Colnago Unveils its Imaginative and prescient of Gravel Racing with the Italian Crafted C68 Gravel

Colnago is aware of a factor or two about drop-bar off-road bikes, regardless that most consider them as a road-only model….thanks Pogačar.

Let’s not overlook that legends like Sven Nys and Niels Albert rode the Colnago Status — the identical with a really younger Wout Van Aert. The Status would ultimately fade out of the Colnago line. The World Cup and World Title successful machine was changed with the gravel/cyclocross-focused Colnago G-3X.

The G-3X is extra of a gravel bike than a pure ‘cross-machine, however it does have that iconic Colnago kick and extra tire clearance than the Status ever had.

In recent times, although, Colnago has put effort into re-thinking their enterprise’s gravel facet. Including to it, they’ve created one thing pure Colnago. A performance-focused gravel bike. One that appears at house on the white roads of Tuscany or on twisty American single observe (extra on that later). Plus, it’s handmade in Italy.

What’s the Colnago C Collection

The C sequence is a moniker for the highest tier of Colnago bikes; the extra attainable model for many is the ‘V’ sequence. The C68 bikes are handmade in Italy and goal to steadiness magnificence and efficiency. The Colnago C68 Collection of bikes boasts a Highway, All-Highway, Titanium Customized, and now a Gravel bike.

Colnago describes the C Collection as: “C for Carbon, Colnago, Cambiago (the place the bikes are made), and Class. The 68 represents how far Colnago has come since its founding in 1954.”

Colnago C68 Gravel Body Particulars

There’s a lot to unpack right here, so let’s begin with the body creation. First, the Colnago C68 is 100% hand-made from high-modulus carbon fiber. Some components are lugged, making it additionally a modular body.

What does Colnago imply by ‘modular’? The C68 Gravel is comprised of six separate carbon items. The engineers designed the headtube/downtube and prime tube junction to be maneuverable when constructing the body. The tubes are lugged and modular, because the builder can transfer them barely, augmenting the stack barely, the identical because the headtube peak.

This technique is just used on the C sequence frames, although Colnago has used lugged carbon development because the Nineteen Eighties. The lugged tubes give the C68 Gravel a singular look, and the matte inexperienced pearl paint (much like the Aston Martin) accentuates the curves.

As for contemporary gravel bits, the C68 has a prime tube bag mount and might match two giant bottles (assume 38oz) within the body. There isn’t any third bottle mount underneath the body, so in the event you’re planning a brilliant lengthy, unsupported experience, you’ll must plan accordingly.

The tube shaping within the C68 Gravel is designed for energy switch, minimizing highway chatter, and dealing with a flying rock to the down tube with out cracking.

The body makes use of a D-shaped seatpost much like the one on the G-3X however with an up to date tightening mechanism.

The underside bracket is a T47, the identical because the C68 All Highway.

The body is optimized for a completely digital groupset however can run a mechanical 1X like the brand new Shimano GRX 12-speed. The placeholder for a entrance chainring is a neat 3D-printed cowl, which takes nothing away in efficiency however provides cool factors.

The chain guard can be 3D-printed and footage the mountains of Italy.

Colnago Gravel Geometry

Although the C68 shares some options of the Status, All Highway, and G-3X, it has a singular geometry. It has a shorter attain and better stack than the C68 Highway. The up to date reach-stack ratio permits for a shorter stem, giving the bike a vigorous really feel on the paths and many management over the entrance finish.

C68 Gravel will probably be obtainable in 5 sizes, all in sloping configuration: 450 (52cm), 480 (54cm), 510 (58cm), 540 (60cm), and 570 (63cm)

Colnago feels this setup presents higher dealing with for difficult gravel or path options with out sacrificing an aggressive setup. I agree after spending some hours on the bike, however extra later in our experience assessment.

The geometry riffs off the Colnago CC.01 vast bar/stem combo. The brand new Large model of the CC.01 is particularly designed for gravel. The Colnago CC.01 Large has extra flare than the highway model of the Colnago CC.01. The attain is 72.50 mm and a drop of 120mm with a stem angle of 82 levels.

The Colnago CC.01 Large is offered in 5 totally different stem combos with the identical 40 hood and 46 vast on the drop: 80mm – 40/46, 90mm – 40/46, 100mm – 40/46, 110mm – 40/46, and 120mm – 40/46. The C68 Gravel full bike arrives with the Colnago CC.01 Large cockpit however is suitable with a standard bar/stem mixture.

How about tire clearance?

After I requested about tire clearance, the Colnago staff calmly said, “As much as 42mm however it performs finest with the 40s”. Why not 50mm or one thing extra intensive just like the development? The staff advised me, “This isn’t that type of gravel bike.” The C68 is a quick bike designed round a extra aggressive using type, leaning extra towards the gravel-road/racing facet.

It’s the identical cause you’ll discover no inside storage on the C68 Gravel. The staff didn’t wish to compromise on the bike’s silhouette or the tubes’ integrity. I love the selection to not observe the traits and to maintain the design centered on pace, dealing with, and sweetness.

Now, the staff says 42mm is the max, however that’s the most for the rear tire. If you wish to push the bounds, you may get a bigger tire within the entrance. However the fork is extra sculpted than some, and you possibly can run into mud clearance points in the event you run greater. The body can match gravel suspension forks in the event you’d like…however just like the tremendous vast tires and inside storage field — that may not be this type of bike.

Colnago C68 Gravel Builds and Paint Choices

Presently, the C68 will come obtainable as a body and fork or in three totally different construct choices. The builds vary from SRAM Crimson XPLR, Drive XPLR, and Shimano GRX 822 mechanical.

All bikes will come geared up with Colnago CC.01 Large built-in handlebar, Selle Italia Regal Brief Open Match CRB (Carbon) saddle, and Pirelli Cinturato Gravel TLR 40mm.

The wheels for every mannequin change barely, with the SRAM Crimson arriving with Zipp 303S carbon wheels, Drive with Fulcrum Speedy Crimson 500, and the Shimano GRX with Fulcrum 900.

Paint-wise, the brand new Colnago C68 Gravel will probably be obtainable in Inexperienced Pearl (in most images) or gloss black with crimson undertones within the solar. Having seen the paint up shut, each are nice choices (I’m a shiny fan), however the Inexperienced Pearl ought to cover the scratches and abuse of gravel using higher.

Colnago NFC Tag

Like different Colnago bikes, the brand new C68 could have a near-field communication or (NFC) tag. The tag is linked to the MyLime Polygon Blockchain and is inextricably linked to the bicycle. 

How does this assist the rider? In case your bike will get stolen, you should use the NFC as proof of possession. The NFC additionally helps with re-sale and helps stop (or disrupt) counterfeit Colnago bikes from getting into the market. For more information, take a look at Colnago’s rationalization of why they selected to be the primary bicycle firm to undertake Blockchain right here.

Colnago C68 Gravel Pricing

• Frameset solely $7,100.00, €5,935, £5,269.00
• SRAM Crimson XPLR, ZIPP 303S Wheels, $13,199.95, €12,010.00, £11,099.99.99
• SRAM Drive XPLR, Fulcrum Speedy Crimson 500, $9,599.95, €8,690.00, £8,099.95
• Shimano GRX 822 1X, Fulcrum Speedy Crimson 900, $7995.95, €7250.00, £6,899.95

Search for a experience assessment shortly, and for extra info and availability close to you, take a look at; Colnago.com