C50
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The Colnago C50 is the evolutionary off-spring of the venerated Colnago C40, a bike which for many high-performance cycling enthusiasts stands at the apogee of carbon frame making. When the C40 was introduced in 2002 it was hailed as the most versatile frame in the pro peloton: it won in the mountains, in the sprints, on long brake aways and, under the likes of the domestic pro cycling team Navigators, in a healthy number of criteriums. The C40 was a magical combination of low weight, torsional stiffness, comfortable ride, and wicked acceleration. And, for many, it was the dream bike; owning a C40 for a cyclist was equivalent to an automobile enthusiast owning a Ferrari Modena.
In 2003 Colnago introduced the C40 HP which showcased innovative chainstays with a diamond-shaped insert roughly one-third of the way behind the bottom bracket. While some found this innovation rather dubious, its purported purpose was to help absorb vibrations, provide greater chainstay rigidity, and help drive the rear wheel more firmly during hard cornering stresses. Numerically quantifiable or not, the stays on the C40 HP left many with a resounding feeling for improved handling and absolute calm over rough road surfaces. Proof again that Colnago does nothing without good reason.
Fast forward to 2004 when Colnago unveiled the C50. The C50 did what in 2003 would have seemed impossible; it improved upon the C40. Although the 2008 C50 still incorporates the C40 HP's stays, its carbon lugs are still derived from one of Ferrari's patented high-pressure molding processes, and ATR carbon is still used throughout, it nevertheless evolved in possibly the only area it could have: in the carbon tubing itself. The carbon tubing of the C50 shaves a massive 200 plus grams off the already feathery C40 by reducing the overall amount of carbon needed in the construction of the tubesets. It does this by taking a page out of the history book of steel frame making, namely, by incorporating an idea developed by Columbus which appeared in their legendary STX steel tubes. Columbus was able to extrude thinner steel tube walls by reinforcing them with a helix-style spun spine that ran the length of the tube section. The greater tube strength reduced the weight of steel frames in two ways: first, by being able to extrude thinner steel tubes, and secondly, by being able to use shorter lugs (because the tubes were stronger, less reinforcement at the tube intersections was required).
Colnago took a similar approach to the C50, but instead of spiraling the inside of the tubes, it reduced tube section mass by using uni-directional rather than a woven carbon fiber. The resultant tube sections have such phenomenal strength to weight ratios that Colnago is able to shave weight from the lugs by reducing their overall size, as well. The C50 is available in 21 sizes, the most of any production frame. It comes with the proprietary and now legendary straight-bladed C75 fork.
The C50 has proven itself over and over again in the pro peloton: it has in its rich red racing blood victories ranging from the 1960 Rome Olympics to the world championships with Oscar Freire. Colnago constantly refines its products to meet the demands of the world's most demanding racing circuits and cyclists, but the C50 leaves the cycling industry and all Colnago owners scratching their chins wondering what Ernesto could possibly cook up next in his cauldron of cycling magic. We're pretty certain that, even at nearly 75 years of age, Ernesto Colnago will continue to set the cycling world ablaze.