Colnago C64 PKWH Dura-Ace Di2

So, a couple of tweaks over the last few days.

Firstly, a change of stem, and from a 110mm Apto to a 120mm ARX Ltd Stealth carbon. For me the proportions match the frame better now and the Apto looked a little slim when I tried a 120mm version. It felt a little 'tucked in' with the 110mm and that extra with the 120mm has opened it up just the right amount.

Secondly, tyre swap. From 25mm Conti GP4000sII with butyl tubes to Specialized Turbo Cotton 'Hell of the North' 28mm's with latex tubes. The Contis come up big as most people know and measure 26.8mm on the Bora's. The Turbo's run narrower and come up at 27.9mm so almost exactly true to size on these wheels. Weight wise they're 32g heavier per wheel but in terms of performance they're not even close. Supple, smooth and grip like hell. The Conti's don't see which way they went.

Why 28's and not the 26's? I'm convinced that my local county council here in Hampshire have pretty much given up with any pretence of road maintenance. I'm in a rural area and 80% of my riding is on unclassified country lanes, with a few B roads thrown in. The bigger chamber offers a bit more help with the often abysmal surfaces. Also the 28mm's aren't just a bigger version, but instead have a tread that comes further around the sidewall for better protection there, along with an uprated black-belt puncture layer. They were designed around the tubs that Quick-Step and Bora use for the spring classics (Sagan winning P-R on the 28mm tub version).

Plus I think the tan sidewalls look absolutely great.

Shirley Basso wrote:

Nice!

The shiny spacer looks a bit strange. Could you try a Matt one to match the cone and stem? Super detailed I know but it kinda looks like there is no spacer there at all at present the way the light catches it.

I also now prefers this colourway to the blue one.

Oddly enough I'm trying to find one. I have a 3k weave one but that sticks out a bit as everything else is UD carbon. This one is UD but isn't as matt as I'd like. In some light it looks it, but in light like this it's not quite right. Good eye!

Thanks everyone - I stopped getting notifications. Wasn't being rude!

One last change is that the 3T Arx Ltd stem has gone - mainly because as I was fitting it after changing spacers it blew the head off a bolt at just 4NM. So that went back and I'm now running a 120mm Enve instead. No such problems!

@Alex222 - thanks!

@Kingstonian - cheers man!

@TurboTommy - I've now had the steerer chopped down as you saw on WW so no spacers now. The fit is now *perfect*.

@Oddball1313 - I've read about that, but as the bike lives in Hampshire and I've no plans on riding anywhere like the alps there's little danger of that. I'm not on the brakes much, and certainly not enough to generate that sort of heat. I've run latex tubes for a few years and with carbon rims for the last 3 with no issues. Cheers for the heads-up though.

@Pnev - thanks!

@thecycleclinic - I had heard that before. Seems that over there they don't see the need to have to run an Italian groupset on an Italian bike (when the C64 launched the designer of the bike was running his with DA Di2).

@BelgianBeerGeek - tell me about it! The 28mm's help for sure.

I cannot say enough good things about this bike. After a nasty health scare last year it's absolutely re-ignited my love for riding. As it should be for the money I know, but it's just sublime.