1999 Colnago Oval Master Ti (the other one)
1999 Colnago Oval Master Titanium
We think the Colnago Oval Master is so nice, we’re going to write about it twice.
Yep, this is the same Colnago as the Mapei team version presented above. The shaped titanium tubeset is a little stealthier with the white and blue paint but the overall effect is still obviously fast and mean.
The 6/4 alloyed titanium at the heart of this bike is the same as the Mapei bike, but the parts are all different. Different better? Different different. First off, the fork is the Colnago Precisa steel model instead of the carbon version. It’s a little heavier but the bike handles like a dream because of it.
The shifters, brakes and derailleurs are Campagnolo Record titanium models from the late ‘90’s, a time when nine speeds for the rear derailleur seemed like a lot.
The radical looking crankset was machined by Magic Motorcycle in Langley Washington. The blue arms are hollow. The small 39 tooth chainring is machined out of the same piece of aluminum as the 53 tooth big ring. There are only three skinny tines holding the rings on and titanium bolts hold everything together. The whole package is light, stiff, and the anodized blue arms look just right next to the blue accents on the Colnago.
Deda Alanera bar
Precisa steel fork
Back end details
Cockpit details
Magic Motorcycle cranks
Ti American Classic post
The cockpit parts include a titanium American Classic seatpost and a Selle Italia Flite saddle (this one a version with reflective patches on the back and sides). Up front is the Deda Alanera one-piece handlebar and stem, one of the first carbon road bike bar/stem combos (after the Cinelli Ram bar).
The whole package rolls around on top of Mavic Cosmic Carbon wheels. At the time Cosmics were a bit heavier than all-around aero wheels like those from ADA or Lew wheels, but being from Mavic they were trusted by weekend warriors and sponsored pro teams alike.
A big thanks to Scott Mann for donating his Colnago to our museum and to Chris Blazina for hanging onto the Magic Motorcycle cranks for all of these years.