Interbike Outdoor Demo Days: Snap Judgments - Colnago's CX-1

The newest bicycle to the Colnago line is the CX-1. It was created to address the requests of "young racers who asked for an aggressive, ultra-modern frameset."

The structure of the CX-1 is based on a monocoque carbon fibre front triangle that is joined by a special bonding process to an assembled rear triangle. This frame is the top of Colnago's monocoque frames and is more closely positioned to the Extreme Power and Extreme-C rather than the CLX.

Like other bicycles in the Colnago line the CX-1 possesses a multi-shaped top tube. The unique design and polygonal profile of the top tube makes it very solid and strong. The flat surfaces on the bottom and top of the top tube provides extra stiffness while dispersing extraneous road vibrations. In addition, the shape of the rear chainstays and seat stays have been developed to optimize the overall torsional and lateral rigidity without adding extra weight to the frame.

With the CX-1, Colnago also introduces an all-new headset system, the C-HS (Colnago Headset System). This is a semi-integrated headset, one of the key points of the Colnago Revolution development project, that allows easier assembly and maintenance without removing the entire headset assembly. The C-HS also provides extra stability to the head tube.

During the development of the CX-1, 3D design and Finite Element Analysis (FEM) helped create an extremely accurate, optimized carbon fibre composite lay-up in the key zones where force is transmitted to the road.

The carbon fibre used in the CX-1 are in high modulus (HM) composite and high-strength (HR) unidirectional composite with a 3K twill finish. Colnago exclusively uses pre-preg Carbon Fibre Fabric that is specially selected using electronic scanning technology. This ensures that the fabric used will have the maximum resin dispersal to provide the lightest frame possible.

Although I have only participated in two Interbike Outdoor Demo Days, it seemed a rarity for a well established high end bicycle manufacturer, like Colnago, to have its bicycles available for testing. Needless to say, there wasn't much of a decision making process as to what to ride. I quickly strolled up to Colnago tent and was greeted by a full fleet of CX-1's.

The CX-1 is available in 8 sloping sizes and three different colors. Normally I ride a 52cm, but was quickly told to wait around for the 50cm although several 52's sat idly in their stands. The geometry is such that Colnago's 52 is more like riding a 54cm bicycle.

And once the 50 arrived and I climbed on, any skepticism or disappointment I may have felt for being "sized down" quickly flew out the proverbial window. It may have been sheer coincidence that the 50 fit me like a glove, but it probably had more to do with the product philosophy of Colnago, "It fits you, not you fit it;" the bicycle must adapt to the rider not the other way around.


After even surprising the folks at the Colnago tent on how good the bike actually fit, I headed out to the test course. The bicycle was fitted with an FSA OS-115 white stem, Colnago seat post, Selle Italia saddle, a Zipp 404 wheelset, and SRAM's Red components.

The ride left no doubt that CX-1 is a high performance frameset. The geometry and the set up begged me to get into the drops to hammer down the course. The frame was rigid enough in helping me fly up the climb, and in propelling me forward when I got out of the saddle to sprint. There really didn't seem to be any loss of energy in either instance.

The MSRP for the frameset is $3,499.00, which places it just above the CLX in order of price for the Colnago carbon line. That still may seem like a hefty price to some, but this is one bicycle that finally places Colnago high performance technology within reach.

Photos: Leonard Basobas