Ernesto Colnago

Everyone has a bike that fits them best. For me it's Colnago. I have long legs, shorter torso. Colnago fit's like a dream. I've ridden a few different manufacturers over the years and there's a lot of amazing bikes out there. However, for me Colnago is the bike. The heritage and years of refinement allowed for him to fine tune every aspect of the bike. It climbs like a goat, no movement at all. It does 50 mph around tight bends and hugs them like a ferrari, no pun intended. It's comfortable and forgiving over a century.

I met Ernesto a few years ago. He's very calm and calculated. He's always said, "There's a production frame that will fit you." In most cases he's right. That's a big part of the magic of building a custom assembled bike and being fit correctly. Contador changed his TT position by mm and gained a few percent. You can imagine that going from your ill fitting bike, to a properly fit bike would see substantial gains.

The issue of overseas fabrication is long gone. It's proven that China, Taiwan and Japan produce some of the best carbon bikes in the world. However, riding a handmade italian c50 is very much like owning an italian sports car. It breathes the machismo that make people attracted to italian goods.

Specialized just came out with a McClaren X Specialized bike. They have learned that the F1 industry has some of the most advanced carbon fiber technology in the world. It looks nice and I'm sure it rides nice too. However, Colnago has been working with Ferrari for over 20 years. I think Specialized probably took a few notes from Colnago over the years.

There's only one bike that I want over my c50 and that's a c59. Over the past 20 years, Colnago has changed what started as the c40 only a few times. They look for the best way to improve a bike, not just come out with a new model each year. So I wanted to thank Ernesto for not giving me the opportunity to use my bike as an excuse for getting dropped on the big climb of the day, or why I couldn't keep up on the descent or why my back hurt at the end of the century. Thanks Ernesto.

Colnago and Bbox... Special Edition EPS

November 12, 2009 – CAMBIAGO, ITALY – Colnago bicycles today unveiled the new team edition Bbox Bouygues Telecom Colnago EPS frame, with special Bbox Blue paint scheme to match the French squad’s 2010 team kit and brand.

To celebrate the newest EPS color, Colnago also announced that this special team edition “Bbox” paint scheme will be available by January 1, 2010 to consumers at the standard EPS pricing with no color up charges.

“We are proud to be supporting a Grand Tour professional team in 2010, and offering to consumers this special team edition color on the EPS is a wonderful way to celebrate Colnago’s return to Grand Tours,” said Ernesto Colnago, the company’s founder.

Colnago’s sponsorship deal with Bbox Bouygues Telecom will cover both road and time trial framesets beginning with the 2010 season. Colnago is confident that the team will be included in both the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia. Riders will use a mix of the EPS and CX-1 models for the road, and the Colnago Flight frameset for time trials.

Colnago will also put forth a stronger presence in the U.S. domestic racing in 2010 with the signing of U.S. based Team Type 1, plus a all new Italian based and factory backed Colnago – CSF Inox squad, both of whom hope to be included in next year’s tougher Tour of California.

About the EPS

Introduced in 2009 and made from hand-rolled carbon tubes with design input from Colnago’s engineers, the EPS is Colnago’s flagship road machine. Produced solely in Italy, the EPS is offered in 22 different frame sizes – 14 with traditional geometry and eight sloping. Colnago’s use of 3PRS technology – internal ribs of carbon in the EPS’ top and down tubes – ensures that the frame is one of the most laterally stiff and lightest lugged carbon frames in the world.

About Colnago

Colnago, Cambiago, Italy, is the world renowned manufacturer of the legendary Colnago bicycle. In business 55 years, Colnago produces a broad range of road, track, Mtb, cyclocross and specialty use frame and bicycle designed for discerning consumers.