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Colango C64 Review

The C64 builds on the legend of Colnago’s hand built Italian lugged carbon framesets that started with the C40 – in 1995 the first carbon bike ridden to victory in Paris-Roubaix.

The C64 takes all that was good about its predecessor, the C60 while adding modern aero details, improved power transfer and a more comfortable ride experience. It’s a bike selected for Editor’s Choice awards for the best ridden in 2018.

Road bicycle C64 | Colnago - The Best Bikes in the World

Colango C64

When we rode the C60 last summer, we loved the ride quality but noted the lack of modern features in Colnago’s superbike. Ernesto must have been listening, because six months later out comes the C64, with a host of updates to its predecessor’s classic design.

Colnago C64 disc — photos, specs, info - BikeRadar

Colango C64

It’s called the C64 to mark the 64 years since Colnago was founded, and like the C60 is hand built in Italy. It’s available in six colours and disc-brake or direct-mount rim brake versions.

Colango C64

Frame

The C64 is still a lugged frame, with butted carbon tubes bonded into carbon lugs, reflecting the design of Colnago’s classic steel road bikes, used by the likes of Eddy Merckx in his glory days.

The lugged construction allows Colnago to offer a wide range of frame sizes and either a sloping or a horizontal top tube. The C64’s tubing is wider, lighter and, Colnago says, stronger than the C60’s tubes, shaving a claimed 205g off the C60’s weight.

Colango C64

The single-piece design allows it to integrate the seatpost clamping bolt into the underside of the top tube for a more modern aesthetic, better hold and a weight saving of around 15g. Colnago has also moved from a round seatpost to a flat backed design, as used in its V2-R aero bike, noting that this increases vertical compliance over the C60’s 31.6mm post.

Colango C64

It says that its new recessed bottle cage bolts on the down tube help with aerodynamics too, by reducing the distance between the cage and the frame.

Colango C64

Other changes include asymmetric chainstays, with a wider section to the non-driveside stay. There’s also a redesigned head tube lug with an angular cut-out and, Colnago says, extra stiffness. This is mirrored in a recessed area in the fork, which has also been redesigned from the C60 to make it more rigid and save around 40g.

Colango C64

There’s a new internal rib in the steerer tube for extra strength, which means that there’s no need for an expander inside. The headset design is borrowed from the Colnago Concept, with polymer upper cups designed to help adsorb road vibrations.