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feature
Colnago V3Rs Frozen GoldBike at bedtime: Take a look at Colnago's V3Rs
Let’s take a look at the Colnago V3Rs, the top-of-the-line road racer from one of Italian cycling's most famous brands. It strikes a well-judged balance between being a lightweight climber and an aero machine.
“Today the V3 represents the best of Colnago technology applied to a monocoque frame," said Colnago when it introduced the bike in 2019. "Every detail has been studied and developed to obtain the maximum in terms of performance and comfort.”
The V3Rs retains some details from the two frames that preceded it, the V1-r and V2-r, but is lighter, stiffer and sees some slight geometry shifts that allow larger tyres to be mounted.
Colnago asks, “What is the point of making a light bike if you can’t ride it effectively?” This explains the brands’ geometry shake up, with a shorter head tube and longer fork introduced for greater balance across all eight size options. The height of the bottom bracket has also been lowered to work with an increased tyre size of 28mm.
To reach a new weight target of 790 grams for the size 50 in the raw disc version (including metal components) without sacrificing rigidity, Colnago says that it has used a new type of carbon fibre.
The V3Rs claims to have 12% higher rigidity in the rear compartment and 6% in the front head tube area compared to the V2-r.
“The ability to absorb vertical shocks has improved significantly, which translates into greater comfort,” Colnago says.
The V3Rs fork is completely new and much lighter than that of its predecessor on the V2-r, with a claimed raw (uncut) weight of just 390 grams.
“The new shape with concave sheaths in the upper part optimises the wheel passage allowing the use of wide tyres (28mm), along with comfort and lateral rigidity,” says Colnago.
The disc version of the V3Rs uses the TFS Integrated fork system for clean aesthetics as well as improved aerodynamics. The cables pass entirely internally from the handlebar to the Colnago Sr9 stem and then through the fork steerer.
Another key area of focus for Colnago was improving the seatpost closure in order to reduce its weight and improve functionality.
The new locking system is smaller than that of the V2-r and C64, and is integrated into the frame.
The clean aesthetics of this performance bike are top notch. There’s also the option for the frame in this frozen red colourway that looks incredibly snazzy…
Anna has been hooked on bikes ever since her youthful beginnings at Hillingdon Cycle Circuit. As an avid road and track racer, she reached the heady heights of a ProCyclingStats profile before leaving for university. Having now completed an MA in Multimedia Journalism, she’s hoping to add some (more successful) results. Although her greatest wish is for the broader acceptance of wearing funky cycling socks over the top of leg warmers.
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13 comments
Its lovely to think whimsically about bike frame manufacturing. An image of an artisanal factory with people shouting Italian at each other as they sand down frames and admire the countryside.
Surely tho these days. It's the same factory with the similar skilled workers. Just plonked in a country with lower wages and world leading carbon fibre output. (I guess it's Taiwan?) . Could also have some lovely views and much shouting. As long as the end product is the same.
Taiwan became the centre of the world's eminent (and largest) frame building partly because costs were significantly lower than Europe or USA. The quality of workmanship was up there with the best and the scale and infrastructure was built to match. However, wages and other costs are catching up with ours so it's not comparably as cheap as it was 10 or 15 years ago.
But frame building has enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent years - check the 2021 exhibitor list at https://bespoked.cc/ - while there are companies like Condor and Mason working with Italian builders so you can still get a frame made in the UK or Italy if you want.
Nice colour coordinating seat post.
Have to say this looks more like my Factor 02 than a Colnago. Now I know that Factor don't make bikes for anyone else, so is this a Merida or a Giant? Only the C-series Colnagos are made in Italy. This just proves you can put lipstick - or at least a Colnago sticker, decent wheels and a fantastic groupset - on a pig. I guess that's what you get with private equity....
Tw@t
I suppose your comment makes you a Fark Wit then?
You're saying your Factor O2 is a pig?
This 'pig' is the bike that won the 2020 TdF underneath Tadej Pogacar. He was showing it off to good effect only today.
The bike didn't win the TdF. Pogacar won the TdF. I'd go so far as to say he would have won it on any of the bikes ridden in last year's tour. Don't misread me. I love Italian bikes. It is just that this isn't one of them.
Being disparaging like this, is it something you enjoy?
Not really. I guess I'm lamenting the perhaps inevitable demise of a proud bike manufacturing dynasty that is now buying in its frames from a third-party and adding some decals. It seems that they are only doing this with monocoque frames and not the c-series. Perhaps they can't build them to the required standard in Italy? Or perhaps there's a higher profit margin to be made by getting someone else to make it for them? Let me guess....
If you want frames to be built in a high cost economy then you end up with, for example, the Moots Vamoots Disc RSL that was reviewed on this site last September. £6,500 for the frame+forks ALONE.
My opinion is that frames have become stupid expensive, £4,000 is now a common price for a name brand frame.
I broadly agree with you - and I certainly don't want to spend all my money on bike frames!
The Italian-made C-64 frame retails at GBP4,400 (ish) and the V-3 is c.4,000 - so as Nigel says below - there's not that much difference in very high end Taiwanese goods and Italian. The design, engineering processes, machinery and raw materials are subject to global markets: the only real differences are salaries and social welfare costs on one hand and the 'goodwill' associated with the brand that we're willing to pay. Somehow that all adds up to £4,000 :-)....