Colnago Master X Light
Hungary’s Tamás Medgyes very generously took the time to explain his path to becoming the custodian of this incredible Colnago Master X-Light and, while it’s going to be lengthy, it’s a real discourse on the eagerness of the Colnagista:
My journey to the Colnago Master XLight followed a path familiar to several. I wanted to create up my top bike, and work I admired carbon race machines, it had been steel and titanium bikes that basically spoke to me.
What could be less common in my thanks to steel is that I don’t have a private history of riding classic road bikes within the era of their acme, thus my appreciation doesn’t stem from nostalgia.
I had bikes before, but growing up behind Hungary’s ideological barrier limited my access to Colnagos or Pinarellos so I hadn’t even heard of them. By the time I got into cycling you’ll get anything from anywhere within the world, so I started with carbon bikes.
It had been after a decade of riding Treks, Wiliers and other upper-midrange bikes that the sweetness of high-end steel and titanium frames struck me, so I wanted one to explore their proverbial riding qualities and luxuriate in their apparent aesthetic supremacy.
The aspirational icon that’s Colnago’s Master first came into contact with this tester via the 1986 Bicycle Buyer’s Guide. it had been the foremost expensive bike in there – and justified that cost easily with its opulence.
Let’s not mince words here. i used to be more excited to undertake this bike than any I can remember during a while.
Highs: a real style icon with authoritative charisma and technically tenacious handling
Lows: Slim lugged steel tubes need coaxing up to hurry not bullying
Buy if: you would like a very timeless, instantly recognizable classic instead of a contemporary muscle bike.
Frame and equipment: 30 years of sophistication, dressed impeccably
The giddy expectation didn’t ease when unboxing revealed a beautifully judged build kit from importer Windwave, which teamed Campagnolo’s latest Chorus 22-speed stop / go equipment with a retro Selle Italia suede saddle. Even the machined facets of the Vision TriMax 30 rims synchronize with the flat surfaces of the Columbus tubing signature of the Master.
It is the picture, with its 30 years of history, but here it is the light. A separate ornate fitting or socket parts is used to connect the pipe collection. those connecting the top tube to the down tube and top tube are chromed and inset with Colnago’s cloverleaf logo to match the chromed, tapered leg Precisa stiletto fork.
The middle sections of the slim rear stays also are immaculately chromed. the entire frame is perfectly aligned so you simply got to touch the wheel positioning screws within the rear dropouts if you would like to sneak the rear wheel even closer to the seat tube on the already short buttocks.
Crowning the constructional glory on our sample is one among four different base color versions of Colnago’s artistic movement livery. It’s a shocking mixture of stencils, airbrush fades, rich blocks and freestyle metallic flake detailing that somehow works perfectly within the Colnago context whether you commit it to memory from childhood or it’s totally new you.
While it’s a match for the newest bikes on descents, accelerating and climbing requires a more deft touch. Stomp rudely on the pedals or heave the bar and it responds with the speed sucking stubbornness you’d expect if you tried to bully an Old Italian.
But squeeze power forwards from a rearward saddle position and therefore the sense of sticky brakes and rubber chain is replaced with a gentle surge of speed that’s sustained regardless of the road underneath you. Pushing weight back and anchor light on the front also reduces the hammer from the fork.
This is a motorcycle that rewards you if you respect it and where time you spend aboard may be a bonus, not something to be hurried.
Price for frameset: US $ 2,799 / € 2,400 / AU $ 3,850