Colnago C68 Gravel First Ride Review: Italy’s finest handmade carbon bike goes off-road

“], “filter”: { “nextExceptions”: “img, blockquote, div”, “nextContainsExceptions”: “img, blockquote, a.btn, ao-button”} }”>

If the V4R is the Colnago stable’s F1 car, the C68 series is the Ferrari California.

This is a concise explanation by Colnago marketing consultant Manolo Bertocchi, who uses the legendary Italian car manufacturer to describe the products of perhaps the most famous Italian bicycle brand.

But this comparison was made years ago, when monocoque frames were replaced by this technology in most other bicycle brands, when the sturdy, hand-crafted bikes in Italy, down the street from founder Ernesto Colnago’s home It gets right to the heart of why carbon frame frames continue to exist.

The C68 exists as a complement to Colnago’s full-fledged race bikes. It’s still high performance, but it’s a little more focused on everyday riding and probably looks better while riding. Not only can you enjoy the climb, but you can also enjoy it at the cafe afterwards.

And now Colnago has announced the C68 Gravel, and there are not one, not two, but three C68 models, in addition to the road and all-road models. (Well, let’s make it 4 models with the limited C68 titanium version of the road model).

Also read: 5 gravel bike trends to expect in 2024

C68 family expands to three

So Colnago just took the C68 road and made it fit with 42mm tires? It’s not that fast.

The C68 Gravel is a completely new frame made with a unique tube set, confirms Davide Fumagalli, Colnago’s head of research and development. In fact, the only thing common between Road, Allroad, and Gravel models is the seatpost. Each model is made in Colnago’s factory outside Milan, where he glues six pieces together.

(Side note: Colnago uses the same size post for each frame size, so smaller frame riders may need to reduce the post a bit)

The C68 family currently consists of a road model with 32mm tire clearance. Allroad with 35mm clearance. Gravel with 42mm clearance.

With each new model, from road to all-road to gravel, the geometry becomes a little more relaxed, with Colnago incorporating slightly more flex into the carbon structure for added comfort.

As you might expect, weight increases slightly from model to model. The allroad version adds another 40 grams and the gravel version adds another 20 grams. Size 485 C68 Road weighs 925 grams, while similarly sized Allroad and Gravel versions weigh around 965 grams and 985 grams respectively.

Colnago points out that pursuing the lightest weight is not the point of the C series. It’s the wheelhouse of the V-series road bike raced by Tadej Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates, and weighs less than 800 grams.

So why did we choose the C68 series?

Why carbon lug construction will be necessary in 2024

Sturdy carbon frames may seem old-fashioned, but they still offer some advantages over monocoque frames. These benefits include durability, especially for heavier riders. custom geometry. And this may be my bias, and I know I’m not alone, but it’s a more aesthetically pleasing look.

Officially, Colnago claims a maximum rider weight for this bike of 110 kg (243 lbs). But Fumagalli points out that that’s only because the other components of the finished Colnago are at their maximum weight.The frameset is far From the limiting factor of this equation. There are frames available for riders weighing over 110 kg that they can ride, as long as their chosen wheels and other components are made to fit.

This method of construction also gives Colnago the benefit of custom geometry that few major bike brands can offer these days. Can’t find the right size? Colnago can create a one-off frame for you.

After all, Colnago is proud to be the last major Italian bicycle brand that continues to manufacture bicycles in Italy. Sure, even if the brand loses money on the C68 series from time to time, that’s still a good reason to stick with it.

Impressive handlebar

The C68 Gravel features a gravel-specific version of the Colnago CC.01 integrated cockpit called CC.01 Wide. It has a 72.5mm reach, 120mm drop, 82-degree stem angle, and a wider flare.

While there are many wide gravel bars out there, I especially liked the compact shape of the drop, which had just the right amount of flare and made it easy to access the hood. The top is also airfoil-free and provides a comfortable place to rest your hands.

Stem lengths are available at 80mm, 90mm, 100mm, 110mm and 120mm, while handlebar width is set at 40mm.

If you want to replace it with another handlebar, you can do that. Alloy stems are also available from Colnago.

geometry

From a geometry standpoint, Colnago used their existing G3-X gravel bike as a starting point for the C68 gravel. The G3-X, on the other hand, is intended to be a hard-charging gravel bike for racers like Colnago sponsored rider Nathan Haas. The C68 series aims to make touch easier and more comfortable.

To that end, the C68 Gravel is now more forgiving with a 70.5-degree headtube angle across all sizes, and increased stability thanks to increased BB drop and longer wheelbase. Plus, it has a shorter reach, more stack, and room for 42mm tires.

The C68 Gravel comes in five frame sizes, all with sloped geometry: 450, 480, 510, 540, and 570.

