what he was looking for. The Trek was probably designed by
a committee.
I've bought another used Colnago now, at least 10 years newer, but made
of the same Columbus SL tubing,. It rides much like the earlier one did.
This one has the Superbe Pro 8 speed group, the last one had Super Record.
My new (to me) Colnago is probably a 1988.
You can see my question of course: How is this bike any less 'classic' than
the older one?
If the steel bikes of the early 1990's are built with the same methods
and (perhaps but not necessarily) in the same workshops as the same models
of the early 1980's, how are they any less classic?
I actually think the 'classic period' ended (if at all) only a few
years ago with the arrival of the modern sloped phat tube (Hakalugi...There,
I said it)) designs we see everywhere, which possibly emulate the road-going
sport utility mindset of their owners...
Not to worry; plenty of time left for the CR list to march forward, one
year at a time. I'm storing up questions to ask about early nineties stuff.
Hail to the List!
Jim Hultman
Santa Barbara (where a storm is finally blowing in after the driest January
on record, but our luck holds; it's a warm one from Mexico)