Colnago introduces Retrofitting, an innovative system for certifying the authenticity of vintage frames, opening up a world of new opportunities for Colnago bike owners.

October 7, 2024

Colnago certifies and extends the benefits of new bikes to used bikes from its glorious past.

Cambiago /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ In the world of cycling, the Colnago brand guarantees excellence, quality, and tradition. The legendary Italian company, founded in 1954, has written essential pages in the history of this sport, winning the hearts of professional cyclists and enthusiasts worldwide. Today, Colnago is ready to launch an ambitious project that aims to revolutionize the vintage bike market by offering an exclusive service to certify the authenticity of its creations: Retrofitting. This term means adding new technology or functionality to an existing object.

Colnago Retrofitting: How it Works

It is a service mainly aimed at owners of used bicycles of the Ace of Clubs brand who wish to ascertain the originality of their bikes or those who wish to take possession of one.

For a minimal outlay, the certification process begins by filling out a form on the Colnago website. Colnago requests the owner to provide some pictures of the bike and other evidence, such as the serial number on the frame or a purchase invoice, to give the Colnago team as much information as possible to confirm its origin. The Colnago experts will carefully evaluate these elements and provide a final verdict, positive or negative, on the authenticity of the bike’s frame kit (i.e., the frame and fork assembly, without entering into any substantive questions about the components).

Once certified, owners of the authentic Colnago product will be entered on an official digital register, an exclusive club of certified Colnago bike owners.

The Colnago brand has always been synonymous with excellence and quality in cycling, so numerous replicas and fakes have come into circulation over time. Retrofitting will not only help survey the circulating Colnago bicycles but will also increase the brand’s perceived value, guarantee its authenticity, and reinforce the bond of ownership and sense of pride of its owners.

FAC SIMILE of a certificate of authenticity issued with the retrofitting service.

Exclusive Benefits for Historic Colnago Owners: Increased Asset Value

Once the authenticity of the frame kit has been certified, Colnago will provide the owner with a certificate of authenticity and a unique tag to be applied to the frame (the same one that is used on today’s high-end bicycles) that will allow the bike to be registered on Blockchain, in practice a public digital register that guarantees maximum security and transparency in the management of information. This tag will not only be an additional mark of authenticity but will also offer numerous practical advantages:

1. Authentication of the originality of the frame kit: a bike with an original and unalterable authentication certificate will acquire additional value on the used bike market. Guaranteed authenticity will become an essential element for collectors and enthusiasts, making it easier to sell in the future. It will also increase the ease of resale, as the presence of the Blockchain tag and registration will significantly simplify the sales process by assuring potential buyers that the bike is authentic, thus increasing trust and transparency in the transaction.
2. Certification of ownership of the bike: As the bike is an unregistered movable property, the burden of proof of ownership is presumed to be on the owner; in this case, there will be a certainty of ownership of the bike, effectively reversing the burden of proof in case of legal challenges.
3. Protection in case of theft: Registration on the Blockchain will make it easy to report bicycle thefts. Combining technology and security, this innovative system will help owners protect their valuable investments.

In addition, those who register their Colnago on the Blockchain will be entitled to a series of additional benefits, such as the possibility to take part in sporting events in a privileged position (Colnago grid at participating gran fondos, dedicated grid at historical cycling events, etc.), and others that will be determined and communicated from time to time by Colnago, via email, to those entitled. The Retrofitting program is new, and numerous possibilities exist to expand its benefits.

The certificate comes with an adhesive tag with NFC technology to be affixed to the bike and a card to register ownership of the bike.

Strengthening Colnago Brand Perception and Owner Pride: Beyond Pure Value

With this development, Colnago not only reinforces its position as a leader in premium bicycles but also helps to create an even stronger sense of ownership among its customers. Colnago bicycle owners will be able to feel part of an exclusive, globally recognized, and valued community.

The Retrofitting project is a critical step in Colnago’s strategy to protect and enhance its heritage of excellence while providing its customers with a unique and innovative service. This program, which combines tradition and modernity, will set a new standard in the world of cycling, demonstrating once again that Colnago is synonymous with quality, passion, and innovation.

Once registered, the model name and the certificate of originality issued by Colnago can be verified by scanning the tag with a mobile phone.

LINK TO THE SERVICE: https://colnago.com/retrofitting-service

MEDIA FOLDER: 09.01 – Retrofitting Service

About Colnago

Colnago Ernesto & C. S.r.l., known as Colnago, is a manufacturer of high-end road-racing bicycles founded near Milano in Cambiago, Italy, in 1954. The company first became known for high-quality steel framed bicycles suitable for the demanding environment of professional racing, and later as one of the more creative cycling manufacturers responsible for innovations in design and experimentation with new and diverse materials, including carbon fiber, now a mainstay of modern bicycle construction. Among the many Colnago victories – 15 Grand Tours, 416 Grand Tour stages, 43 Classic Monuments, 28 World Championships, and 18 Olympic Gold Medals – Tadej Pogačar won the 2020, 2021, and 2024 editions of the Tour de France, the 2024 Giro d’Italia and 2024 Road World Championship riding Colnago bikes.

Media Contact

Cody Chouinard

Cody@IGTStudio.com

(802) 279-8997