Colnago Oval CX Gentleman Sports Bike 1980s

Before computer modeling and wind tunnel tests in a sterilized lab, the concept of aerodynamics consisted of getting in the drops and turning your cap backwards. Riders relied on the feel of the breeze and their marginal gain was shaving their legs.
Colnago however knew bicycle design was about to change forever when they partnered with Columbus to utilize a radical new tubing known as Oval CX.

Due to its labor intensive nature, and the need to develop precision machinery to accommodate not only the tubes, but also the lugs to join them, bikes built using these Oval tubes were exceedingly rare in the mid 1980s. In fact, Columbus allowed only one master frame builder, Vanni Pettenella, the chance to build these bikes for Colnago spanning from 1983 to 1985.

Before these special tubes, Colnago tried to achieve a similar aerodynamic effect by using tubes with an extra narrow diameter. By the way, the Oval CX's seatpost ist a remnant of that design.

While the racing models of the Oval CX did not stop with the tube shape but often also featured reversed rear brakes or internally routed cables, there was one special offspring of the model line which was sort of a contradiction.

Instead of further improving the aerodynamics, took the innovative frameset and went in the completely opposite direction with it. The Colnago Oval CX Gentleman was built as a sportive yet comfortable urban bike. It received such quirky accessories as mudguards, a chain guard and even a rear rack! On top the rider's position was intended to be more upright, thus a lightweight city bike handlebar was installed. The outcome was likely the hottest lightweight city bicycle of its time.

We are happy to be able to present to you one of those pieces and one in great, almost completely original condition at that. Not only is this a bike for historians and collectors of beautiful sports machines, but it’s also more than capable of being taken off the wall taking you around town with speed and in style.