COLNAGO Master Arabesque – authentic bike by G Saronni Del Tongo Team (1984) – SOLD

Ernesto Colnago was born on February 9, 1932 in Cambiago, near Milan, Italy. At age 13 he entered in world of two wheels and immediately he fall in love with bikes and cycling. In 1952 he founded Colnago and started to work as mechanic for several professional teams. Colnago’s bikes still have a domination of the world’s cycling sports because Ernesto was always an innovator and pioneer of new technologies which supposedly provide more efficency or comfort.

In response to criticism that Colnago frames were not stiff enough, Ernesto experimented with various crimped-tube frames. In 1983 he introduced their top model ”Master” and the legend was born. The Master was constructed with famous ”star shaped’ top, seat and down tube profile tubing called Columbus Gilco S4 designed by Gilberto Colombo to improve performance. The first version of the Colnago Master was produced in 1984.

Italian cyclist Giuseppe Saronni was one of the best riders in early 1980s, riding for Del Tongo – Colnago Team. In 1982 he won the World Championship in Gooodwood, riding Colnago Nuovo Mexico which was just launched. In 1983 Saronni won famous one day classic Milano – San Remo and Giro d’Italia. In years 1984 -1985 he was winning on Colnago Master Arabesque bike (some were build with Campagnolo Super Record and some with Campagnolo 50th Ann groupset).

Giuseppe Saronni (Del Tongo Colnago)

Here we are proudly presenting one of the most exquisite bike that ever came to our store – Colnago Master Arabesque, ridden by Giuseppe Saronni in late 1984 and early 1985. The frame is work of art, marked with SAR at the drop-out and forks, with especially designed triangular seat-stay tube, different than any other Master Arabesque. Needless to say this is a museum piece and unique chance for vintage bike collectors to get this Saronni’s holly grail.

A museum piece!

Frame & Fork: Colnago Master Arabesque, Columbus Gilco S4, marked with ”SAR”

Size:

-seat tube (c-t): 54 cm

-top tube (c-c):  54 cm

-headset tube: 12,5 cm

-standover: 79,5 cm

Crankset: Campagnolo Super Record

Bottom Bracket: Campagnolo Super Record

Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Super Record

Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Super Record

Shifters: Campagnolo Super Record

Brake Levers: Campagnolo Super Record

Brakes: Campagnolo Super Record

Hubs: Campagnolo Super Record

Headset: Campagnolo Super Record

Seatpost: Campagnolo special edition for Colnago

Saddle: San Marco Concor

Stem: 3ttt Record, Colnago pantograph

Handlebar: 3ttt Colnago

Pedals: Campagnolo Superleggeri

Toe cages: Colnago

Leather straps: Colnago

Handlebar tape: White, leather, original

Condition: Used, but great condition. Some tiny tiny signs of normal use. Groupset and components are in excellent condition

Year: 1984-85

Price: SOLD (February 2020)