The Colnago bike that was given to the Pope is indeed in Cambiago in the Colnago offices. I do however, rather doubt that most people would be given access to see it, as it is displayed in a glass case in the third floor meeting/conference room. As the story was told to me by Ernesto himself, the Pope's bike was kept unused in the Vatican's possession for the mandated period, after which it was passed to the Vatican's official "clearance store" (much like a high end salvation army shop!) It was then bought by a Roman who used it lightly before being told that it might be quite a "famous" bike. He then called up Colnago to find out if there was anything special about it. Ernesto said that he would trade whatever bike the fellow wanted for the gold bike. Not being a bike connaisseur, the Roman fellow asked for the best city bike Ernesto had. Not a bad deal!
For the architects, graphic artists, designers and other art lovers on the list, a visit to the Colnago offices would show you many "interesting" items. The conference room where the Pope's bike is displayed was designed using the shape of a wheel as its inspiration. It is basically a round room with a raised roof with a series of skylight windows that recreate the spokes in a wheel. Apart from it being extremely hot, it is quite impressive. The use of a bicycle theme carries through with the furniture too. The conference table, as well as Ernesto's desk are built using bicycle wheels as legs. The desk also has inlaid wood (called "intarsiato" in Italian) in the design of a wheel and spokes.The backs of the chairs are also shaped like a tire on spokes leading to a Colnago club in the center.
In Ernesto's office, as well as in public areas of the offices, there
are many other pieces of artwork, including a huge recreation of the
Mona Lisa holding her Colnago bike (this was used in a Colnago
advertising campaign years ago). This painting hangs in the stairwell
between the ground and second floor (or between the first and second
floor for our continental European friends). Other pieces of artwork
that has been used in other advertising campaigns (for example:
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/
The bikes on display in the showroom tend to only be the most recent items, with the historical bikes and other memorabilia all tucked away throughout the Colnago compound. In the warehouse, you can see over 50 jerseys of champions, including World Champions, Tour de France, Giro D'Italia, Vuelta a Espana, National Champions... all displayed at about 10 feet in height in a ring that goes half way around the building. In the access stairway to the production area in the basement below Ernesto's home, there is a glass case with numerous race-winning bikes like Merckx's hour bike, Saronni's Giro d'Italia and World Champion bikes... In the realm of Ernesto's brother, Paolo, the assembly area, there are always a number of intersting bikes including team bikes and those of ex-pros, as well as prototypes. The last time I was there, there were a number of prototype bikes made for Maserati (the idea fell through when Ferrari passed management of Maserati over to Alfa Romeo).
I have posted a few photos of the Cambiago premises, showing the Pope's
bike, some of the furnishings, artwork and bikes, here:
http://www.wooljersey.com/
Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