1974 Molteni Team Edition Colnago Super
Molteni team edition “Eddy Merckx” made by Colnago
There aren’t many bicycles out there that can be considered “famous”.
I think that the average cyclist (of a certain age) could identify just three famous bicycles by sight: Pee Wee Herman’s bike from the movie Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Greg LeMond’s time trial bike from the 1989 Tour de France, and a Molteni team bike from the 1970’s. The average Schwinn Sting-Ray is also pretty well known but most people will identify any kids’ bike that has a banana seat and curved tubes as a Sting-Ray, so they don’t count.
This is a beautifully restored Molteni team replica racing bike from the 1970’s.
The Molteni team was a fabulously successful squad that ran from 1956 until 1976. Named after and sponsored by an Italian sausage company, Molteni’s brown jerseys and orange bikes are iconic in the bike racing world.
Classic design
That’s Eddy on the head tube
Record crankset
Columbus tubing
The Molteni team raced Colnago Supers in the 1970’s just like this one. Yes, we know that the frame says “Eddy Merckx”. It’s still a Colnago.
Eddy Merckx was the star on the Molteni team, and despite the fabulous success of riders like Rudi Altig and Gianni Motta the team was all about Eddy. Eddy’s name was on the downtube and his face was on the head badge. I’m sure it was a surreal existence to be on the Molteni team in the 1970’s, kind of like playing for the Chicago Bulls in the 1980’s. Like shooting hoops with Michael Jordan while wearing Air Jordan shoes.
Drilled derailleur
Fluted seat post
Colnago fork crown
Fiamme yellow label
Tire saver in action
Anyway, the bike is terrific. I think we have two other mid-’70’s Colnago Supers in the museum collection so another description may seem redundant. Let us just repeat that the ’74 Colnago Super is one of the most perfectly designed racing bikes ever built. Bikes like this one feel comfortable, fast, and handle perfectly really regardless of the rider’s skill or experience.
The Campagnolo Record equipment (with holes drilled for extra style & lightness) was the best available at the time. The Fiamme yellow-label rims and Vittoria tubular tires ride beautifully.
This particular bike is fitted with an extra nod to ’70’s bicycle awesomeness. Those are tire savers bolted to the brake calipers. Tire savers scraped gently across the top of the tires in the hope that they would brush off debris before glass or bits of metal could bury into the tires and cause flats. Those of us who employed tire savers will report the placebo effect decades later. They worked great for those of us who never got flats. For those of us who changed a lot of tires, the little devices were worthless.