1978 Colnago Super with Galli Criterium groupset

A vintage bicycle restoration project in remembrance of Galli, a great bicycle components brand that disappeared 30 years ago.

We found this 1978 Colnago Super in a ready-for-scrap-metal condition. It took us exactly 12 hours and a lot of elbow grease to transform it into a true vintage racing bike gem that is a pleasure to look at and to ride on due to the Galli Criterium components.

1978 Colnago Super before restoration
The 1978 Colnago Super before restoration

About Galli

Galli was a former cyclist who started manufacturing high-end bicycle components after he retired from cycling in the 1930’s because he was not happy with the quality of existing brakes. Therefore, the company originally focussed on the development and production of lightweight and high performing brake systems. Later on innovative bottom brackets and headsets with tapered roller bearings and derailleurs were added to the product list.

It was only in or around 1978 that they first commercially launched a nearly entire groupset in collaboration with other component manufacturers, mainly Maillard and Stronglight: the predecessor of Galli Criterium. Galli as a brand ‘disappeared’ in the end of the 1980’s. That’s why few people nowadays acknowledge the brand and its quality products. Hence we couldn’t find a better way to honour these high-end bicycle components than mounting them on a legendary Colnago Super frame.

1978 Galli Criterium groupset
Ad for the 1978 Galli components which would later become the Galli Criterium groupset.

About the build

We tried to stay true to the era and managed to find as many as possible components that could be originally mounted on a high-end Italian race bike by a bicycle shop in 1978*. Since the frame had been repainted at least once before, we decided to repair the paint by polishing it rather than repainting it once more.

The Galli bottom bracket and headset with tapered bearings are very scarce. So we decided to not mount them on this Colnago build for now but save it for a very special Belgian Vanco frame we are currently restoring. Stay tuned…

*Hint: To identify and date your Colnago frame, we refer to Velo Retro which has done a tremendous job in listing all details, variations and modifications in a chronological order to perfectly date your frame.

 

Specifications

  • Frameset: Colnago Super with Columbus SL tubing
  • Size: 58cc (60 ct)
  • Bottom bracket: Campagnolo Record ITA
  • Crankset: Galli with Gipiemme
  • Front derailleur: Galli Criterium
  • Rear derailleur: Galli Criterium
  • Downtube shifters: Galli Criterium
  • Headset: Campagnolo Nuovo Record
  • Stem: 3TTT
  • Handlebar: 3TTT
  • Handlebar tape: Bike Ribbon
  • Brake levers: Galli Criterium
  • Brake calippers: Galli Criterium
  • Seatpost: 3TTT
  • Saddle: Selle Royal
  • Pedals: Gipiemme
  • Hubs: Miche
  • Rims: Mavic Module E

We will show more Galli projects in the future and will add background information about Galli and the Galli (Super) Criterium groupsets to our blog. For now, if you would like to digg into information about Galli, we suggest to follow this (German) thread on the Renrad News forum.

Any questions or comments on this build or Galli? Please feel free to use the comment form to share.

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One Comment

  1. Mateo
    January 22, 2020
    Reply

    I love Galli components!

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