Best road bike ever?

Barbarossa

What is this obsession with Colnagos? In my industry, there are a lot of designers who design a metal part and then put 'carbon' in the material box. Colnagos fall squarely into this bracket - designed with absolutely no appreciation for the strengths or weaknesses for the material.

For a long time, there was a Ferrari branded C59 in the window of the Ferrari store in Maranello. As head of composites design on the F1 side, I felt embarrassed to walk past it on the way to lunch each day and think that people might associated that this piece of atrocious design with the work we were doing.

ugo.santalucia

Barbarossa wrote:

What is this obsession with Colnagos? In my industry, there are a lot of designers who design a metal part and then put 'carbon' in the material box. Colnagos fall squarely into this bracket - designed with absolutely no appreciation for the strengths or weaknesses for the material.

For a long time, there was a Ferrari branded C59 in the window of the Ferrari store in Maranello. As head of composites design on the F1 side, I felt embarrassed to walk past it on the way to lunch each day and think that people might associated that this piece of atrocious design with the work we were doing.

It's not about Colnago... it's about the C 40... I believe it has won more classics than any other bicycle frame. It was the frame of choice for Paris-Roubaix as well as Liege-Bastogne-Liege... that is not normally the case.

It was obviously lugged construction and hand made in Italy... anyone who owns one loves it to bits, so there must be something above average about it

DeVlaeminck

1 - I don't know
2 - Chosing between my "best" bikes since I got into cycling as a sport - so ignoring A couple of cheap Peugeot "racers" and a couple of teenage years Raleighs, the Winter bikes, cross bike hack, various worn out bikes and a Focus Cayo Evo I never really took to. So lugged Mercian in 531c, Litespeed Ultimate same model McEwen won the green jersey on, Look 585 or Neil Pryde Bura sl. Being honest the Neil Pryde is probably the best, lightest frame, feels very planted, not overly harsh.
3 - Think I'd have my old Litespeed back, 9 speed Dura Ace and Mavic Cosmic alloy tubulars as ridden by Malcolm Elliotts Chevrolet team. Lovely smooth ride, handled well, maybe not as stiff as modern carbon but had a nice springy quality and that Tour de France pedigree plus of course it's got memories for me whereas the hundreds of other bikes I could have hosen don't.

964cup

bontie wrote:

I saw that list and could not fathom why the C40 was not on it.

All I can say is find a C40, ride it, and then make up your mind.
I rode one for 3miles and started trawling ebay that afternoon, and bought a 10 year old frame that makes me smile more than almost any other bike. They are really that good.

Sure, but presumably the C60 is a "better" bike, given a decade's worth of development, and pace Barbarossa's comment.

ugo.santalucia

964Cup wrote:

bontie wrote:

I saw that list and could not fathom why the C40 was not on it.

All I can say is find a C40, ride it, and then make up your mind.
I rode one for 3miles and started trawling ebay that afternoon, and bought a 10 year old frame that makes me smile more than almost any other bike. They are really that good.

Sure, but presumably the C60 is a "better" bike, given a decade's worth of development, and pace Barbarossa's comment.

Except the C 60 will probably not win a single classic...

pinno

964Cup wrote:

bontie wrote:

I saw that list and could not fathom why the C40 was not on it.

All I can say is find a C40, ride it, and then make up your mind.
I rode one for 3miles and started trawling ebay that afternoon, and bought a 10 year old frame that makes me smile more than almost any other bike. They are really that good.

Sure, but presumably the C60 is a "better" bike, given a decade's worth of development, and pace Barbarossa's comment.

Always wanted a C40 and now I have had one for 2 years. I was going to restore it to it's former glory and use it as a novelty bike, hanging on the wall looking pretty but that idea went out of the window and the Pinarello ended up as donor as soon as I rode it (furnished with left overs).

I can make the distinct comparison between the C40 and my Wilier.

The Wilier is a 3rd from top (?) Izoard. It has 8 years (arguably 17) of R and D on the C40 and the Colnago C40 was the top of the range (for a mind-boggling 9 or so years in an era of massive change). Therefore, it is slightly disingenuous to compare the two but you can because the C40 holds it's ground so well.

The Colnago is marginally less responsive than the Wilier. The Wilier seems to loose 0% power transference but it is not as smooth or comfortable. The C40 handles marginally better, especially downhill. The Wilier always gives you that extra bit, especially when you bonk - it will still go with the slightest of pressure on the pedal. When I get on the Colnago, I always want to do more than I intended.

