Ernesto Colnago got his start crafting bicycles at the tender age of 13 with a rigorous apprenticeship at Gloria Bicycles, the leading producer of Italian race bikes at the time. Here he rubbed elbows with other legendary builders Faliero Masi and Cino Cinelli while learning the trade of building professional quality bicycles. It is with the famous Molteni team that young Ernesto would become the frame builder for Eddy Merckx during his ascent to becoming the world’s winningest road racer.
As competition became more fierce and many pro racers began seeking the advantages of a stiffer frame, Colnago began experimenting with a variety of tube profiles to increase the lateral stiffness of his frames without adding weight or compromising ride quality. Through this experimentation the iconic oversized, star-shaped tubing of the Master framesets was born and his never-ending pursuit of technological advancement began.
Today, Colnago is still at the forefront of craftsmanship and quality. With models like the Colnago C68 carrying the torch, the classic Colnago Master, and the race-ready Colnago V4Rs Disc, the brand is thriving and doing better than ever. Its no wonder that Colnago is known as the Ferrari of bikes.
