Colnago V1-r
Colnago V1-r
Designed in conjunction with Ferrari, and continuing the long time cooperation between the two companies, the Colnago V1-r has a solid claim to the title of the most Italian bike ever. Unlike, say, BMC’s collaboration with Lamborghini or LOOK’s Maserati-branded bike, Ferrari’s engineers had genuine input into the V1-r, helping with the choice of carbon for the frame and aerodynamic testing.
As you may have already guessed, the V1-r has two main aims: low weight and aerodynamics. With a claimed frame weight of 835g, Colnago have nailed the first goal and although it might not compete with the likes of Merida’s Scultura SL, it’s still more than light enough to build a bike that breezes under the UCI limit.
Unusually for a lightweight bike, Colnago have spent significant wind tunnel time on the V1-r, maximising everything from tube shapes, fork blades and even the seat stays in pursuit of cheating the wind. Tube profiles are truncated NACA airfoils, all tested in thoroughly in at various yaw angles, though the V1-r certainly isn’t as obviously an aero bikes as the likes of the new Trek Madone 9 or Specialized Venge ViAS. This one still very much looks like a (fairly) traditional road bike.
Colnago have also designed a dedicated seatpost for the V1-r, although it uses the same 27.2mm insertion as plenty of aftermarket models. It uses the same aluminium head as their existing posts, but the profiled body claims to improve aerodynamics.
Other features of the frame include direct mount brakes and a Threadfit 82.5 bottom bracket, as well as the fact that the V1-r, like the C60, is also available with both rim or disc brakes.
This bike comes frameset only as well, and although it’s cheaper than the C60, the price is still a premium £2,999.95.