The world's most successful bicyles

COLNAGO | The most successful bicycles in the world

History

After a brief racing career cut short by injury, Ernesto Colnago opened his own workshop in 1954.

During this time, Ernesto Colnago was much sought after as a team mechanic amongst the professional peleton supporting riders. He supported Faliero Masi (later of Masi bicycle fame), Gianni Motta, Michelle Dancelli and later the great Eddy Merckx as part of the Molteni Team.

It was Dancelli's win in Milan-San Remo in 1970 that inspired the now famous Ace of Clubs Colnago logo.

From the beginning Colnago had a reputation for making high quality steel framed bikes and for bringing many innovations into bicycle design and manufacture. Much of it driven by innovative riders like Merckx and included the super-light frame Merckx used to break the World Hour Record in 1972.

With a reputation built on racing victories, Colnago grew rapidly and started to produce bicycles in ever greater numbers to meet demands beyond the professional peleton. In the 1970's the mainstay of the marque was the Super.

The Super was followed in the 1980's by one of the best steel framed bicycles ever built, the Mexico, named in honour of Merckx's World Hour Record.

With it's distinctive crimped Columbus tubing, the Mexico achieved incredibly lightweight for the time without sacrificing strength or rigidity. Even today a Mexico frame is only around 700g heavier than most modern carbon fibre frames with far superior comfort and ride quality. For this reason Colnago continue to make top end Cromoly framed bikes.

CF-10

The CF10 is the new frame from COLNAGO for FERRARI designed for cyclists who are particular about their bike’s weight-to-performance ratio. It is made with the highest quality carbon fiber, selected in cooperation with Ferrari, which is why is we use the Cavallino logo on each frame. The frame is monocoque, with aerodynamic shaped tube sections, and full-carbon rear dropouts.

All the tube shapes on this frame, including the fork legs and the rear triangle, have been tested and studied in the wind tunnel to minimize drag.
From a structural point of view, the best shapes for bicycle frame tubes have been circular or polygonal shaped, as they are able to maximize the flexural and torsional rigidity regardless of frame size. From the aerodynamic point of view, the best sections have a “drop” shape: they minimize wind resistance with the same front footprint, when the apparent wind direction lies in the plane of the center line of the frame. This condition occurs in the absence of side wind or, with good approximation (4-8 ° of rotation), when the speed created by the cyclist is much higher than that of the side wind – for instance, during a time trial race. By design, the tubes of the Colnago K.Zero time trial frame sections are characterized by this “drop” shape.

In the case of low speed riding with the presence of side wind, the apparent wind direction is rotated with respect to the centerline plane of the frame. Even uphill, with a strong side wind the apparent wind direction can be rotated by almost 90° with respect to the centerline plane. In these cases, a “drop” profile is no more efficient as you generate a phenomena of stall and turbulence which increases resistance on the front and side of the bike. In such situations, the optimized solution, which maximizes the flexural and torsional rigidity and at the same time minimizes aerodynamic drag and crosswind, is represented by the truncated sections of the tubes. It’s these that are utilized in the CF10 frame.

Limited Edition complete bikes equipped with Campagnolo Super Record available by special order.

CX-Zero

The Colnago CX Zero is the perfect bike for endurance riding, a perfect compromise between performance and comfort. It combines Classic frame geometry for endurance riding combined with the most advanced materials and frame design of any bike on the market today.

The geometry has been developed to meet the needs of sportive and century cycling. The design features an extended head tube, which is significantly longer than traditional Colnago racing geometry in combination with upsept seat stays. The taller head tube allows the rider to maintain a relaxed position of the shoulders and arms, as well as a more open angle between the torso and thigh for easy pedaling. A brand new rear triangle design constructed of high quality carbon fibre gives greater vertical elasticity and shock absorption. The 27.2mm seatpost and compatibility with 25mm tyres further enhances the CX Zero's ability to reduce road surface buzz. The result is a comfortable riding position with improved performance.

CLD

The CLD is a brand new bike. It is a carbon fibre frame with geometry and a carbon lay-up designed specifically for women. It has a shorter top tube than our traditional frame geometry to guarantee more comfort. The frame has a semi-integrated 1”1/8 to 1”1/4 steering column to give rigidity and precision bike handling. The components have also been carefully chosen to better suit women: the handlebar stem is shorter and the handlebars are narrower compared to our usual component selection. The bike is fitted with a Selle Italia Lady saddle.

Ultegra Equipped CLD available from $3,599

C-64

C-60

Built to mark the 60th Anniversary of Colnago, the C60 is fully handmade in Italy, with great care – the same care that we’ve used over the last 60 years. The frame is made of carbon fiber, with star-shaped lugs and tubes – an iconic design element that started with the Master. The sections of the tubes have increased volume with thinner walls. The same concerns the lugs. They are larger and stiffer, designed with the same shape of the tubes. In summary: the C60 tubes and lugs provide greater stiffness and resistance to bending. The rear dropouts have also been completely redesigned, to reduce weight and achieve greater lateral stiffness. Finally, the construction technique used in the C60 offers an unprecedented range of sizes, nine sloping and five horizontal, with custom sizing also an option.

Read the Reviews:
The BUZZ
Bicycling Magazine
Cyclist UK
Cycling Tips

C-60 sold as frameset only from $5,999 and built to owner's specification.

AC-R

Colnago's most affordable model, this full monocoque carbon fibre frame, designed in Italy, made in Taiwan by the world's leaders in carbon fibre fabrication, the Shimano 105 equipped model retails for just $2,199

Arabesque

The Colnago Arabesque is an exquisite example of Colnago craftsmanship, complete with signature lugs and star-shaped tubing.

