Italian framebuilder Titici gives new life to their flat toptube aluminum Alloi gravel bike with a uniquely beautiful and protective silver anodized finish. Debuted just last spring, the comfortable alloy gravel bike also gets a subtle update in the tire clearance realm, kicking up capabilities for off-road adventure. And to top it all off, the Alloi AND adds a limited edition Ingrid build for more Italian ano aluminum style…

Titici Alloi AND aluminum gravel bike is GHA Silver Anodized

Unique bronze-colored protective ano finish. Bigger tire clearance. Fully integrated cable routing and race-ready mounts. And a comfortable PAT.H flexy top tube on a more affordable aluminum frame. All handmade in Italy.

We’ve covered the launch of Titici’s handmade-in-Italy Alloi aluminum gravel bike last spring.

An update to their old round-tube All-In, the Alloi added the framebuilder’s signature flattened PAT toptube design for additional rider comfort. The Plate Absorber Tech – new Hydroformed edition (PAT.H), is not quite as flat as in carbon. But Titici claims the comfort gains are still a big help, especially over long days in the saddle off-road. Plus, the alloy PAT.H frameset sells for about half of the carbon PAT version in their Relli.

Now that bike adds the optional AND finish debuted on the old All-In AND a year earlier. A look that truly sets the bike apart, while also boosting frame protection.

GHA Silver Ano – Tech Details

Developed with alloy tubing supplier Dedacciai, the purpose of the GHA (Golden Hard Anodizing) process is actually to better protect the aluminum frame – both inside and out. The name is a bit confusing reflecting the final coloring. But the process works by integrating a protective oxide layer of silver ions onto the porous surface of the aluminum tubes. Delivering “almost infinite durability”.

The result is increased hardness & resistance to wear, but also a lower friction surface, and high antibacterial & anti-mold performance. That’s why GHA has long been in use for marine & pharmaceutical industries. Titici says they have an exclusive partnership with the Japanese creators of the technology, making this the only GHA bike you can get.

Rumor has it, that mud & dirt are noticeably easier to wipe right off after a ride. Cool.

Another side benefit is that the unique anodization process tints the different tubes and welds differently, giving the aluminum bike a varied gold-to-bronze color that actually reminds me of a raw fillet brazed steel frame.

All that, and it’s lighter than paint, too!

What else is new?

The big functional update to the Alloi frame is increased tire clearance. Titici says this new generation of Alloi AND gravel frames now has room for up to 700 x 45mm or 650 x 50mm tires. No word on what exact changes were made. But a quick look at new and old frames suggests a likely subtle chainstay tweak to squeeze an extra 5mm.

The bonus good news, the tire clearance upgrade also applies to the standard painted Alloi this year, too.

Alloi Bike Details

Briefly, the Titici Alloi is a 1690g 7000-series Dedacciai aluminum gravel frame with fully internal cable routing through a 1.5″ Deda DCR headset system, a threaded BSA BB, 31.6mm seatpost, flat mount disc & 12mm thru-axles. It is compatible with 1x or 2x drivetrains – mechanical or electronic. The bike has custom-shaped alloy tubes and a flexy PAT.H toptube for off-road comfort.

It features 2 sets of front triangle bottle bosses, a toptube bag mount & a rear rack mount. And it is sold with a full carbon fork with 3-pack Anything cage mounts.

The Alloi comes in 4 stock sizes (S-XL). And I believe custom geometry is also possible for an upcharge.

Titici Alloi AND in silver ano – Pricing, options & availability

The new Titici Alloi AND frameset is available on its own with stock geometry for 2590€. That’s now only a 200€ upcharge over the standard painted edition. To highlight the made-in-Italy alloy nature of the new bike, Titici partnered with Ingrid components for a limited edition complete build of the new bike.

The Titici Alloi AND X Ingrid LE complete bike sells for 5690€, with a set of matching gold ano Ingrid CRS-POP cranks and a Ingrid 11-44T cassette. That then pairs with a SRAM Rival XPLR AXS groupset. And a mix of Italian company components – Fulcrum Rapid Red 900 alloy wheels with Pirelli Cinturato H tires, and an integrated Deda aluminum finishing kit. Titici claims a complete bike weight of 9.3kg.