I rode on a steel Battaglin for the best part of 18 years, then an Aluminium Pinarello and then the Carbon Wilier. The C40 is my winter bike and I can safely say, I would never go back to steel. I cannot comprehend the modern fetishism of steel. Very pretty with the chrome and the lugs but put that aside and they are 3rd rate compared to a decent carbon outfit.
Look and Vitus were massively overlooked in the era where steel held the monopoly of opinion/tradition. However, you have to hand it to Ernesto Colnago for going against the grain amongst the Kings of Italian bike builders and to do such a fantastic job.
I am in a quandary as I am still undecided which bike to use for Le Marmotte which I hope to do in 2017 - that tells you something.

1. C40
2. C40
3. Vitus Carbon 9?

LEY8R

Colnago's philosphy has always been the their frames have a long life span rather than being super light and quickly worn out-in carbon and steel anyway.

LegendLust

Everyone banging on about the C40, seem to have forgotten this:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 960&type=3

A stunning bike, ridden by the Cafe de Columbia team

bontie

964Cup wrote:

bontie wrote:

I saw that list and could not fathom why the C40 was not on it.

All I can say is find a C40, ride it, and then make up your mind.
I rode one for 3miles and started trawling ebay that afternoon, and bought a 10 year old frame that makes me smile more than almost any other bike. They are really that good.

Sure, but presumably the C60 is a "better" bike, given a decade's worth of development, and pace Barbarossa's comment.

Probably, but then define "best" and start a new thread. I would say the c40 was a game changer, light years ahead of its time and inspired massive change in the industry.
In my first post here I said that the C50 is arguably a better bike, but by then many competitors have caught up.

bontie

pinarello001 wrote:

The C40 is my winter bike and I can safely say, I would never go back to steel. I cannot comprehend the modern fetishism of steel. Very pretty with the chrome and the lugs but put that aside and they are 3rd rate compared to a decent carbon outfit.

You are on the money in that regard (my opinion). I have a modern steel bike. Its very nice but cannot compare to the new carbon bikes. Each has its place, but imo carbon is the superior material for bike frames. Note this is my opinion only, and I am an accountant, so cannot speak in tech!

pinno

LegendLust wrote:

Everyone banging on about the C40, seem to have forgotten this:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 960&type=3

A stunning bike, ridden by the Cafe de Columbia team

Yes, it's gorgeous but have you own/owned or ridden one?

Cannock Chase

I never understand this "Best Bike".

What makes a Best Bike?

Surely even the best frame makes a cr*p bike if used with sh*te componants?

alihisgreat

Cannock Chase wrote:

I never understand this "Best Bike".

What makes a Best Bike?

Surely even the best frame makes a cr*p bike if used with sh*te componants?

That's the beauty of a frame... you can put whichever components you like on there...


(maybe we should have a thread for the best components ever??)

Cannock Chase

ALIHISGREAT wrote:

Cannock Chase wrote:

I never understand this "Best Bike".

What makes a Best Bike?

Surely even the best frame makes a cr*p bike if used with sh*te componants?

That's the beauty of a frame... you can put whichever components you like on there...

Agreed, but to be a best bike you need the best components or more correctly the best components for the job.

The bike is a whole, not just a frame.

pinno

The frame is the heart of the machine, no matter what components you put on it.

napoleond

pinarello001 wrote:

The frame is the heart of the machine, no matter what components you put on it.

I'd rather have my colnago extreme power with Athena than my Ribble Winter with Super Record...

alihisgreat

NapoleonD wrote:

pinarello001 wrote:

The frame is the heart of the machine, no matter what components you put on it.

I'd rather have my colnago extreme power with Athena than my Ribble Winter with Super Record...

What about the Colnago with Veloce? (or... Shimano Tiagra? :shock: )

pinno

ALIHISGREAT wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

pinarello001 wrote:

The frame is the heart of the machine, no matter what components you put on it.

I'd rather have my colnago extreme power with Athena than my Ribble Winter with Super Record...

What about the Colnago with Veloce? (or... Shimano Tiagra? :shock: )

Fine. When I first bought my C40 I put Centaur and all sorts of leftovers on it including a pair of bottom of the range Fulcrum's (bit stiff but solid). That didn't detract from feel of the frame. The only difference with furnishing it later on with Record was that it was lighter. No difference in the feel of the frame - why would it? I started eons ago with Shimano 105. Never let me down.

You have to consider that modern gruppo's are excellent, even at the bog standard level. They may not last so long or be as slick, but they are pretty good.

Frame and wheels: the most fundamental parts of a bike.