The Saronni

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No. Its not the Colnago Saronni.

Instead its a Tecnotrat version. All I can find out on this frame is that this small company was most probably a cottage industry producer of steel frames of the 70s and 80s era. It served the mid to low-end market from their very own factory in Cuneo, Italy. Their bikes were marketed with the Saronni name (as well as Ferrari...) circa mid-80s.

Below is a picture of the bike as it is when purchased.

Tell-Tale signs of a Tecnotrat Saronni is the simple lug construction and heart shape cutout on the lug for the front of the top tube. The frame is based on Columbus Aelle tubing. Not exactly the best at the time at all! But hey, its still Columbus! Nice point about the original paint is that it sported the championship colours.


Here are some details on full bike as purchased (all parts are from circa mid-late 80's.

  • Tecnotrat Saronni circa mid 80's frame, Columbus Aelle tubing (2.5kg thereabout) with chrome fork
  • Shimano 105 calipers
  • Shimano Exage brake levers
  • Shimano Sante Front and Rear derailleurs
  • Shimano Sante crankset with biopace chainrings and Shimano 105 Italian Threaded BB
  • Shimano 105 Headset
  • Shimano 600 Stem
  • Ambrosio Drop-Bar
  • Ambrosio Montreal Tubular (with Vittoria tubulars) on Dura-Ace hubs and QR
As it is, it is a great looking bike and the geometry to me is perfect, just the way I want my steel road bike to be. I hate ugly fat tubes and sloping top tubes.....but this is just my preference! I list down the cosmetic issues on the bike below

  • Fading decals
  • Fading chrome on the fork
  • On the chain-stay, some major discolouration on the whites
  • Whites are a bit yellow
  • Major paint chip below the top tube (due to previous owner hanging the bikes on unpadded holders
  • Otherwise good!
Had a couple rides on this bike and I must day I enjoy it much more than the lighter than light GT road-bike. The Sante set shifts crisply and the brakes works very well still. Very comfortable.

Ok, so the sprinting ain't that good but that's not my real purpose....

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