The image below highlights the variety of lug angles. By manufacturing the lugs in 19 different angles, Colnago was able to manufacture frames in many different sizes or with custom geometry – just like they were doing for so many years with their steel road bikes.
#COLNAGO C40 DECALS SERIES#
This carbon lug frame building technique has been used for every ‘C’ series bike since the C40 ie. Colnago was able to achieve this by taking advantage of Ferrari’s technology derived from exploring new ways to work with composites and join structural members as part of the development of the Ferrari F40 super car. Whilst the C35 was built as a monocoque frame design (just like modern carbon road bikes), the C40 was built using carbon lugs, which saved weight and could be bonded to the carbon fibre tubes to create a single homogenous structure. Image courtesy of Steel Vintage Bikes Clever Design of the C40: Carbon Lugs. Detailed information about the different frames and forks is discussed later in this article. It wasn’t until late 90’s to early 2000’s when the C40 was sold with a carbon fork (Star or Force models). With it’s classic lines, racing pedigree and history, it’s easy to see why any serious cycling enthusiast (myself included) would like to own a C40.įor many years, the C40 was also sold with a steel Precisa fork of which there are 2 versions. Sir Bradley Wiggins was also quoted as saying the C40 is probably his most favorite bike to look at (having not ridden it yet – he bought a frame on eBay for his collection). In an interview with Ernesto Colnago, the C40 was listed as one of his most favorite bikes. In 1997, the C40 frame apparently cost GBP 1650.00. It’s now 27 years since the release of the C40 and carbon fibre is still the material of choice for high performance bike frames. The Colnago C40 proved to the cycling industry and consumers that carbon frames were not only light and stiff, but extremely durable. Over the 10 years, the frame was revised on 3 occasions – so there are 4 different versions of the C40 frame. It was in production for approximately 10 years (1994 – 2004) and eventually superseded by the Colnago C50. The C40 name originates from ‘C’ for Carbon and ’40’ in recognition of Colnago’s 40th anniversary (1954 to 1994). However, I decided to only include C40 frames in this article that were listed in the Colnago catalogs and were therefore widely available to the general public. When researching the C40 on the internet, there is mention of an earlier carbon lugged frame with round carbon tubes rather than the Master profile tubes usually found on the C40. Please read my article on Colnago’s First Carbon Fibre Bikes to learn more about these models and what was happening in the industry at the time. Colnago Carbon Olympic TT Road Bike (1984).
#COLNAGO C40 DECALS PROFESSIONAL#
Most notably 5 wins in Paris Roubaix – over the roughest parcours found in professional racing.Ĭolnago designed a number of carbon fibre bikes before the well known C40. The Colnago C40 was NOT the first carbon frame designed by Colnago, but following it’s release in 1994, the C40 was ridden to victory in some of cycling’s biggest races.
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