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TECH NEWS

Colnago C60 Sneak peek: Pre-launch lowdown on Colnago's new range topper

It's stiffer, has the classic star shaped Colnago tube profile and the disc version is lighter than the C59 Disc

Colnago has launched the new C60, which will be available with or without disc brakes. There is a new bottom bracket press-fit standard, oversized tubes and new alloy dropouts, contributing to a frame that is significantly stiffer than the previous C59 say Colnago. And they say the C60 Disc is 140g lighter than the C59 Disc.

Frame price will be £3,499.95 or £3,699.95 for disc, but the disc version won’t be available until October.

According to Colnago there are no round tubes on the new C60. They’re using star-shaped tubes and lugs that is a homage to the famous Master steel frame which helped the company make its name. “Star-shaped tubes are a proven design element and have become a signature design element for Colnago frames,” says Colnago. It adds that the full-length star shape “allows better control of the wall thickness and lamination of the entire length of the tube” which it regards as a step forwards for strength and comfort. Bold claims indeed.

Key to the claimed increase in the C60’s stiffness is an all-new bottom bracket junction, with Colnago’s brand new press-fit standard, ThreadFit82.5. Colnago say they looked at the currently available standards and decided none met their requirements, so developed a new one. The key is the wider shell and removable threaded sleeves which can easily be replaced. It’s compatible with all versions of Pressfit 86.5 BB says Colnago.

Making the bottom bracket shell wider has allowed Colnago to increase the diameter of each tube that terminates there. That’s the down tube, seat tube and chainstays. Increasing their respective diameters has contributed to the increased stiffness and certainly increasing the diameter of a tube is an obvious way to gain more stiffness, and with carbon you can do so with very little weight penalty, if any at all.

The down tube then is all new, much more oversized than the C59. With the new bottom bracket Colnago have been able to increase its diameter to a 66x52mm square section, up from about 44mm of the C59. Colnago claims this leads to more efficiency and yet reduces weight, but by how much it’s not clear. And like the top tube, the profile retains the star-shape that was a Colnago's trademark in steel.

Wider too is the new seat tube, a maximum of 51.5mm, compared to the C59’s 34.9mm.  It’s asymmetric in shape as it reaches the bottom bracket, to allow space for the front mech. Despite the prevalence of skinny 27.2mm seatposts, Colnago sticks with a 31.6mm post, saying the reason is to “maximise lateral stiffness and quick response to handling input favoured by Colnago’s professional racers.” A reminder, if it were needed, that this is thoroughbred race bike designed for the toughest racing.

The chainstays are much larger in size, and are about twice the height at the bottom bracket as they are at the dropouts. Internal reinforcing ribs further stiffness them up. Colnago reckons  the tapering of the chainstays allows a degree of vertical flex to offer some comfort.

New CNC-machined one-piece dropouts have been developed for the C60. The company claims they’re lighter than a dropout made from carbon, and are stronger and stiffer. The mech hanger is replaceable, and they’ve cleaned up the internal routing for electronic groupsets.

These dropouts have also been developed with disc brakes in mind. The disc-specific dropouts mount the brake caliper inside the rear triangle, and use co-moulded post mounts with threaded inserts. They’re claimed to be lighter and stiffer than the disc mount dropouts used on the C59. Rear wheel spacing is a standard 135mm.

Colnago will offer the C60 in multiple paint finishes, divided into the Race, Classic and Italia ranges, all of which you can see in the gallery up top.

Before the C60...

It’s been 20 years since the Italian company first launched the C40, a bike which scooped victories at Paris-Roubaix five times in just six years, thus proving the capability of carbon fibre as a frame material choice, if ever it were needed.

It was replaced by the C50 in 2003, which took the tube and lug construction process and shaved weight and also increased stiffness through the use of larger diameter tubes. Then came dedicated frames for sprinting and climbing, with the Extreme Power and Extreme C respectively, and followed by the EPS.

The C59 Disc

The C59 Italia (here's our review) was introduced in 2010, still keeping with the same construction method but this time with oversized lugs, internal cable routing and compatibility with electronic groupsets. A disc version of the C59 was later added in 2012, and we got a first ride at its launch that year.

More at www.colnago.com

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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27 comments

Avatar
framebuilder | 10 years ago
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Nice stuff, come a long way from my old super

www.prestige-cycles.co.uk

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Nick T | 10 years ago
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Oh, that's without question. I've spent the past 24 hours trying to figure out the how's and not the if's.

Even more do since the trad geometries popped up on the website  3

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ajmarshal1 | 10 years ago
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Take my money Ernesto. Take it all.

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Veloacciaio | 10 years ago
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Off to rob a bank fund one!  103

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wellcoordinated | 10 years ago
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Star shaped frame - I guess you need something to churn the market and try and differentiate your product from all the other fads - sorry innovations.

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allez neg | 10 years ago
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I hear they're developing a new BB standard and chainset design in conjunction with Crank Bros specifically to maximise the efficiency when used with Crank Bros Egg beater pedals.

