Showing just how prevalent the gravel trend is, Colnago has just launched the G3-X, its first foray into this new market with a full carbon frame and fork with space for 700×42 and 650bx467 tyres. The complete GRX equipped bike pictured here costing £4299.95.

The G3-X has some geometry changes to ensure it’s suited to gravel and adventure riding. It has a lower bottom bracket, longer chainstays to stretch the wheelbase, and a longer top tube that is designed around the use of a shorter stem. Colnago advises a 10-20mm shorter stem.

colnago g3x gravel bike14
colnago g3x gravel bike14 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

– 22 of the best gravel & adventure bikes — super-versatile bikes that are at home on lanes, potholed streets and dirt roads

This long front centre and short stem is an idea borrowed from mountain bikes and a few gravel bikes have adopted it, namely the Cervelo Aspero we recently tested. The idea is to liven up the handling for more responsive steering, whilst maintaining a comfortable fit for long-distance comfort.

colnago g3x gravel bike4
colnago g3x gravel bike4 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

It’s a full carbon fibre frame and fork that looks to borrow some design cues from the V3-RS road race bike, especially around the sculptured head tube and top tube, and the dropped seat stays and internal seat clamp with an aero seatpost.

colnago g3x gravel bike5
colnago g3x gravel bike5 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

There’s full internal cable routing, the cables entering a port on the down tube, with flat mount disc brakes and 12mm thru-axles. Colnago has added a plastic bash guard to the down tube to protect the carbon from rock strikes.

colnago g3x gravel bike6
colnago g3x gravel bike6 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Colnago has added the obligatory top tube mounts for a bag, but there aren’t any additional mounts. Clearly it’s a bike built for fast gravel riding and single day epics rather than adventurous bikepacking where you might want a plethora of extra mounts. There are also no mudguard eyelets, but I don’t think Colnago has ever made a bike that will take mudguards has it?

colnago g3x gravel bike2
colnago g3x gravel bike2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

There’ll be just one model available in the UK costing £4299.95 with a choice of two colours, metallic green/duck egg blue and carbon/white. The specification includes Shimano’s new GRX 800 mechanical groupset with a a 48/31t chainset and 11-34t cassette. Handlebar and stem come from Deda, the seatpost is Colnago’s own and the saddle comes from Prologo. Tyres are Pirelli Cinturato Gravel 40mm.

colnago g3x gravel bike1
colnago g3x gravel bike1 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

More info over at www.colnago.com/en/bikes/g3x/ (though there is precious little detail on the website which is odd given it’s a brand new bike)