Colnago Master Road Frame

Colnago Master steel bike - a work of art racing bicycle

If you had the good fortune to fall in love with cycling just before it was engulfed in Lance-related hysteria, you very likely would recognize the Colnago Master as one of the first bikes you ever really admired, if not to say coveted.

For the frame material, Colnago has gone back to the source. Using the same chromium plated DT15V steel as before, even though Columbus no longer makes the tubing, you’ll get that classic stylized star shape to the tube that not only gives it that distinct appearance but also makes the frame more resistant to torsional forces. But since this is steel, it also has an inherent vertical compliance that makes the Master an ideal companion for an Eroica Gran Fondo. Similarly, the steel Precisa fork with its straight blades absorbs road chatter and keeps the handling crisp and predictable. Holding it all together are the specially designed lugs that receive all the striking attention to detail that mark out the Master as being a real work of art.

We can fawn over how gorgeous this bike is all we want, but what you’ll really want to know is whether it also handles like a dream. And indeed it does. The steel frame absorbs vibrations while still allowing you to churn out the miles with relative ease. If you are used to stiff carbon frames on even stiffer carbon deep dish wheels, you’ll have something of a religious experience taking the Master around your local rides, especially if you have a few good descents along the way and maybe some rougher tarmac. That’s when you’ll really feel the genius of the design. A lot of the credit goes to the front end of the frame with the one inch threadless sealed cartridge Colnago headset providing a rock solid grip on the Precisa steerer tube and fork. The Italian threaded 70mm bottom bracket will provide the platform from which you can power the pedals, and can be paired with any standard 24mm external type crank. The cable routing is external, as befits the era, but before you get all uptight about impractical old fashioned setups, it is compatible with electric or mechanical groupsets. You’ll want to make sure whatever front derailleur you pair with it is a braze-on bottom pull sort. And though the seatpost isn’t included, you can match it up with some pretty amazing 27.2 retro-looking posts.

Possibilities of customization in the Colnago Master bike frame

Tons of size options and three different choices for paint jobs will flash you right back to the good old 1980s when bikes were made with authentic bling and intended to be accessible to people of all sizes. Whether you are looking to fulfill a lifelong dream or are a longtime steel devotee, the Colnago Master will give you the high performance you want in a racing bike but combine it with that unmistakable Italian flair that will make you the envy of your local bike club.

Also check Bianchi road bikes.