Then newly anodized frames are in stock and ready to deliver now. They build complete bikes to order, with an approximate 2 week lead-time before delivery through your local Titici dealer.

Titici.com

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Long-time bicycle chain brand KMC has just introduced their new React cassettes in 10-speed and 11-speed versions. First spotted at Eurobike 2023, they’re designed for wide-range 1x and 2x applications, with tooth counts good for road, gravel, and mountain bikes.

At just $65, they’re affordable replacement, option for your trainer, or way to try a different tooth count on the cheap. Perfect for upgrading your kids’ bikes, too. And from the looks of it, you won’t be giving up shift quality to save some coin.

The cogs have dual shifting ramps called Flow Control, smoothing upshift and downshifts. These ramped tooth profiles & thicknesses use varied shapes to guide the chain from cog to cog.

Both KMC REACT versions have two gear range options:

• 10-speed: 11-36T, 11-42T
• 11-speed: 11-42T, 11-50T

They’re optimized for KMC chains, but are compatible with other 10- and 11-speed chains. They fit Shimano HG freehub bodies. Fitting it to a bike built around a smaller cassette? They recommend adding the Wolf Tooth Components Goatlink to increase your derailleur’s capacity for larger cogs.

KMCchain.us

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If you’re adding a mechanical dropper seatpost on your gravel bike and need a lever to actuate it, WTC has a new option. The new Wolf Tooth ReMote Drop Bar Lever lets you pull cable from any hand position. And it’s compatible with any standard drop bar and most mechanical dropper seatposts.

It mounts inside the bar, out of the way of your brake lever and front shifter (if you’re riding a 2x drivetrain). The design clamps around the drops, and the closure sits away from the lever to keep the thumb and finger paddles closer to the bar.

The lever rotates on two 11mm Enduro cartridge bearings, not bushings. This makes it super smooth, and super solid, with no flex when pushing or pulling.

The cable attaches with a bolt on the bottom of the pivot, and the end tucks in behind the front wing. All parts are available separately, too, sticking with their Right to Repair philosophy.

Weight is 37g, excluding cable and housing. They recommend adding an inline barrel adjuster, it doesn’t have on built in like their mountain bike ReMote dropper levers. MSRP $64.95, black only.

WolfToothComponents.com

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Over the weekend at CX Worlds in Tábor, we spotted a small CeramicSpeed crew meeting with several different teams to talk ceramic bearings and low-friction lubrication AND showing off a next-gen prototype OSPW system. Designed for both road & cyclocross, this new version of their Shimano oversized pulley wheel system upgrade gets solid pulleys and ADR tech inherited from MTB for smoother, longer running…

Prototype updated CeramicSpeed OSPW for Shimano Di2

We’re always psyched to find prototypes in the pro pits. Whether hidden in plain view like the new Campy power meter. Or slightly more incognito like this classic black tape covered derailleur cage. Here, fitted to a Cube Cross Race bike from Team Charles Liégeois, the cyclocross racing offshoot of Intermarché–Wanty. And CeramicSpeed was roaming the pits checking in with mechanics from several top riders. We later caught up with the CeramicSpeed crew. And they said they were checking-in with existing sponsored riders, meeting with potential new partners, and even quietly handing over some product to unsponsored teams who use CeramicSpeed gear without sharing that publicly.

So, what’s new in the OSPW department?

The CeramicSpeed prototype that we spotted is an updated version of their long-running Over-Sized Pulley Wheel (OSPW) upgrade for Shimano rear derailleurs. In fact looking back, it’s been almost a decade since we first spotting the CeramicSpeed OSPW solution for Shimano. And outside of a few changes in pulley teeth numbers, that core curvy carbon cage upgrade hasn’t changed much since.

Now, that appears set to change with a new angular design.

CeramicSpeed suggests that their next-gen OSPW gets more angular aesthetics. That better fits with the shaping of modern road bike groupsets. Even under a strip of black electrical tape, this prototype certainly looks like a better fit with the latest Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 rear derailleur, compared to the existing curvy CeramicSpeed cage.

A closer look reveals that both upper and lower pulleys are solid on this prototype. Just like those Alpha pulleys of the recently introduced OSPW X for SRAM MTB Transmissions. We’re not sure. But it looks like the same composite teeth combined to a smooth alloy disc, like on the new MTB system.

