Custom build featuring a 24 carat gold plated Campagnolo gruppo
This is a Futura Colnago Master Pista, a strictly limited numbered item from a small batch of handmade Italian framesets garnished with a gazillion multi-coloured polka dots over a white base. This item is a genuine original, bought in person on the night of release in Toronto – not a repaint, nor a reproduction, unlike some other framesets currently for sale on the internet.
Ernesto Colnago is perhaps the best known Italian manufacturer of high end racing bicycles. Over the years, Colnago have gained a reputation for excellence, and have always stood out amongst the competition by virtue of top quality framesets finished with elaborate paintwork and detailing.
‘Futura 2000’ is a contemporary artist from New York, who first achieved notoriety for his graffiti and mural art, later applying his distinctive graphic designs to items as diverse as custom motorbikes, record sleeves and club flyers, even fashion.
Nadir Olivet is a Guatemala-born impresario and proprietor of Toronto bicycle boutique ‘LaCarrera Cycles’. As an official Colnago dealer, and something of an international mover in many circles of fashionable society, he was ideally placed to connect these two singular talents. Resulting in the collaborative project “Look Ma, No Brakes”, also featuring the work of fellow New York graffiti legend ‘Stash’.
As if this polka dot frameset wasn’t already an absolute eye catcher, we decided to turn up the volume. All the way up! We selected an appropriate group of Campagnolo components, and then had them all 24 carat gold plated. The aero seat post is adorned with a one-off hand tooled leather saddle with matching polka dots and the famous Futura 2000 tag. Similarly-detailed leather wrapping sets off the gold plated track handlebars, held in place by a black anodised quill stem pantographed with Ernesto Colnago’s signature. This one-off leather saddle and bar ’Legends’ detailing is the handiwork of another well known American artist with street roots, our friend ‘Toons’ a.k.a The Bike Styler.
The wheelset is comprised of chrome plated low section Campagnolo aero rims, laced with black Sapim CX-Ray aero spokes and gold plated nipples to current-stock low-flange Campagnolo Record Pista hubs. Even the sprocket and axle nuts are gold plated, as are the engraved chainring bolts and crank end caps. The wheels are shod with high-end Vittoria Open Corsa SC Pro Series tyres, with pale sidewalls.
Built with a short wheelbase, slightly sloping top tube and straight fork, the Colnago Master is a responsive and whip-quick ride. It looks as fast as it does fashionable even standing still, and this distinctive build boasts enough bling to eclipse the competition in the style stakes.
The rear wheel was radially laced on both sides for vertical symmetry, and to show the frame and components better. If you would like us to re-lace it with a cross pattern, then we are more than happy to oblige.
The fork shaft was converted from 1″ threadless to 1″ threaded by our professional framebuilder, so that we could install a traditional quill stem. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only Futura frameset with a 1″ threaded headset.
