Taiwanese Treasure Trove

Now there are bike collections and there are bike collections.... This Taipei man cave is what you call a Collection.

http://wearefactoryfive.com/blogs/factory-five-blog/19055655-the-worlds-most-amazing-collection-of-bicycles

Colnago Master

Colnago Master, a photo by raiseyourflags on Flickr.

I should probably put more effort into photographing my rides judging by this!

Pro Bike Pron: Zabel's Colnago EPS

It seems a long time since Eric Zabel was riding, but actually it was only a year ago he hung up his cleats. And what a bike he rode in his final Tour- this rather lovely custom sprayed Colnago EPS. It harks back to the Colnago's of old, which, let's face it, just look much better. The retro paint on modern carbon fibre is a concept that perhaps shouldn't work, but even fitted with Dura-Ace throughout it does. I'd love to see a Record / Lightweight equipped version. We already did my pro bike of 2009, but if I'd had my blog in 2008, there's no doubt this would have been my pro bike of the year. The Colnago lust is not abiding...
http://tour-de-france.velonews.com/article/80127#

Pro Bike Pron: Merckx's Colnago Master Pista

The obsession with all things Orange and Molteni related shows no sign of abating. There aren't too many bikes you see with a steeper head angle than seat tube but if it was good enough for Eddy it's probably good enough for me! Despite looks to the contarary when you compare this bike with the TT bling of today, Eddy was a tech weenie meticulous with every detail on his bike. I heard the tubes were filled with helium for his 1hr record attempt. Eddy's original bike from that day is in a train station in Belgium here, but l guess I'm a bit of a sucker for matching white tyres and bar tape. Hence I prefer the look of this reproduction stolen from:

http://chainedrevolution.com/CS/forums/thread/555.aspx

Colnago Lust

Seeing Harry in his new stripes has certainly rekindled my bike lust for all things steel and retro. I've never really liked Colnagos but they certainly carry with them a haloed sense of awe in road bike circles. I always thought they must be lovely bikes to ride but I could never buy into all that air brushed colour crazed fussiness. And slowly but surely, I'm starting to 'get' Colnago. To me they lost their way in the Mapei days and with news that their latest 'budget' carbon frames are being made in Taiwan I think it's all gone a bit far. Why would you dilute your brand and lose the unique selling point you have- Made in Italy? Apparently, these Master X re-issues are still made in the motherland and they do look rather special. I get these frames. Question is, would you go for the Eric Blue, Eddy Orange or the Guisseppe Red?

http://www.colnago.com/collection.php?name=MASTER
http://thewashingmachinepost.net/2005/colnago/index.html