This lower pulley is also marked ADR. It features that mountain bike cage’s same Active Debris Remover shaping at the central cover over the bearing. As it’s been described to us, this tangential groove shaping is a patent-pending design that pulls dust, dirt & grit away from the bearing cover as the pulley spins. A self-cleaning solution that promises even longer bearing life

Unlike the mountain bike’s X system with narrow wide teeth, this road OSPW prototype stick with a 19T lower pulley. And appears to keep 13T for the upper pulley.

How else does it differ from the current road OSPW?

Besides the more angular recent mountain bike OSPW cage with solid pulleys & ADR tech, CeramicSpeed’s latest OSPW innovation had been their fully-enclosed Aero cage. Interestingly, that one also broke cover on an Intermarché-Wanty pro’s Cube race bike.

The new road prototypes are also more angular and feature solid pulleys. We’d have to expect that the new design will be heavier – it surely has more material in the pulleys. But time will tell if that is balanced by decreased aero drag, reduced drivetrain friction, or longer bearing life.

We’ll have to wait and see what CeramicSpeed has to say once they make the new design official.

Were there actually CeramicSpeed OSPW-equipped bikes racing in the mud?

To be honest, not many.

No one actually raced this prototype here in the mud, as far as we saw. The team mounted this one to the bike of a rider who wasn’t even at Worlds, I believe. Perhaps as a backup if one of his teammates had any major bike problems.

It may have been just here to tease all the other pro riders about the new tech coming soon. But to be fair, it was so muddy out there, it’s possible that I simply missed it.

With very muddy conditions on the Tábor World Championship course, I can’t imagine there were too many friction-reducing gains to be had in a set of oversized pulleys. At least, those not offset by more real estate to collect mud on. But you know that incremental gains are always there, relative to the baseline standard. And theoretically ceramic bearings should operate more smoothly relatively – the worse conditions get and the more team mechanics clean the bikes with pressure washers.

Anyway, the U23 development team riders of Intermarché–Wanty’s CX team Charles Liégeois were sporting existing OSPW setups.

We also noticed one or two other riders on CeramicSpeed OSPW X. Like this nice SRAM AXS mullet setup. With an X01 MTB derailleur paired to an otherwise Force 1x for the easier gearing to tackle deep mud.

What else do they have up their CeramicSpeed sleeves?

Everywhere they went – ducking in and out of pro team buses – CeramicSpeed was also carrying a small black case full of pulley cages, ceramic bearings, and who knows what else.

Probably some of their UFO Drip wax lube that is quite prevalent in top-tier racing.

We only officially see CeramicSpeed logo stickers on a few pro road and a couple pro XC mountain bike teams. But, we’ve definitely seen OSPW cages on a number of other ‘non-sponsored’ bikes. And against the high cost and focus on aero gains of most pro bikes these days, it seems like a relatively small leap for more pro riders to see if CeramicSpeed can deliver on their promises of incremental gains. Rumor in the peloton – both on- and off-road – suggests that CeramicSpeed supplies a LOT of additional teams. And all the times we saw CeramicSpeed crew pop up all over the CX Worlds pits backs that up.

CeramicSpeed.com

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Hot off the presses, Colnago introduced its first ‘C’ Series gravel bike, the C68 Gravel. This bike is only Colnago’s second dedicated gravel bike, but it’s a sure shot. The bike isn’t a soft lob at “all things gravel.” It’s a fast, opinionated, and stunning piece of handmade Italian craftsmanship, and even more importantly, it rides like a dream. 

Colnago Depth in Drop Bar Dirt

Colnago has such depth in the sport of cycling that it’s easy to forget how many legendary riders once called their frames home. It’s not just road riding, though it’s hard to overlook Pogačars’ talent and tie it to the brand. Years ago, Wout and Mathieu were riding Colnago; before that, Sven, before him Adri van der Poel (MVDPs’ Dad), and before all of them, Roger De Vlaeminck.

There are too many to name (I know some of you can so leave those in the comments if you’d like), but the point I’m making here is that Colnago knows drop-bar dirt. So when the iconic Italian brand said they were making a C Series gravel bike, we knew it would be unique.

Check out our news piece here to learn more about the C68 Gravel’s construction, ethos, and overall tech specs. 

