Price: $5,850 (frame/fork)

Weight: 2.27 lbs. (frame/fork)

Components: Dura-Ace (tested)


Frame & Fork: Carbon

Geometry: 71.47° head tube, 73° seat tube, 556mm top tube

Sizes: 46cm-64cm (tested 58cm)

Comments: “The Ferrari of bicycles.”

www.colnago.com

The first time I laid eyes on a real Colnago, it wasn’t pretty. They were
ridden by the Soviet amateurs in the early ’80s, in an agreement with the
respective cycling federation and Ernesto Colnago to release some of their
riders into the pro peleton. These bikes were chipped, beaten-up,
well-used, and always red.
It’s a far cry from today’s Colnago, which is now seen in the same light as
a Ferrari is in automobile circles. Today’s Colnagos come in many sizes,
shapes, and colours, though none as nice as this year’s C40 B-Stay.

New for the C40 is a conic diagonal tube, a higher profile on the
horizontal rear tubes, and the added feature of a carved “ace of clubs”
(Colnago’s logo) at the top end of the head lug. The big change is the
addition of the innovative B-Stay, designed to enhance the rigidity of the
rear triangle while decreasing overall weight. Master profile carbon-fibre
top tube and cone-shaped down tube minimize lateral flex and reinforce the
bottom bracket. Oval-shaped oversized chainstays increase bottom bracket
and rear triangle efficiency. The C40’s exclusive seamless carbon-fibre
lugs allow the frame to be produced in a complete range of sizes (46-64cm)
and provide unparalleled frame response.

Innovation and design aside, the painted colour schemes on the
Colnago-equipped Mapei and Rabobank team bikes are nothing short of art.
The C40 combines the classic elegance of carbon with yellow highlights and
decals. Matching the stem, seat, tape, and tires are the fun part. Colnago
now customizes everything from stems to seats, as well as any part of a
cyclist’s attire, including shoes and helmets.

Riding a C40 can be likened to stepping into a performance automobile.
There are so many noticeable similarities. The first thing that strikes you
is the bike’s ability to ride straight ahead with little effort-I know this
is a hard thought to embrace, but hear me out. The C40 has an uncanny
ability to shoot forward, particularly during out-of-the-saddle
accelerating or climbing. The way the bike just rolls along is uncanny; it
seems to ride itself. Truthfully, I’ve never ridden a bike that feels as
smooth or as in control as this machine-the feeling is akin to a constant
tail wind.

Climbing with the C40 one senses that any power placed on the pedals
transforms itself throughout the frame, creating a stable, balanced
sensation. Watching Stefano Garzelli and Paulo Bettini dance away up the
last climb in Liege-Bastogne-Liege on their C40’s is testimony to this.
With the myriad of forces acting on these frames over cobbles, Euro roads,
climbs, and descents, they are definitely not the Vituses or Alans of old.
These new carbon machines are taking a licking and staying solid.
To truly appreciate this machine take a long sustained sprint on a smooth
road. The C40 has a balance of rigidity and flow that accentuates each
effort. Cornering with this machine is also a pleasure, as the carbon head
tube and forks supply the right amount of dampening and flex.

Overall, this bike gets an A+ everywhere it counts, and justifiably,
Colnago has elevated its status within the community of bikes to crown
jewel ranking. With this in mind, you can also expect a hefty price tag
once you’ve finished piecing it all together, probably the only downside to
this mount. And if you ever lay this masterpiece down, it will feel as if
someone just keyed your Ferrari, so take care and enjoy the ride.