Colnago Buying Advice

Velonutter

I'm looking closely at buying a Colnago, buying a brand new EPS or CX-1 is not in my budget, but you often hear of C40's/C50's going cheap as discontinued.

Looking around no one seems to have any old stock, I'm a 53/54cm

Anyone know of any around? Would even consider a clean secondhand.

I may do the odd veteran race, quite a few sportives, and just the odd TT.

Was the C40 Carbon or just the forks?

Any comments appreciated.

Thanks.

redddraggon

C40 was carbon

nicensleazy

GB Cycles may have some old stock. If you can afford it, I would go for the EPS! There are a few past posts on here about the EPS.

Velonutter

nicensleazy wrote:

GB Cycles may have some old stock. If you can afford it, I would go for the EPS! There are a few past posts on here about the EPS.

I would love an EPS, but quite a bit out of my budget.

Maybe like us all I have to keep dreaming :roll:

I'm just hoping that someone might have an old stock C40/C50 or a tidy condition Secondhand

APIII

The C50 is a sublime ride, and perfect if you favour the sportives. That said, Sigma sport did have the EP in a 52 sloping for £1600. That's equivalent to a 54.5cm top tube, so might still be too large. They may have also sold it as this was a few weeks ago, worth checking with them though.

nicensleazy

Have a look on flea bay, they come up from time to time

Velonutter

nicensleazy wrote:

Have a look on flea bay, they come up from time to time

Thanks Nicesleazy & APII

Been looking for months on Fleabay and no C40's or 50's in my size.

giant_man

Have you rung Mike Perry at Maestro?

http://maestro-uk.com/

Velonutter

giant mancp wrote:

Have you rung Mike Perry at Maestro?

http://maestro-uk.com/

He's a busy bloke, always on the phone, heard very good things about him, hope he deals with 2nd hand

beancounter

I really don't think you've much hope, obviously the C40 has been out of production for years so you're not going to find one of those, the C50 has only been available to special order for quite some time (mine's just arrived at the LBS having been ordered last October) so the odds of finding a cancelled order somewhere must be very low.

As usual, I would say that e-bay will be your friend.

bc

ScottieP

Have you considered the CLX2.0 - it's got very good reviews and is a perfect sportive bike ... probably not ideal for TT's with the longer head tube - but they look like another option to consider. Frameset from about £1650. If you're set on Colnago but don't have the budget for the top end stuff - they're worth a look... there is a good review here too: http://www.colnago.cc/

onthefells

I second what beancouter says...the c40 and c50 are iconic bikes and with Colnago ceasing production of the c50 I would have thought any still around will have a scarcity value and won't be going for much if any less than rrp

nicensleazy

Why not contact Windwave who are the Colnago agents in the UK...they may be able to help or point you in the right direction

Monty Dog

FWIW the main difference between the C40 and C50 was that the C50 features a 1.125" fork and the cut-out chainstays. The C40 has been out of production for 5 years so unlikely you'll find one NOS. I know quite a few folks who have C50s who like them for their superb handling - not mega stiff, but a great all-rounder with no vices and reassuringly tough. Both the Time VXR and Look 585 are similarly good in terms of the ride and handling. If buying second hand, you should also look out for the Colnago CT2 - titanium mainframe with C50 carbon forks and rear - just as much of a magic carpet ride - a lot less common too. Mike @ Maestro doesn't usually do used - just brings the frames in via the Benelux distributor - expect to wait up to 20 weeks if special order - but worth the wait.

Velonutter

Thanks Lads, for all your advice, had a good chat with Mike at Maestro and was honest with him that I don't have the money for new now, but if I do then will order direct from him as he is about £500 under Windwaves prices.

Nice straight talking bloke as well.

