Colnago has launched the C72, the latest update of its premium C Series road bike. Hand built in Italy, the C72 continues Colnago’s tradition of bonded tubed construction, which dates all the way back to the C35, rather than the monocoque frames that are now most common.
But the C72 has evolved to offer modern road bike features, with a more harmonious lug design than its predecessor C68, a more relaxed geometry, added tyre clearance and greater integration.
Full bike prices start at £13,299 for an all-road style spec and head up to £16,299.
Colnago’s evolved lugged construction
Colnago says that the lugged assembly method allows its engineers to fine-tune stiffness, compliance and force distribution throughout the frame elements. It claims stability, precise handling and responsiveness for the new frame’s construction and geometry.
The lugs that are a distinctive component of the C Series frames have evolved. While on previous C Series bikes they increasingly disappeared into the frame structure, in the C72 the joint between the lugs and the frame tubes has been highlighted with a small gap that Colnago compares to panel gap matching in high-end motor vehicles. It claims that the shape of the lugs helps to provide visual harmony and that the accuracy of the joints ensures a consistent visual flow, while still displaying the modular construction.
Colnago claims that the latest iteration of the C Series adds extra compliance over the previous generation C68, thanks to changes in the rear triangle shapes. There’s also the inevitable increase in tyre clearance – up from 32mm to 35mm. It says that this extends the bike’s capabilities beyond tarmac, straying into the territory previously occupied by the C68 Allroad.
The geometry is also claimed to provide more opportunity for longer distance riding, while keeping the option for a more racy position. The stack for a given reach is a little higher than the C68, while not being as high as the C68 Allroad.
Compared to the C68, the head tube has been made a little steeper, while the fork rake has been increased, which Colnago claims provides sharp, accurate handling and responsiveness without being nervous. The seat tube is also steeper, allowing a ride position that’s more front-forward, in line with modern bike fitting trends.
The C72 is claimed to be 30g lighter than the C68, with a size 485 unpainted frame without metal parts weighing 895g. Colnago says that a full bike can weigh 6.8kg or less and that there’s no reduction in frame stiffness.
There’s also increased integration, with a new cockpit, called the CC.02, lowering weight by 15g and claimed to improve handling thanks to a reduced reach and increased flare. Colnago will offer six different length/width combinations, with the distance between the levers either 390mm or 410mm and a consistent 420mm drop width across the range. A new integrated seatpost is said to be more aero and more adjustable.
Colnago has also added downtube in-frame storage, it says without detriment to frame stiffness. It includes a storage bag with a ratchet wrench, tool kit and CO2 inflator head and a TPU inner tube.
Colnago C72 specs and prices
Colnago aims for exclusivity, with production of the C72 capped at 3,000 frames per year. Prices for the C72 start from £6,299 / $7,250 / €6,780 for a frame kit, including the handlebars.
There are also four full bike options:
- Shimano Dura-Ace with Fulcrum Sharq wheels: £13,299 / $N/A / €14,200
- Shimano Dura-Ace with Enve SES 4.5 wheels: £14,999 / $15,500 / €15,900
- Campagnolo Super Record 13 with Bora Ultra WTO 45 wheels: £14,999 / $15,750 / €15,900
- SRAM Red AXS with power meter and Enve SES 4.2 wheels: £16.299 / $15,750 / €16,600
There are four colour options, each of which Colnago claims highlights one of the frame’s structural features.
There’s also a La Scala launch edition of just 72 bikes, painted in a special red, gold and white livery and priced at €22,000.