[CR]re: colnago on ebay..

(Example: Framebuilders)

From: "Charles Andrews" <chasds@mindspring.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2008 10:35:56 -0800
Subject: [CR]re: colnago on ebay..

in re: http://ebay.com/<blah W0QQitemZ300198640392QQihZ020QQcategoryZ98084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem

to my way of thinking this auction is a successful example of making more out of something than it is. This is a very late Super. I would have expected to see some crimped stays and *colnago* stamped in the chain-stays.. Most likely this frame post-dates those features. The lack of a fluted stay cap and the style of the fork crown both suggest this is a Super made after the Master was in full production, and all the fancy stuff went on the Masters.

That stay-end treatment at the dropouts has always looked crude to me. Most of the italian production builders were doing this by the mid-1980s in an effort to save some time and work. It shows. The seat-stay caps are distinctly unappealing, too. And to complete my confession as a retrogrouch, I really prefer the flat crown to the fully-sloping crown seen on this bike.

Given the vintage and finish details, and the fact that this bike has no pantographed parts at all, it's already $500 over a reasonable market value. To someone like me, anyway. Someone else clearly feels differently.

I've been wondering when the early/mid 80s steel bikes would start to show some life. Given that guys who were in their mid-teens then are nearing or clearing 40 now, I'd expect these end-of-the-era steel bikes to start to show some heightened value. Just as us boomers love 60s and 70s bikes...the older gen-X riders will start to collect the bikes *they* imprinted on.

The seller of this Colnago did the best he could for his bike, and he's reaping the result.

Charles "I sure hope 60s and 70s bikes don't start to lose value..<g>" Andrews Los Angeles

(those of you who didn't come on the San Diego ride yesterday missed a great ride! A perfect, beautiful day between storms, good group, nice route...Thanks Brian!)