This has always been my "holy grail" bike. The famous bike presented by Ernesto Colnago to Pope John Paul II in 1979; a gold-plated Colnago Mexico:
Of course, there is only one true "Pope Bike". It resides in the Colnago museum in Milano, Italy. Colnago made a number of these commemorative gold-plated bikes. Here is my newly refinished "holy grail" gold-plated Colnago Mexico Oro bicycle, complete with fresh lacquered 24kt gold plating and NOS components:
Pat. 78 rear derailleur with alloy bolts, Regina Record Oro drilled chain:
Four hole 1979 only front derailleur. Campagnolo Mexico Ernesto Colnago pantographed crankset with milled spiders. Black anodized alloy chain ring bolts hold the Ernesto Colnago pantographed chain ring:
Black anodized Colnago alloy headset, probably manufactured by Omas:
3ttt Colnago Pantographed stem holds Colnago engraved 3ttt handlebars:
Milled Campagnolo Super Record brake calipers:
Colnago club with tri-color motif pantographed brake levers:
Superleggera light-weight saddle with alloy rails, covered in buffalo hide, and embossed with the Colnago name, supported by a milled tricolor seat post with Colnago club pantograph:
Fluted seat stay caps, finely finished lugs:
Colnago embossed toe straps, Colnago pantographed toe clips, Campagnolo Super Record titanium axle pedals:
Super Record hubs, double butted spokes:
Non-drive side of bike:
Everest alloy six speed freewheel:
First generation Campagnolo Super Record bottom bracket, with titanium spindle that uses bolts rather than the later nutted version:
Milled Campagnolo shifters, Campagnolo shifter cables:
Bike weight is 18.8 lbs without pedals, 19.6 lbs with pedals. Can't be too much gold there!
Rims are Colnago labeled Nisi Solidals:
Crankset is Pat. 79:
Colnago labeled Clement tubular tires:
