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TECH NEWS

Just in: Colnago C59

All new classic carbon frameset from Colnago… and golly it's a light bike

Colnago's all new C59 range-topping super bike certainly turned a few heads at Eurobike. Hand made and hand painted in Italy, this is Italian top end carbon at its finest and something of a statement of intent from Mr C - there's none of your BB30 bottom bracket shenanigans going on here, and Colnago continues to go its own way when it comes to integrated headsets and tapered head tubes: the C59 is high end carbon in the classic mould, indeed the top tube has a profile shaped like that of the classic steel Colnago Master series.

Except of course there isn't any moulding going on here, well not in the monocoque sense of the word, with the C59 Colnago sticks to its guns when it comes to lugs and tubes for their Italian built models.The major advantage here is that it means they can build in a vast number of sizes and subtly tune their frames for different sized riders in to the bargain. It's a light way to build too - fully decked out our C59 barely grazed the road.cc scales at a feathery 6.73kg; that's 14.8lb in old money.

The C59 will be available over here as a frame and fork package for £3299.99 and for that you get the frame (naturally), fork, Colnago's new C-HS semi-integrated headset which gives you the clean lines of an integrated design with none of what Colnago see as the disadvantages of some integrated designs, namely the extra stresses placed on the head tube. The bearings in the C-HS sit in an aluminium cup and the headtube itself is further protected by a lightweight internal aluminium sleeve. The C59 uses the C-HS 2 version of Colnago's headset with 11/8 bearings top and bottom.

 

Internal ribs on the top and down tube increase stiffness, say Colnago, and the squared chain and seatstays further ensure that as much of your effort as possible is transmitted to the back wheel with the minimum of fuss. The C59 is available as a custom option, although given that there is a staggering 22 stock sizes why you would need to go the custom route is something of a mystery. Oh, and all the sizes are available in two options - a Shimano Di2 frame (just let UK distributor, Windwave, know if you want one of those) or for standard mechanical groupsets.

Our test frameset came built up with some very droolworthy kit including a mainly Campagnolo Record drivetrain complemented with an FSA K-Force light chainset, bars, and brakes, and FSA Vision carbon semi deep section wheels, a very funky looking Smanie saddle and some cool looking bar tape from the same source.

Not surprisingly the new Colnago C59 hasn't hung about the road.cc offices. Since coming in for testing no sooner than it had floated out of the box, on to the scales, and fluttered its eyelashes for the camera than it was off out the door to get some serious miles under its wheels.

road.cc's founder and first editor, nowadays to be found riding a spreadsheet. Tony's journey in cycling media started in 1997 as production editor and then deputy editor of Total Bike, acting editor of Total Mountain Bike and then seven years as editor of Cycling Plus. He launched his first cycling website - the Cycling Plus Forum at the turn of the century. In 2006 he left C+ to head up the launch team for Bike Radar which he edited until 2008, when he co-launched the multi-award winning road.cc - finally handing on the reins in 2021 to Jack Sexty. His favourite ride is his ‘commute’ - which he does most days inc weekends and he’s been cycle-commuting since 1994. His favourite bikes are titanium and have disc brakes, though he'd like to own a carbon bike one day.

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13 comments

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Pierre | 13 years ago
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Doesn't it look a bit silly with all the writing and logos plastered all over it? I know that's a very Colnago thing, but I much prefer clean smooth lines...

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cian power | 13 years ago
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nice  4

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Tony Farrelly | 13 years ago
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I'm ashamed to say I didn't count the number of 'Colnagos' on there before it went out for testing - suffice to say it was a reassuringly large amount. I've emailed Stu, our tester, to count 'em up… could be a compo coming up on that one.  1

The bike won't be the prize

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stuke replied to Tony Farrelly | 13 years ago
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tony_farrelly wrote:

I'm ashamed to say I didn't count the number of 'Colnagos' on there before it went out for testing - suffice to say it was a reassuringly large amount. I've emailed Stu, our tester, to count 'em up… could be a compo coming up on that one.  1

The bike won't be the prize

I'm guessing that means I won't be allowed to enter  4

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giff77 | 13 years ago
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If we guess the right number of mentions of Colnago is the C59 the prize? :-o

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Fish_n_Chips | 13 years ago
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I'm going into Halfords to see what the apollo equivalent will be and riding home on it. Wheels fall off...

 4

Loverly paintwork mmm dreams...

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Napalmhaze | 13 years ago
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That's a dream bike right there. I am insanely jealous.

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Alan Jett | 13 years ago
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I was able to touch it at the Cycle show and loved it will have to save hard. Its certainly got wow factor and one done in the PRAL colour design would definately set the butterfiles going.

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turnerc99 | 13 years ago
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@fringe - £3k only gets you the frame and forks...

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Tony Farrelly | 13 years ago
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Can't think too many of the takers for a 65cm frame will be sub 85Kg Old Cranky

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Karbon Kev | 13 years ago
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Rode one the Friday of the cycle show, christ, stiffest frame I ever rode, very very fast acceleration. Lovely ....

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Fringe | 13 years ago
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where do i get the 3+ grand for one of them?  4

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Old Cranky | 13 years ago
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Drool. Is there the normal 85kg rider weight limit in Colnago's warranty for the C59?

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