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COLNAGO
The Legend of
COLNAGO
Road Bikes
Text & Photos: Daphne Chen
▲Now 79-year-old founder Ernesto Colnago with Colnago's limited edition
C59 masterpiece commemorating the 150th anniversary of Italian unification.
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BMU 2011 Autumn
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The leader of Italian road bikes, Colnago was created in 1954 by Ernesto Colnago.
Though Ernesto Colnago did not achieve fame as a cyclist, he is the driving
force behind a number of star cyclists and one of the most legendary figures
in the history of road bikes. As founder Ernesto Colnago said at 79 years old,
“This bike is my life - my whole life!”
broke the one-hour track time trial world record in
1972. Colnago proudly declares, “Colnago bicycles
have won 41 world championships, 17 Olympic
gold medals, and five one-hour track time trials!”
Status of Sales
Fifty-one employees work at Colnago’s headquarters in Cambiago. According to Colnago, they
manufacture and customize around 5,000 carbon fi▲Born for bicycles, Ernest Colnago loves cycling and competitions;
hands-on research and development have created this legend in the history
of road bicycles.
Golden Machine
Ernesto Colnago was born in 1932 in a rural
north Italian town called Cambiago. At 13 years old,
the future bicycle maker went to work as a welder’s
assistant at a big bicycle company named Gloria,
where he learned the techniques behind frame welding and assembly. Originally, Colnago aspired to
become a professional rider and won 13 events, but
he had little time to practice and his dreams were
eventually shattered by a serious fall during a race,
when an accident broke his leg.
After the accident, Colnago made use of his
bicycle assembly and repair skills to help other athletes achieve fame. In 1955, Italian rider Fiorenzo
Magni hired him as a mechanic for the Giro d’Italia,
and Colnago repeatedly served as a technician for
the national Italian team. Later, well-known rider
Eddy Merckx also took him on as a mechanic. With
the help of Colnago’s road bikes, Eddy Merckx
▲Colnago's golden bike of 1979 was dedicated to Pope John Paul Ⅱ.
The bicycle has been repurchased by Colnago and is now on display in its
private museum galleries.
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COLNAGO
▲Colnago was the industry's first producer of the carbon fiber frame, the
inventor of tube to tube constuction, and is currently Italy's main tube to
tube carbon fiber frame producer.
▲Colnago built the ultra-light steel bike in 1975, weighing only 4.5kg.
▲The bicycle which Eddy Merckx used to break the one-hour time trial
world record in 1972.
▲The ultra-light carbon fiber bikes, weighing only 4.937kg, could be lifted
using just two fingers.
ber frames a year. Tube-on-tube carbon fiber frame
production takes place in Italy, while one-piece
carbon fiber frames are handled by the Taiwanese
companies Giant and Kenstone. Colnago produces
around 1,500 top steel frames; 16,000-17,000 units
sold are high-end bicycles with steadily growing
sales revenue. Colnago’s main markets are Italy, the
United States, and Japan. This year, Colnago has
sponsored two teams in the Giro d’Italia: Team Europcar of France and the Colnago-CSF team, which
was just founded last year.
for cyclists, have created the legendary Colnago
of today. Colnago has said that he was the first to
use linear front fork design and started the trend in
1980. Colnago was also the first manufacturer to
make carbon fiber frames in 1987, though carbon
was unfortunately not an immediate hit. As the market was still in its youth, consumers were not yet
ready to put their faith in carbon fiber products.
In 1990, Colnago began mass production of
carbon fiber bikes, and shortly after won the classic race in 1992. Colnago’s bicycle expertise and
enthusiasm even drew the attention of Ferrari – the
two have built a close partnership over the past 24
years. Colnago has created a variety of popular bicycles over the years for Ferrari, and has also used
Ferrari high-tech technology in building its own
products.
Passion for Bikes
When asked about his philosophy on bicycle
making and management, Colnago responded,
“Passion for bicycles!” Sixty years of passion and
dedication to bikes, as well as a genuine concern
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Mr. Colnago never had a desire to learn someone else’s design or use someone else’s theory.
Instead, he thrives on studying and exploring new
ideas, always insisting on the best materials. He
firmly believes that it is his responsibility to provide
consumers with not only top quality, but also the
best product design. Mr. Colnago himself developed
the C59 bike, which celebrated the 150th anniversary of Italian unification. His keenness for research
and design has only strengthened over time, as has
his conviction that the idea for the next great bike
might occur at any moment.
Ernesto Colnago explained, “Colnago’s products are absolutely original, no copies! I like to
confirm the details, thinking about geometry and
learning new things. I always see myself as an explorer – keen to explore the unknown. It keeps me
constantly thinking and keen to work, so I don’t
have any time to age.”
Indeed, Colnago is respected as a talented
master of Italian cycling, so he must have some serious dedication. He has such clarity of thought that
he can sketch a bicycle design in less than 5 minutes – it is hard to believe he’s over 79 years old.
The Code Word for Bicycle
Looking forward, Colnago – a man born for
bicycles—hopes Colnago will become the code
word for bicycle. He hopes that when consumers
think of bicycles, Colnago will immediately come
to mind.
At 79 years old, Colnago is
still tireless, always willing
to work, and always thinking
about the next bike, His
passion for cycling is truly
admirable.
▲
Commitment to Originality
▲A peek inside the Colnago factory.
▲There are only 59 units of the world's limited edition carbon
fiber bicycles C59. They are equipped with the hidden electronic
transmission system of the Shimano Di2, which creates the
appearance of flowing lines via the control system on the handlebar.
(Photo ID NO.1 of the C59 collected at Colnago's museum.)
▲Colnago's headquarters in Cambiago.
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