They're calling it Beater-max.

Seriously - apart from any questions of carbons' longterm durability and robustness, can the bike industry hurry up and decide on one or two standards for bb shells and headsets and stick to them? We're suckered into accepting built in obsolescence from computers and phones and the like, but I don't much like the idea of shelling out 2 or 3 grand or more and be scrabbling around for spares a few years down the line.

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Nick T | 10 years ago
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"Colnago’s brand new press-fit standard, ThreadFit82.5. Colnago say they looked at the currently available standards and decided none met their requirements, so developed a new one."

There's an interview with the designer on another cycling website that contradicts this, that they wanted to avoid creating a new standard so this is an attempt to improve the existing BB86 design by allowing the shells to be replaced if worn or damaged.

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Nick T | 10 years ago
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C40, laaaaaavurly. What paint job is it?

I was really expecting to be underwhelmed the 60, but they've managed to stir something in me with this. I'd practically written it off before seeing it and was all set to pick up a 59 before they retired them - now I'm pretty psyched about the new one.

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alg | 10 years ago
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I think it is fair to say they have done it yet again. I shant ditch my C40 in a hurry but I am sure I could find room for another piece of art on 2 wheels  105

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Nick T | 10 years ago
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Yes, it will be fully compatible with 25mm as well as working with some 28mm, apparently.

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bikerdavecycling | 10 years ago
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Question is, will it take 25mm or 28mm tyres as those are all the rage now...?  3

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Beefy | 10 years ago
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Beautiful  8

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Nick T | 10 years ago
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Nick T | 10 years ago
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I hope not, there's already enough boring paint schemes out there. Let's hope they hark back to their garish best.

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Jacob | 10 years ago
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Let's hope that the colours are some what understated. And yes, about time we had a new BB size as I was really getting tired of the 500 already available.

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jetblack | 10 years ago
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so no new fork design. the same as on the EPS and C59. Not enough changes to make me want to part with my hard earned. Colnago playing it safe. I'll keep with my C59 thanks very much!

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Nick T | 10 years ago
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Not only that, it works a treat on corrugated cardboard too.

I think, though, that the point they make with that claim is that having the profile run the length of the tube rather than only in the middle portion with rounded ends (like on the C59) is a superior method of construction. That's what the document is about, highlighting the improvements over their previous design.

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Chris James | 10 years ago
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Colnago 'adds that the full-length star shape “allows better control of the wall thickness and lamination of the entire length of the tube”'.

Isn't it fortunate their unique design feature in steel tubing also works in a completely different material.....

Hmmm..

Does anyone believe anything the marketing departments of bike manufacturers come up with?

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Welsh boy replied to Chris James | 10 years ago
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Chris James wrote:

Colnago 'adds that the full-length star shape “allows better control of the wall thickness and lamination of the entire length of the tube”'.

Isn't it fortunate their unique design feature in steel tubing also works in a completely different material.....

Hmmm..

Does anyone believe anything the marketing departments of bike manufacturers come up with?

I also like their square section which is rectangular!

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Yennings | 10 years ago
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What was that knee-rubbing thing Vic Reeves used to do when confronted by attractive women on 'Shooting Stars'? Hubba hubba...

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fukawitribe | 10 years ago
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Thank goodness someone has finally seen sense and introduced another bottom bracket standard - about bloody time.

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evo111 replied to fukawitribe | 10 years ago
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fukawitribe wrote:

Thank goodness someone has finally seen sense and introduced another bottom bracket standard - about bloody time.

Beautifully put... whilst one shouldn't stand in the way of innovation such bespoke refinements of today can quickly become tomorrows obsolete idea. I must admit to checking the bb standard on my new frame before investing... Perhaps im just getting a bit middle-aged

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Nick T replied to evo111 | 10 years ago
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evo111 wrote:
fukawitribe wrote:

Thank goodness someone has finally seen sense and introduced another bottom bracket standard - about bloody time.

Beautifully put... whilst one shouldn't stand in the way of innovation such bespoke refinements of today can quickly become tomorrows obsolete idea. I must admit to checking the bb standard on my new frame before investing... Perhaps im just getting a bit middle-aged

It looks like an existing 86mm press fit standard just with removable cups so you can put new ones in when they creaking to buggery. Not really a new standard, but a new way to offer an existing one. I'd still prefer a traditional threaded shell personally but I can see why a relic like that would hold back modern frame design.

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Nick T | 10 years ago
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No more traditional geometries as far as can tell, so only the nine, 2cm incremental sloping sizes that the C59 was offered in alongside the traditional options. Apparently there should be a custom order program if you want an odd numbered size, however.

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kitkat | 10 years ago
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I went to the Colnago site and was distracted... lovely!

http://colnago.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/MASTER-AD11.jpg

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aslongasicycle | 10 years ago
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Well hellloooo. Further return of Art Decor paint jobs? Mmmm.

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Mr. Rossi replied to aslongasicycle | 10 years ago
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Break open that piggy bank, Nick. You know you want to  3

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