At the Core Bike Show earlier this week, an annual gathering of UK distributors, Colnago importers Windwave were showing off the latest 2010 Italian carbon.
Building on a strong 2009 for the Italian company there are now price drops on several models while improvements to both the frames and specifications make them even more appealing than before.
First, a look at the CLX 2.0, which sits above the Ace in the pecking order. The frame has been revised for 2010 to make it even lighter and stiffer than last year’s iteration. The front triangle is a carbon monocoque with lugged and bonded seat and chainstays, and the top and down tubes feature external ribs along with an increased wall thickness on the top of both tubes.
Frame weight is around 1.1kg. Eight sizes are available (from 42s to 59s) and the model is offered in two colours for the complete bike or three colours for the frameset only. A Shimano Ultegra-equipped bike will set you back £2599.95 while a frame, fork and headset package is £1699.95.
Sitting between the CLX 2.0 and the top-end EPS, the CX1 costs £2,299.95 (frame and fork) and features a multi-shaped polygonal top tube claimed to increase stiffness and afford some compliance. It’s available in 8 sloping sizes.
However, grabbing the most attention of the entire show (if not the Colnago stand at least) the Power EPS in a new naked carbon finish. The £3,099.95 frameset is the stiffest Colnago has ever made and uses a traditional lugged manufacturing process undertaken entirely in Italy.
There’s now a new multi-shape tube profile to increase stiffness without upping the weight and four internal ribs in the downtube help towards the stiffness claims for this frame. Choose from 14 traditional and 8 sloping sizes.
The Flight, the company’s time trial offering, has dropped £500 in price, the frame and fork can now be picked up for £1,999.95. It may not have the cutting edge design of some of the most talked about time trial bikes on the professional circuit but it looks like no slouch. The carbon fibre monocoque frame has been designed using the latest 3D modelling software and is produced from a single mould, which the company calls its ‘Beta’ carbon process.
To reduce drag there’s internal routing for the cables, a teardrop shaped seat tube and profiled top and down tubes. For stiffness a one-piece bottom bracket shell and an optimised carbon lay-up adds additional layers of the black stuff where it’s needed. Each frame comes complete with two carbon seat posts (77° post for Triathlon and a 74° post for Time Trial), and is available in three sizes; 45, 53 and 58cm, and two colours.
