Colnago C68 Ti Road Road Frame

Colnago C68 Titanium bike - innovative and comfortable

Though Colnago embraces its reputation as a brand that makes heritage bikes, the Italian company is also keen to demonstrate its deep commitment to innovation. The Colnago C68 Titanium represents the latest development in its efforts to create the absolute best handling, most comfortable bikes in the world.

The C68 Ti along with the C68 full carbon is the successor to the storied C64, and as such relies on Colnago’s modular, multi-piece construction. The difference between the C68 Ti and the C68 full carbon is that the joining points at the head tube and seat tube are 3D printed titanium, specially printed in Italy by a leading Italian company operating in the medical sector, ensuring the precision and efficiency of the 3D printed titanium “lugs”. Colnago is offering the C68 with this titanium option especially for individuals who would prefer to have a more custom geometry. That is definitely an advantage of constructing frames from multiple pieces rather than monocoque.

Characteristics of the Colnago C68 Ti bike frame

And with the 3D printed titanium, you can have almost an unlimited number of options to achieve the precise fit you need. By choosing to stay with the modular, multi-piece design, Colnago’s engineers can make the most of manufacturing advantages that making the carbon sections in smaller pieces offers. That means that they have greater control over the lamination process since the molds are smaller. And they also have access to proprietary technology that allows them to use a higher pressure when molding the parts than a monocoque construction would allow.

If you are familiar with how and where Colnago has lugged its bikes in the past, you need to rejig your mind to understand just how it works here. The head/top/down tube juncture is where you’ll see the most striking difference. They no longer use a classic lug design there but actually bond it in a way that enhances how customizable the frame sizing can be since they are no longer limited by the head tube lug stack. Now the frame is comprised of a single piece rear triangle, a one-piece seat tube/bottom bracket, and a top tube and down tube that bond with the head tube.

Further differentiating it from the C64, the tube shapes have been refined to optimize the ride feel while still cutting weight and increasing rigidity. Enhancing the sharp handling, the fork has also been made lighter and more rigid than the previous version, which combined with the new shape to the head tube allows for an innovative internal cable routing. Colnago has developed a new Colnago CC.01 integrated handlebar for the C68, but the bigger surprise is that the frame is also compatible with other handlebar solutions. These days that’s pretty rare, but Colnago is committed to compatibility, so if you use the Deda Superbox stem, you can mount any 31.8 handlebar with retractable cables. You can also go with the Deda Alanera handlebar.

Another investment in your long-term overall satisfaction comes in Colnago’s use of CeramicSpeed SLT bearings in the headset. This bearing system has only recently been developed by the Danish experts and comes with a lifetime warranty since they are practically indestructible and require no maintenance. That’s a huge plus if you are going with an integrated barstem with internal cable routing. Last thing you want is to have to fiddle around with your headset bearings periodically.

Similarly forward-thinking, Colnago has moved away from their Threadfit 82.5 bottom bracket and are embracing the T47 bottom bracket standard. Though in a press fit shell, the T47 allows for threaded internal solution that makes fitting a wide range of crank spindles easy, and eases any maintenance hassles. Interestingly, the C68 also makes a front derailleur optional, so that you can easily set this up with a classy 1x single chainring system. Though we don’t play favorites, imagine how gorgeous this would look with the Campy Ekar!

By now you should be getting the idea that the Colnago C68 Ti is really a work of art. And what must every classy work of art come with? A provenance. Something that details its whole existence from origin, through till today. That’s the best way we know how to explain the whole Blockchain feature included with your brand new C68. During the ordering process, everything from the date of order to the color choices to the date of sale and the party to whom it will ship will be recorded and kept via a Colnago app. It will give you the confidence knowing you are buying a genuine article. And it will give the same confidence to anyone in future you want to sell it to (though who would ever part with this bike once they have it?).

Anyone considering buying a Colnago C68 Titanium certainly has an affinity for what’s beautiful. With its level of customizing and compatibility, the C68 Ti is also exceptionally practical, at least as super bikes go. It’s certainly a bike that will stop traffic and earn admiring looks. It’ll also be a joy to ride every single day. The C68 Titanium in size 48.5 weighs 935g unpainted and without metal parts.

Also check Cipollini road bikes.