Tubulars and an Old Colnago

By Alastair Hamilton
© copyright by bikecyclingreviews.com

Joe Cohn from New York has a beautiful old Colnago and he wants to get it back to a rideable condition and back to its original beauty. His questions concern his wheels, he wants to use them without having to stick tubulars on the rims, and he also wants to know a local bike shop that can do a good job for him. We can help with one problem, but not much with the other

Question:
I have a 78 super colnago that I'd like to get back into riding condition as it used to be years ago. I don't want to change anything except for the glued tires. Is it possible to not glue the tires and still use the titanium wheels? and I want to use the old campy parts. Can you recommend a place in New York City where I could have the work done well. Also I'd like to have the bike fitted for me.
Many Thanks,

Joe.

Hi Joe,

You Colnago Super is a Classic road bike and deserve to be looked after and brought back to its original condition. Now your wheels, I think you are asking if you can change from glued on tubulars to high pressure tires. There is only one way of doing this and it means you have to change the rims on your wheels form sprint rims for glue on tubulars to high pressure tire rims for "normal" tires with separate inner tubes.

Colnago Super

Unless you are an experienced wheel builder then you need to get a bike shop to do the work. This is where we have to let you down as we don't know the New York area, I suggest you look up the business phone directory for bike shops and hope that it's a good one. The better method is to ask a cyclist which bike shop he uses and if they are any good at wheel building?

Colnago Chainset

There are many rims to choose from, but you need to buy the rims for high pressure tires with the same amount of spoke holes, 36, 32 or 28. You may be luck enough that the wheel builder can use your old spokes, quite often sprint rims, the ones for glued on tubulars, use slightly longer spokes, but they might get away with it. Obviously you will also need to buy tires and tubes.

I hope you get it altogether and looking good, please send us a photo of your Colnago when it's ready.

Colnago

Adam Davi has some advice for Joe and here it is:

Hi Sam,
I would like to respond to Joe Cohn from New York. He was looking for a wheelsmith in New York. I can highly recommend "Bike Junkie" located in Bethpage N.Y. He has been called the best wheel builder in New York, is extremely knowledgeable about all things related to bicycle and has done work for me personally. Bethpage is outside of Manhattan but is walking distance from the Bethpage train station. (about 1/2 hour ride)
I hope this helps you Joe.