In the early 1980s, Ernesto Colnago created the Master frameset, which would go on to be one of the company's best-selling and most loved models in the range. The Arabesque, released in 1983, was the quieter cousin that only enjoyed a short production run of one year. That made the Arabesque a collector's item and the new version of this model promises to be no different, thanks to the signature lugs.

Those lugs are reminiscent of the elaborate wall decorations of The Alhambra, in Granada, Spain, where the Moors arrived and built palaces that featured walls of incredibly intricate carvings - these beautiful decorations have stood the test of time, as has the appeal of Colnago's lugwork. The lugs are central to the Arabesque model and the reason the frame has been re-issued by Colnago.

The new edition of the Arabesque features star-shaped tubing whereas the original boasted a round Columbus tubeset. In that regard, the Arabesque is like the Master but the difference between the two is those distinctive lugs.

Frameset only $4,599

Concept

This frame has been developed to be as fast as possible, and represents continuity with the original Colnago Concept project – the first carbon fiber frame, developed by Ernesto Colnago in collaboration with Enzo Ferrari in 1986. It is the combination of pure power and speed. Every detail has been studied to bring the aerodynamic performance to a higher level. Superb ride quality and efficiency transform this bike into a real weapon with which to fight your competitors!

Framesets from $5,399

C-RS

The C-RS is the new entry-level carbon frame from Colnago. Its monocoque design was conceived in full respect of the philosophy gained through over sixty years of experience designing the most successful bikes in the world. It can boast of cutting-edge technical solutions and the latest designs. The C-RS was created to meet the demands of cyclists looking for a high quality product without compromise. Internal cable-routing, and other features, easily stack up aesthetically against higher-end products.

Ultegra equipped C-RS just $3,999

V1-r

CLX

Colnago's new CLX takes the heritage of the Italian marque and offers it at an attractive price point, so even more riders can enjoy the performance and prestige of Colnago. Combined with either mechanical or electronic versions of Shimano's ever-popular Ultegra groupset, it's one of the company's most competitive all-round packages.

A unique, new monocoque frame design features an oblique, oversized tube set that is derived directly from Colnago's V1-r project. There's a large bottom bracket area (with a standard Colnago ThreadFit82.5 system) - this area of the frame shares DNA with Colnago's C60 and V1-r models, which sit at the top of the company's range.

Ernesto Colnago chose this system because it represents the best mixture of technical solutions available - the reliability and practicality of a threaded bottom bracket (BSA), plus the width and rigidity that characterize the standard press-fit system. This led to ThreadFit82.5 – compatible with all versions of Pressfit 86.5 bottom brackets, it adds two new cups in light alloy that are easily removable if necessary.

This system offers increased rigidity and reliability, it's easier to maintain and offers longer life for the frame.

Comfort is enhanced and weight is reduced by the conical seat tube, which allows for use with lighter and more comfortable 27.2mm diameter seatposts. At the rear there are more weight savings in the form of carbon fiber dropouts with a replaceable, internal derailleur hanger. With internal cable routing, the drive-side dropout is designed for use with both mechanical and electronic groupsets; this is why the CLX is available in Shimano Ultegra Di2 or mechanical builds.

Something that makes the CLX appeal to a wider audience is the fork. A carbon fiber monocoque design with straight blades, the conical crown-race, made of carbon fiber, allows you to mount spacers up to a maximum of 28mm stack-height. This aids in obtaining more positions for a greater number of riders. Durability and safety are enhanced thanks to the fork’s aluminium dropouts.

The result is a bike that offers more in terms of rigidity, low weight and comfort than most bikes at this price point, making it a perfect option for riders who want to commit to the Colnago brand but want to avoid the cost of the company's more illustrious options. That doesn't mean the CLX suffers in the sporting stakes, however - it benefits from the advances made in the C60 and V1-r models and at 950 grams for a size 42 sloping, it boasts a terrific performance-per-dollar ratio.

Eight sizes are available, all sloping (42s, 45s, 48s, 50s, 52s, 54s, 56s, 58s) and in two colours.

The frame weighs only 950 grams.

Ultegra equipped CLX from $3,999
Ultegra Di2 equipped from $5,299

With exquisite attention to detail, Colnago also established a reputation for making some of the most beautiful bicycles available even allowing early customers to specify different tube set combinations, and features such as chromed lugs and partially or fully chromed rear triangle. This can make dating early Colnago's something of a challenge!

Colnago have supported a large number of teams and riders over the years, many of them great names in the sport and many of them very successful, like Eddy Merckx (top left), Giuseppe Saronni (bottom left), Tony Rominger (top right), Johaan Museeuw (middle right) and Mapei's famous 1-2-3 at the 1996 Paris-Roubaix with Johann Museeuw 1st, Gianluca Bortolami 2nd and Andre Tafi 3rd (botttom left) as well as the Terror of Tashkent, the powerful and somewhat erratic sprinter Dlamolidine Abdoujaparov (bottom right). .
Colnago have also sponsored Ariostea (centre bottom) with Moreno Argentin, Lampre with Maurizio Fondriest, Robabank with Oascar Friere, Michael, Boogerd, Eric Dekker and at one time Robbie McEwen (who was very reluctant to give up his Colnago on joining a new team), Milram with Eric Zabel and Alessandro Petachi, and currently Europcar with Thomas Voeckler (below) and Pierre Rolland