In 1982 Giuseppe (Beppe) Saronni won the World Championships in Goodwood, England on a new style of Colnago that featured crimped frame tubes. This frame is on display in the Colnago museum if you are lucky enough to visit.
So which Colnago model is it?
Well.. Search online and you will find a lot of conflicting claims as to which model he used to win this race; a Super Profil or Nuovo Mexico? If you look very carefully at the following image, you will see the frame has one crimp in the middle of the top tube and one crimp in the middle of the down tube. Search online and you will find close-up pictures of this frame in the Colnago museum.
Single crimp top tube and single crimp down tube.
Image courtesy of www.raydobbins.com
The red line in this diagram represents the crimp in the top tube and down tube.
Part of this confusion can be attributed to a sign that is attached to Saronni’s bike in the Colnago museum that says ‘SUPER – Acciaio’ which translates as ‘SUPER – Steel’. However, if you visit the Colnago website ‘Hall of Fame’ page, you will see Saronni’s 1982 World Championship bike with a caption saying he won this race on a Mexico. These two pieces of information are conflicting.
So I emailed Colnago with the question: Which bike was it, a Super (Profil) or Nuovo Mexico? I received a reply from Colnago’s Chief Press Officer advising that Saronni’s bike was a ‘New Mexico’, the website it correct, the placard in the museum was incorrect. So ‘case closed’ – you would expect.
However, I was recently contacted by a vintage bike enthusiast (refer comments section below) whom has written a long article discussing this same topic. The premise of his article contradicts the information presented on Colango’s website. The author states that he has confirmed with Mr. Alex Colnago and Mr. Saronni that the bike used to win these world championships was definitely a Super – that featured crimped tubes.
So, like you, I’m a bit puzzled as I would expect Colnago to be an authoritative source about their own cycling history?
I recently came across detailed images of a frame that matches the single crimp down tube of Saronni’s World Championship winning bike. It was listed by Speed Bicycles as a Nuovo Mexico. This particular frame appears to have an original decal that specifically mentions the 1 Hour Record win by Merckx on a Mexico. The sort of decal you could expect to find on a bike like a Nuovo Mexico? Could this actually be the first version?
Images are courtesy of www.speedbicycles.ch
Record Mexico Ora – decal 
Single crimp on down tube 
Nuovo Mexico (1st Version)?
Disclaimer!
Please remember that this information is only to be used as a guide.
I consider myself an enthusiast, not an expert. The information I have presented in this article is based on my many hours of online research.
In addition, there will always be frames that don’t quite match the characteristics of a particular model as they could have been a custom build, prototype etc. Note: forks can also be swapped between different frames.
About Me.
I have been riding and working on my own bikes for many years now. I wanted to share my experiences, knowledge and research with others. My aim is to inspire people to get involved in all aspects of this amazing sport. Cheers.
Comments.
I welcome reader feedback in the comments section. Should you wish to suggest an amendment, please include a note advising the source of your information so that myself and other readers can ascertain the accuracy of your information. Note: Trolling or argumentative comments will be removed as they are counter-productive.
I have been to the factory and seen the 1982 Saronni Super ,
I had profile chain stays , two ribs on top tube and two on down,
The first Nuovo Mexico was with two tt ribs , 4 DT and no chain stay ribs , I also had and flat stamped stay caps , the 2nd Nuovo Mexico is circa 86 , different stay caps , no ribs
I had it confirmed in person at the factory the Model marked 1982 Saronni Super is not a Mexico .
Hi Saarf. Before publishing my article on this subject, I initially read your web page discussing the Super vs. Nuovo Mexico and found a range of other conflicting information presented online. So I decided to contact Colnago for clarification as to which bike Saronni rode to World Championship victory and their chief press officer advised me that it was the Nuovo Mexico. I subsequently published the information I was provided, whilst being different to your own. As I am impartial, I am happy to include your comment, then readers can decide for themselves.
As I said
I have been i to the factory and seen the bike in person .
I wrote my article after I had it confirmed by Alex Colnago , I know the person you say you have spoken to , ‘resident expert ‘ , he is a good man but not the resident expert .
I also met Mr Saronni , who confirmed 82 winner was a super .
The model has two rib tt , two rib dt and ribs in chain stays , no Mexico has ribbed stays .
The Super also has fluted Colnago stamped seat stay caps , which also pr date the 1983/4 Nuovo Mexico ,I had one before .
There was a later Nuovo with rounded stamp , this was 85/86 .
Saronni did not ride the Mexico until later .
There is a 1984 catalog with the blue Nuovo and Super , only the Super is describes as having ribs in stays .
You your self have posted here the first ribbed models were Supers .
The Columbus chart for
SP / SL you post is misleading as well . It has no context with a Nuovo Mexico , only the 1st 70’s model , as this is why the chain stay is round , not dimpled , smeller scale .
No mention of mixed steels is the 1984 catalog
Hi Saarf. I have updated my article with your version of events. Ultimately it is up to Colnago to change their website in order to eliminate all confusion.
What I find interesting is that the bike is equipped with a 50th anniversary Super Record groep. A case of top riders having the best equipment.
Sadly that makes it almost impossible for me to assemble a replica of this iconic bicycle.
Too bad!
Regards Bert.
Hi Bert, yes 50th Anniversary Campagnolo Super Record is a real collector’s item now which has pushed the prices sky high, not that it would have been very cheap back in the day! Maybe you can find a reasonable condition Super Record group and enjoy the same functionality and light weight components just without the special logos and gold trimmings featured on 50th.
I have the Cycling Weekly magazine published Sept 12th 1982 (With Mandy Jones on the cover) and back cover shows Saronni, hands loft crosing the finishing line at Goodwood. The groupset is definitely not 50th Anniversary. Black rear mech castings, black front mech body, domed brake caliper nuts and absence of gold coins in brake levers. I smell a fudge here…
Hi Martin, thanks for your comments.
Saludos.
Cómo podría saber exactamente que cuadro Saronni tengo???
Como puedo pasar fotos aquí para que me digas si sabe que cuadro es??
Gracias
Translated to English;
Greetings.
How would I know exactly which Saronni frame I have???
How can I post photos here so you can tell me if you know what painting it is?
Thank you.
Hi, I have included 2 links to the frames Saronni would have used in this article. Please refer to those pages to help determine the frame you have.