This is less than Colnago’s peak frame size of 22 (yes, really), but this is not only confusing for both customers and dealers, but many frame sizes fit one rider This meant that there was a lot of overlap. According to Colnago, orders have been decreasing recently, but if none of the five sizes fit, there is still the option of semi-custom.

0mm, 15mm, and 30mm offset seat posts are available, with 15mm being standard.

Build, price, and availability

The Colnago C68 Gravel frameset (with seatpost and Colnago CC.01 Wide integrated cockpit) retails for US$7,100 / €5,935 / £5,269.

For now, the C68 Gravel will only be sold as a frameset in the US.

The following complete build options are available in Europe:

• SRAM Red XPLR, ZIPP 303S wheels cost €12,010 / £11,100.
• The SRAM Force XPLR with Fulcrum Rapid Red 500 wheels costs €8,690 / £8,100.
• Shimano GRX 822 1X, Fulcrum Rapid Red 900 priced at €7,250 / £6,900

There are two colors at the time of release: HGGR (green) and HGBK (black). Both look great in person, with the black version including white accents on the head tube (the smaller size doesn’t have enough visible tubes to use for accent colors). Great paint is the department where the C68 series really shines, so I wish there were more colors. However, his two paint options available at launch are still great.

Groupset compatibility: no 2x mechanical

This bike is compatible with most groupsets with one big exception: 2x mechanical groups. This basically just excludes the Shimano GRX mechanical 2x group.

That still leaves Campagnolo Ekar and SRAM Apex, both of which are 1x. Any 1x mechanical Shimano GRX groupset. GRX Di2 1x or 2x; the entire family of SRAM AXS groups (both 1x and 2x).

blockchain for authentication

Colnago has implemented one of the simplest and best uses of blockchain technology I’ve ever seen, embedding an NFC tag into every frame, allowing customers to register the bike as their own in a public database. I did it like this.

This helps in authenticating the frame, which is especially important for resale value (potential buyers can immediately tell if it is a genuine Colnago product by scanning the tag). Especially important for buyers of his one-off builds of the brand, which sell at auction for several times the standard price. Colnagos. Gold and diamond encrusted C68, anyone?

Colnago also certifies that Tadej Pogačar used a particular bike to win a stage in the Tour de France, or that other professional riders used that particular bike in a particular race. It is also helpful.

This is a company so serious about its history that it employs a brand historian with a PhD and has developed an archive containing at least one image of every professional Colnago win to date. It’s valuable for.

First ride impressions

Two days of riding in San Diego gave me a little taste of C68 gravel. He took us on a 30-mile flat coastal cruise and a 30-mile gravel ride that involved thousands of feet of climbing and mud-broken singletrack. holes and waterways.

Despite not being Colnago’s most performance-oriented gravel bike, we were impressed with its ride quality both on and off-road.

It is expected to be more docile than Colnago’s road race bikes. Still, there is no discomfort even when driving at high speeds. Did it feel bad to casually pass triathletes hunched over on lumpy tires? a bit. But that was never the case with the C68 Gravel. It goes fast in a straight line and offers comfortable stability, but don’t expect it to be a very responsive bike when attacking sprints or climbs.

Off-road, this bike can handle more than just simple fire roads. Let it loose on singletrack and you’ll be able to blast through moderately technical sections. Plus, it climbs easily for a gravel bike.

Simply put, the C68 Gravel is fast, smooth, and stable. Although not specifically for racing, it works well in a competitive environment.

What it lacks is versatility. There is only one additional attachment point on the top tube. The maximum diameter of the tires is 42mm, which is plenty for most gravel riding, but smaller than I expected for a non-racing gravel bike from this brand. It was never intended as a primary tool for adventure riding.

In other words, when it comes to gravel bikes, there’s something in between in many ways. Here the comparison with Ferrari his California comes back to mind. It’s cooler, more capable, and more comfortable, but it’s not the absolute highest performance machine. Oh, and it’s made in Italy through and through, with a price that reflects its exclusivity.

Tested specifications

SRAM Red AXS (40T/10-42T), Zipp 303S wheels, Pirelli Cinturato Gravel TLR 40mm tires, Selle Italia Regal Short Open Fit CRB saddle.Colnago carbon seatpost; Colnago CC.01 wide integrated cockpit

conclusion

I’ve ridden many high-end bikes, but the Colnago C series continues to stand out for me. It’s one of my favorite bikes, both in terms of ride comfort and appearance.

C68 Gravel is for self-selecting users. If you think about it too seriously, you’ll find plenty of reasons not to buy it. There are really many, Really There are good gravel bikes for much less money than this. There are also gravel bikes that can take you more places because of their greater tire clearance and storage options. Or some may be a little more reactive in racing situations. But the Colnago has an elegance that no other bike can match.

“This is a bike built for the joy of riding,” said Manolo Bertocci, Colnago’s marketing consultant.

I couldn’t agree more and wished I had one in my fleet.