No one would have questioned Colnago for stopping at the C64 given its world-wide acclaim. Instead, they decided to keep pushing, creating the new and improved Colnago C64. They wanted to make their flagship bike lighter, stiffer, more comfortable, more aero, better looking, and easier to work on. Now, you can get this bike with its top SRAM Red eTap AXS 12-speed groupset for maximum performance from top to bottom.

To the surprise of none, the frame is made from carbon-fiber tubes and lugs. The joinery allows for better compaction, greater strength, better tuning of ride qualities. The tubes are formed with stainless steel inner and outer molds. This means they can remove the inner mold at the end of the effort and have a tube that is as smooth and even on the inside as it is on the outside. The head tube is a single strong and lightweight piece while the seat lug is designed with an internal binder for security, beauty and weight savings. A single 4mm hex head key does the tightening.

Another cool innovation, which follows a pattern with many of their other design innovations, is the rear derailleur hanger. It’s mounted inside the right dropout so when it deforms or breaks under stress, it doesn’t affect the carbon-fiber dropout at all. The seatpost is designed to integrate with the seat collar. It’s a truncated cylinder that is both aero and comfortable—aero because of the leading blunt edge and comfortable because the smallish diameter and Kamm-tailed style shape allows for rearward flex. The shaft is carbon-fiber for vibration-damping and weight-savings, while the forged aluminum head, hidden behind the paint, is light and durable and easy to micro-adjust.

Aerodynamics was considered as part of the package but is not a defining feature. Colnago wanted aero, but not at the expense of ride quality. You’ll see that the head tube, the fork crown and head tube juncture, the fork crown, the seat post, and the down tube are tugged to make them slice the air better, but not dramatically. The most important tube shape might be the shape of the downtube, which is wider and slightly lowered. This helps move air around the water bottles and seat tube better, but it results in a better ride quality than a more dramatically-shaped tube.

The downtube shape also contributes to torsional stiffness, as do the chainstays and the seat tube. The stays are set as wide as possible while still allowing for chainrings and generous tire clearance. They are also asymmetric, with the left leg lower than the right to better counteract the stresses that result from the right-side driving the rear wheel. The seatpost is as large as they could fit without impinging on tire size to make sure the bike was as rigid as possible for pedaling. The final part of the stiffness equation is the fork. They started with a tapered 1 1/8” to 1 ¼” steerer for stiffness. They also set the legs out a bit wider for both strength and to better fit direct-mount brakes.

In terms of comfort, there are several factors that make the bike more compliant. You can see that the top tube is flattened toward the seat tube for comfort, and the seat stays are fairly thin. The seat stays also have mounting points for direct-mount brakes. The seatpost also has a shape that allows for some give. The seat tube lengths have changed a bit from the C60, allowing for a little more post to be showing for what is otherwise the same size. The fork legs taper dramatically so that they can move vertically some without compromising steering. Colnago also made room for 28mm tires, so you can adventure off the usual road.

The geometry is pretty much unchanged from the C60 in key areas. The head and seat tube angles and fork rake are all unchanged. These are essential elements and there was no reason to tweak what is so cherished. Weight for the C64 is 900g for an unpainted size 50 sloping, with a 355g uncut fork. This bike is topped of with the new electronic SRAM Red eTap AXS 12-speed groupset, making it a true super bike.

FRAME SPECIFICATIONS

•  Frame: Colnago C64 Art Decor Road Semi-Integrated Disc Carbon Frame (Sloping Geometry)
• Fork: Colnago C64 Art Decor Road Semi-Integrated Disc Carbon Fork
• Headset: Colnago, 1-1/8" to 1-1/4"

C64 DISC DAYTONA PRO+ BIKE SPECIFICATIONS

• Bar Tape Fizik Endurance
• Cassette SRAM XG-1290, 12s
• Chain SRAM Red, 12s
• Pedals Not Included
• Rotors SRAM Centerline XR
• Tires Vittoria Corsa G+, 700x25c
• Tubes Continental Unitube Race 28
• Wheel - Front Zipp 303 Firecrest Disc Carbon Clincher
• Wheel - Rear Zipp 303 Firecrest Disc Carbon Clincher
• Frame Material High Modulus Carbon
• Fork Colnago C64, 1 1/4"-1 1/8", Internal Cable Routing
• Headset Colnago Integrated, 1/8" to 1 1/4"
• Seatpost Colnago C64 Carbon
• Front Derailleur SRAM Red eTap AXS
• Rear Derailleur SRAM Red eTap AXS
• Crankset SRAM Red DUB
• Bottom Bracket SRAM DUB Pressfit 86.5mm
• Brake Calipers SRAM Red HRD
• Shifters / Levers SRAM Red eTap AXS HRD
• Stem Colnago Carbon
• Handlebar Colnago HB41 Carbon
• Saddle Selle Italia SP-01 Superflow