Colnago's Torch: Dino Zanella

In the pantheon of Italian bicycle builders and innovators, Ernesto Colnago has shared the top tier for many years. Few other builders even come close. His machines are justifiably famous, having been the choice of many champions, and ridden to countless victories, including many Grand Tour and world championships, and world records.

In the beginning, during the age of steel’s dominance, Ernesto rarely wielded the torch himself. Instead, he sought out the best builders to work with him. He was known to be especially particular about his frame builders, and employed the finest craftsmen to design and build his frames.

One of these artisans was the talented builder Dino Zanella. In addition to building production frames like the Super, he was know to construct many of the specialized competition bikes for Colnago through the 1980’s. These may often be identified because Colnago, out of respect for Zanella’s abilities, allowed him to put his name on these frames. This is typically engraved on the seat stay top eyes.

In addition to his work for Colnago, Zanella also built on his own from his workshop in Pordenone, Italy. I have a Zanella bike from the early/mid-1980's, and have recently built it up and have been riding it. This particular frame carries that engraving, as well as other pantographed Zanella logos. These are seen on the fork crown, head tube, and bottom bracket, and as a signature on the top tube. 

I've attached some photographs in it's current build. 

The frame measures 58cm ctc, with a 57cm top tube. When acquired, the frame and fork were NOS. The paint is the same Electric Blue as used by Colnago. In the sun, one can see how the paint earned it's name! 

As built, it feels light, lively, and responsive. It handles like the best Colnagos; precise and predictable. It climbs and descends exceptionally well, and is a joy to ride all day. It’s built with climbing gears; a polished Campagnolo Victory crank with 53/36 chainrings, and 6 speed cluster from 13-28. The brakes are the lovely Campagnolo Monoplanar, a truly fine caliper. Paired with Super Champion Competition rims and red pads, they are superb brakes. The Campagnolo Rally rear derailleur functions perfectly, and can handle 13-36 cogs and 36-54 chainrings. Front derailleur is one of my favorites, the C Record. Shifters are Super Record, the standard for downtube friction shifters, IMHO. The front end consists of a Record headset, NOS Cinelli XA stem, Cinelli Campione del Mundo handlebar, and NOS Super Record levers. A very fine component package, carefully chosen for function.

And beauty, of course. Enjoy the view!