Bike Check: Karl’s Colnago Dream Pista
Today’s write-up is a first of its kind! Why? Well, I haven't taken any of the following picture, neither have I traveled to Copenhagen recently. The man who did, is Kang! You probably know him by now, since I covered his work into numerous articles on this blog. Kang also has a love for film photography, and he was happy to take some shots of Karl’s bike during his short stay in Copenhagen. Making this, the first reporter’s bike-check, and what a great way to start that with such an iconic bike!
Karl is now a well-known figure of the fixed gear cycling scene, and his Colnago has always been a highly desirable bike for lots of people. It’s actually the first bike Karl really wanted! It’s only after some long research, that he founds one on a second-hand website by complete accident. Unfortunately for our tall friend, someone beat him to it by only a few hours, and Karl's dream bike vanishes into the unknown. This was in 2015! It’s only a few months later that Karl spots the bike in Copenhagen. Instantly canceling all his plans, he decides to chase the guy wielding the black dream… Burning many red lights and taking every risk along the way, he finally catches up with the man after a long and exhausting hunt. Karl explains that THIS Colnago is THE bike that he always wanted, and if one day he had the opportunity to buy it, he would, in an instant!
Going their separate ways, Karl only had to wait around a year to receive a text from the man, telling him that the Colnago was up for grabs… And you probably know the rest of the story.
You could say that Karl was literally chasing the (Colnago) Dream, and I’m not gonna lie, it’s a pretty wholesome story. The bike reappeared before Karl’s eyes with a few more minor scratches and battle scars, but as you can see, it’s still in amazing condition. And this thing has just all the bells and whistles from the start! Columbus “Airplane” tubing, fluted top-tube, straight 1 1/8 head tube for external headset, and a carbon fork!
“I’ve ridden it so much by now! The size 57 and the gentle pursuit geometry, just suits me so well. It’s aggressive, fast, and snappy, but also still very comfy! It’s probably the bike I could never part with”
Karl has that “thing” to make a really aesthetic pleasing build, out of a very simple bike. Colnago Dream Pista(s) usually have funky paint jobs with all the flares and light globes… But this one… this one is just black. Very fitting for our Scandinavian rider and pretty discreet for everyday riding. Yet, you’re going to see that, like the frame, it’s a quite smooth but very quirky build. Starting with the drivetrain, which is a true Italiano-Japanese collaboration! Campagnolo record bottom bracket, Sugino 75 cranks, Campagnolo dust caps and a Shimano Olympic chainring (in its 3/32 variant but still 144BCD)! That’s quite the mix!
You can tell that Karl knows his stuff, since he is rocking the best Pedal combo ever with: MKS Sylvans, Mash Nylon cages, and MKSxMash double FitAlpha straps.
Pretty classic seating setup with the Thomson Elite and the San Marco Aspide. But it’s always in the little details, like with this Colnago seat-collar that Karl got from another bike. Up front, you’ll find a 130mm Thomson x2 paired with some Donoventa riser bars.
Detailed Parts List
Frameset
Colnago Dream Pista
Chainring and Cog Shimano Zen “Olympic” 51t, 17t Cog
Crank Sugino 75 165mm
Seatpost and Saddle
Thomson Elite, San Marco Aspide
Stem and Handlebar
Thomson X2 130mm DSNV®102 FLAT BAR
Wheels 50mm Carbon Rims laced to Novatech hubs
Tires S-Works Turbo 25c
It’s simple… But it all works so great all together! A few more details, like the undrilled Colnago fork, the Champ grips or that Chris King headset, makes the entire build even more delicious.
It’s not every day that you see a Colnago Dream Pista zooming around the streets like Karl does. But it’s also nice to see these rarities in the wild rather than on a wall.
You see more of the many bikes Karl owns, just here —> @fixiekarl
And you? What’s your Dream (Pista)?
👤:@kangtheframebuilder
🎞: Kodak Gold 200
📷: Nikon F3
