The New Kid On The Block...

For years Colnago have been the brand that every cyclist lusted over. The classic frame sets like the master, C40, C50 and the newest incarnation the C60 have always been had huge followings.

Over the past few years Ernest has been working closely with Team EuropeCar to produce something a bit different. Designed as the teams "Classics" bike it was designed to take on the toughest European races like Paris Roubaix and be able to handle to worst roads that Europe could throw at it.

2014 will be it's first season...this is the Colnago CX Zero.

Full carbon in construction, and complimented with a full carbon tapered fork the new frame has a BB86 bottom bracket the first frame Colnago has used a press fit system. A semi integrated headset system may strike some people as strange, however the serviceability of the units had to stay high for the team mechanics to deal with. Cables are internally routed for the gears or electronic cable as required and the rear brake is a fully lined affair to again, aid servicing and ease of installation.

Clearance has been kept generous with ample space for 25c tyres and we have been told to comfortably take a 28c, although we have not tested this theory! A more sportive geometry fit gives a more comfortable feel to the bike and the wheelbase and angles of the frame have been tweaked to be more comfort than race orientated.

Stu has managed to get one of the first in the country built up and now finally after a spare day off and a break in the weather managed to get it built up and this is the finished result...

  

The bike has come together really nicely! Based around Campagnolo Record group set, Rotor 3D 52/36 chain set and a hand built set of Powertap DT RR585 wheels and Zipp/FSA K Force finishing kit.

 

The Rotor chain set is both light and super stiff, paired with Rotor's own ceramic BB86 bottom bracket. Speedplay stainless zero pedals finish it off nicely.

 

Campagnolo Record group set, legendary, smooth, slick and it works...every time!

 

These are the Vredestein Fortezza Senso tyres 25c, new for 2014 and literally JUST come into stock! The aren't the lightest tyres, however they aren't expected to be. The all year round do it all tyre is our firm favourite at the shop. Great grip, great wear and great puncture resistance...if you need a new pair of tyres ask anyone at the shop, these are the daddies!!

After a recent Velonews seat post test, the K Force came out on top. I have now got it on 2 of my bikes, light and comfortable the new 2014 models are all Di2 E Tube compatible which is a bonus!

Zipp Service Course SL finishing kit with the carbon bar...rides beautifully. I prefer a more classic drop on my bars and I feel the new compact standard doesn't really work for me so this shape is great...

First impressions were quite amazing! An FTP power test on this bike over my race spec alloy Cyfac frame put me pushing out 246 watts to 342! The comfort irons out everything on the road...and I literally mean everything. Paired with the 25c tyres I was pinging along on country road with easy and then as soon as I hit the drops the bike just wanted to go!! Fast and agile it has shown me that I may have finally found a bike that literally does everything...time will tell but it looks like its heading in the right direction.

The Colnago CX Zero frameset retails at £2,200 and this build that Stu put together retails at around £5,500.