Velo City: Bicycle Culture and City Life

My Wild Love finds hidden Columbus SLX frames

Vintage Columbus SLX frames discovered

This has to be one of the most interesting stories of 2016: My Wild Love is the name of a collective that has unearthed a batch of NOS Columbus SLX frames that have been hanging in a garage for the past 30 years, which they have restored and updated and are now offering them for sale.

From the press release: “There’s nothing quite as eye-catching as the glistening, candy-wrap finish that is cromovelato. Combining sparkling chrome with vibrant, translucent colours, it’s a technique that weakens the knees and accelerates the heart. Released by My Wild Love, this family of five cromovelato frames is a new take on a retro theme.

Vintage Columbus SLX frames discovered

Not your ordinary bicycle company, My Wild Love is an unapologetic mix of loud graphics and vintage Italian steel. The company was founded in Treviso, Italy, the birthplace of Pinarello and former home to many great builders. Everything the 2-man company offers is crafted in Treviso in the traditional Italian way.

Vintage Columbus SLX frames discovered

This group of five eye-dazzling frames is part of a series of 32. The cromovelato frames are the third batch of six that will be released. Each batch features a variety of frame sizes anywhere between 49 and 60 cm.

Beyond the in-your-face paintwork, the truly unique thing about these lugged steel frames is their history. Discovered by My Wild Love in the dusty backroom of a Trevisan bike shop, they are genuine 1980s frames that lay untouched for decades.

Vintage Columbus SLX frames discovered

Like a sabre-tooth tiger found in the ice, these frames are as clean and perfect as the day they were brazed. Built by San Marco of Treviso (not the saddle company) for their pro team, some frames were briefly raced and others were displayed before they were all blasted clean, re-chromed and hung from the rafters for 30 years.

When My Wild Love stumbled upon this time capsule of vintage steel, they knew they had a choice. They could take the period correct route and finish the frames as their creators had intended. Or they could crank things up a notch. They went for the latter.

Vintage Columbus SLX frames discovered

With the kind of looks that would make Colnago blush, each design released so far has melded unabashed colors with an unreasonable amount of seductive chrome. Their latest fully-chromed offer takes this concept to a new level.

On each of the 32 frames, Cinelli and Campagnolo predominate the lugs and drops, while the tube sets are a mix of Columbus SL and SLX. Inside each seat tube, small braces give extra lateral strength. While the steel forks give a silky smooth ride and suck up vibration like carbon never can.

Vintage Columbus SLX frames discovered

On the road, the geometry of these Italian thoroughbreds is racy and the handling is punchy. If you dare ride it, that is. Thanks to their heart-stopping looks and limited availability, many of these frames will undoubtedly end up on walls instead of tarmac.”

I’m not sure I agree with that last point — if one of these found its way into my garage I’d build it up immediately with a new Campagnolo groupset and ride it into the mountains. Get onto this quickly — opportunities like this surface very rarely.

Vintage Columbus SLX frames discovered