So looks like I have to keep my nose to the ground looking for secondhand.

giant_man

Did he say he could get a C50 still? I tend to think he could ...

onthefells

slow n old have a look on cyclefits website, they have an ex demo c50 frameset at 1499 in size 54

Velonutter

onthefells wrote:

slow n old have a look on cyclefits website, they have an ex demo c50 frameset at 1499 in size 54

Thanks but it is a 54 Sloping tube, so too big.

giant mancp - He said that there were no more C50's available.

pontarlier_pete

How about these:

Extreme Power, size 54 £1,499 instead of £2,499
https://www.sigmasport.co.uk/app/secure ... ilyID=3911

Extreme Power, sizes 50, 52 or 52 sloping, £1,699 instead of £2,599
https://www.sigmasport.co.uk/app/secure ... ilyID=1352

Velonutter

Pontarlier Pete wrote:

How about these:

Extreme Power, size 54 £1,499 instead of £2,499
https://www.sigmasport.co.uk/app/secure ... ilyID=3911

Extreme Power, sizes 50, 52 or 52 sloping, £1,699 instead of £2,599
https://www.sigmasport.co.uk/app/secure ... ilyID=1352

Thanks Pete, the first one is their last remaining sloping so a 54s will equate to 56 std, which is too big.

The second one is £1999 for the 52s and £3099 for the standard 52, both out of my budget.

Thanks for your input

pontarlier_pete

Or:

Extreme Power sloping, size 52, £1,699
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... meset_2008

CX1 size 50 £1,599
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... meset_2009

CLX sizes 50, 52, 54 £1,299
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... Frame_2009

and finally

CLX bike with Dura Ace £2,499 instead of £3,499.
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... _Bike_2007

I think you've got enough to be going on with

pontarlier_pete

Slow-N-Old wrote:

Pontarlier Pete wrote:

How about these:

Extreme Power, size 54 £1,499 instead of £2,499
https://www.sigmasport.co.uk/app/secure ... ilyID=3911

Extreme Power, sizes 50, 52 or 52 sloping, £1,699 instead of £2,599
https://www.sigmasport.co.uk/app/secure ... ilyID=1352

Thanks Pete, the first one is their last remaining sloping so a 54s will equate to 56 std, which is too big.

The second one is £1999 for the 52s and £3099 for the standard 52, both out of my budget.

Thanks for your input

There's a 52 at £1,699 at the bottom of the second link
TWBK, 52 Sloping (£2599.99) £1699.00 In Stock

chriskempton

S&O, what is your budget?

Velonutter

chriskempton wrote:

S&O, what is your budget?

You have a PM

flanners1

I may be wrong however I thought and believe that Colnago sizing is thus:

Sloping sizes add 4cm. So a 52cm sloping is a 56cm (trad size)

Trad frames subtract 2cm from frame size to get 'normal' trad size(c-bb to top of seat tube)

well that is what I have used thus far.

C40 is plenty stiff for me, I cant feel any flex, apart from a magic carpet type rear end. I can totally endorse the C40 a fantastic bike which does it all is very comfortable, geometry is brilliance especially cornering where it feels so planted.

Check out:
http://www.thewashingmachinepost.net/co ... index.html

Not much in it for the C40 to the C50 as Ernesto got it so right with the C40 HP (I am bias)

http://www.jordiferran.com/Colnago%20fi ... vs-c50.htm

http://www.ileach.co.uk/post/2005/colna ... p/c50.html

EPS would be nice however there is something beautiful about thin tubed carbon lugged Colnago's like the C40/50. Timeless beauty.

mrushton

Have you hada look at Cyclefit? They have some Colnagos onsale but may have sold a few by now

http://www.cyclefit.co.uk/sale.html

Velonutter

mrushton wrote:

Have you hada look at Cyclefit? They have some Colnagos onsale but may have sold a few by now

http://www.cyclefit.co.uk/sale.html

Thanks, I would have loved the C50 but not in my size as 54s

Talking to Mike at Maestro he seemed to indicate that the CX-1 wasn't as nice a frame as the EPS/Extreme Power, C40 or C50 as made in the far east and not using Japanese tubing.

pontarlier_pete

If you're willing to import from USA you can get one for about £1,650 ($2,500ish)
http://www.racycles.com/sales-center/road/colnago

Velonutter

Thanks Pete, Importing isn't a problem as I do that for a living from the USA.

Those prices are similar to what Maestro can do an EPS for and they are both out of my budget.

Thanks Anyway.

nicensleazy

There is a C50 for sale in Cycle Weekly. Check their web site out. Bit it may be a little small for you

Velonutter

nicensleazy wrote:

There is a C50 for sale in Cycle Weekly. Check their web site out. Bit it may be a little small for you

Thanks Nicensleazy, yep would have been great, but too small and I'm really only after a frame as I can transfer all my record stuff from my current LOOK

Fussy awkward bugger ain't I :shock: