Back in the 80's when Murray Donald raced bikes, punctures were dealt with at the roadside by swapping the tubular / single you'd just punctured, with one that was usually tied under your seat with a toe strap. Depending on where you lived and the local fashion, your spare single could be wrapped in a plastic bag, an old sock or any other material that was in vogue. I remember once, a few riders I trained with, having a weekly contest to see who could turn up with the ugliest "single" sock hitched under your saddle. These days Murray still rides with singles, and whenever he's had to change his tyre, I'm reminded of the days of the sock wrapped - toe strap tied singles. Thankfully these days though, Murray doesn't wrap his singles in his old socks.

Murray raced bikes between 1979 and 1988, he'd been a national champion in 1984 winning the Teams Pursuit at the nationals on Tempe velodrome together with Russel Tucker, Byron Tucker and Bruce Oakhill. Later Murray was on the legendary - Mick Glindemann coached Queensland 100km Teams Time Trial team, together with Greg Dwiar, Jeff Leslie and Steve Rooney. The four riders who dominated the 1986 Teams Time Trial scene in Australia went on to the Commonwealth Games later that year.

Since 1988 Murray has been enjoying life riding bikes for fun. In 2007 he decided it was time to see Shayne Hendren and setup a new bike. Shayne had the retro styled carbon C-50 hung on the wall of his shop. The traditional lugged styling and fluted tubing reminded Murray of the classic Italian styled bikes of the 80's, the ones like Colnago's that he couldn't afford back then. After tossing up whether to buy a Time or a BMC, the Colnago became the final choice.

Today Murray's retro styled, single shod yet sock-less, C-50 Colnago has became the bike he'd always wanted.

COMPONENTS Colnago C 50 2007

FRAME FORKS - Colnago C 50 2007 HEADSET - Colnago BRAKES - Campagnolo Chorus 2007 BRAKE BLOCKS - Aztec Carbon Specific to suit Carbon Rim CRANKS - Campagnolo Chorus Carbon 2007 175mm CHAIN RINGS - Campagnolo 39 x 53 CHAIN - Campagnolo 10 Speed Record FRONT DERAILLEUR Campagnolo Chorus REAR DERAILLEUR - Campagnolo Chorus 10 Speed PEDALS - Look KEO WHEELS - Rims 24 Spoke front and Rear REYNOLDS DVT 46UL = 46mm - Hubs OEM C-4 - SKEWERS Campagnolo - Double Butted AERO - Tyres D'Alessandro Singles / Tubulars EXTRA WHEELS Campagnolo RECORD hubs 32h, Ambrosio Nemesis rims, tubulars /singles and stainless spokes. BAR TAPE - Prologo HANDLE BARS Deda Newton Shallow 44 cm STEM - Deda Elementi ZERO 100. 130 mm SADDLE - Prologo NAGO EVO TR SEAT POST - Selcof "Team" BIDON CAGES Moro d'ELITE BOTTOM BRACKET Campagnolo Chorus CASSETTE 10 speed 12 - 25

PHOTOGRAPHY by ROBERT COBCROFT