The Colnago Master model line is undoubtedly the evergreen of cycling history. First released in 1983, five different versions of the Colnago Master were introduced until 1998 (the Master, Master Più, Master Olympic, Master Light, and Master X-Light).
Ernesto Colnago first designed the Master frame as a replacement for the Mexico, which was named after Eddy Merckx’s successful Hour record in Mexico City. Over the course of 17 years in the pro peloton, the Master was ridden to hundreds of wins, and there are few bikes that have such a palmarès.
Thanks to these superb frames, the Italian brand achieved a peak of steel frame design, but on the other hand, the Master also represented an interim end of the steel era in the bicycle industry.
The Master Olympic shares with its predecessors the famous GilCo-profiled tubes, originally designed by Gilberto Colombo to make the frame stiffer and more reactive. The Olympic distinguished itself for slightly oversized tubes and very eye-catching paint schemes; this bike has the highly sought-after ‘Art Decor’ handpainted livery, with chromed headtube lugs and a Colnago Precisia fork with straight chromed blades.
The bike is in good overall condition. It has not been restored, and remains in the condition from when we bought it. The frame has no cracks or dents and is not bent. Paintwork and decals are original with some paint chips. It measures 54ST and 55TT.
This bicycle has been equipped with a Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 11sp groupset, 105 5800 brakes and Camapagnolo Khamsin wheels. It can also be optioned with Dura-Ace C24 Tubular wheelset. It has been fully serviced with new cables, plus the saddle, bartape and tyres have been replaced. This bike is ready to ride!
Serial is 6G670, corresponding to July of 1996 build.
A neo-retro Master with high-performance Shimano and Campagnolo parts and a typical Decor paintjob. What is not to like about that?
This bike was sold in 2021.