Colnago C Series Treatment

The C series bikes in the Colnago line are the top; by that, we mean the very top. The UAE Team Emirates rides the V series, one below C in the lineup. Yes, the bikes are painted in Italy but are not hand-assembled in the Colnago plant like the C versions. 

How Much?

This attention to detail and expectation of the customer makes the C series frames something more than a carbon frame; it feels custom in a way. But, with top-of-the-line treatment comes top-of-the-line pricing, and the C68 doesn’t shy away from a hefty price tag; the frameset is $7,100. Yes — you can get the C68 in Shimano GRX for $7,999, with alloy wheels, but if you want the dentist special, you’ll pay upwards of $14K for your ride. 

The big question of the C68 Gravel “Is it worth the price?” I think we can answer that…

First Impressions 

I first saw the C68 Gravel at a press launch in San Diego with the Colnago USA/Italy crew. The design/engineering team behind the C68 Gravel was present and laid down a clear concept and performance expectation for the new machine. 

In a nutshell, the C68 is meant for speed and performance, not adventuring or bike packing. The frame is modular, and each tube is tailored to the bike’s size and handmade in Combiago, Italy. The ride will feel refined, responsive, and controllable on a single track. It will feel like a powerful, balanced endurance road machine, with muted road chatter on the gravel and pavement. 

When I initially saw the C68 Gravel, I thought, “Look at that paint,” and then, ” Look at the head tube.” But other than that, the bike is very subdued. It has no screaming paint job with Italian flags on every tube; it’s a little understated, elegant, and sculpted. 

Ride Impressions — Colnago C68 Gravel 

Did you ever get on a bike, make one minor adjustment, and feel like, “this is it”. Well, that’s what happened with me and the C68 Gravel. The bar and stem on the C68 Gravel are the Colnago CC.01 Wide one-piece bar/stem with no adjustability. Luckily, it fits me very well. For frame size. I rode the 48s (54cm) frame with a 100mm stem and felt pleasantly in control of the front end while still being low enough to be aerodynamic in the wind. I usually ride a 40c bar with a 120mm stem on my gravel bike, and this combo feels very familiar. The slight adjustment I made was the seat post height. Coming off of cyclocross season, my seat post was slightly lower for on/off the bike efforts. That height didn’t feel right on the C68 Gravel, and I raised it to my road saddle height, which locked everything in place off the start.

My riding consisted of two days of gravel and trail riding with the Colnago crew, pushing the C68 Gravel from fun group riding to race pace and “this should be OK?” territory. 

Road Sensations 

We started our rides through the beach roads of coastal San Diego, then off to the pastures and gravel to test the bike, free from motorized distractions. On the road, the C68 Gravel could move. The sensation was that of a road bike with a predictable geometry you feel confident piloting. My bike was equipped with 40mm Pirelli gravel tires: a Pirelli Gravel M in the front with some extra bite and a Gravel H in the rear for speed. 

Our rides were a mix of pebbled gravel climbing, techy bits, and lots of twisty new-to-me San Deigo single track. I started the ride with 35psi in the rear and 33psi in the front. At 158lbs, that felt solid for familiar territory and to ward off flats. I was happy with my tire pressure when we entered the single track. The bike could slice through the turns without washing out and climb punchy sections without slipping. I found the climbing balance point of the bike quickly and felt confident climbing loose terrain.

Cyclocross Quickness

In the cyclocross style on/off sections of the trails, the C68 was a tick above other gravel bikes I’ve ridden. The handling and driving in close-quarters trails was like being on a shorter ‘cross bike. The comfort of the ride, however, was different. Coming from my ‘cross machine, I’m used to some knocking around and some stiffness. The C68 felt calm; the ride was clean and predictable. This could be attributed to the larger tires, but it wasn’t only that — It’s hard to put a finger on it. All the elements worked together very well, and the geometry is right where I prefer a gravel bike — a near ‘cross bike. (coming from a CX racer).

Now, I’ll be the first to admit I like riding my ‘cross bike for basically everything. The C68 Gravel feels like that but more normalized. Instead of feeling under-biked but having fun on the gnarly trails, I felt like I was on the correct bike. The sturdy frame felt rock solid while pushing through the berm and pump track sections.

On the longer steep climbs, the C68 rode predictably and had a nice kick from a push against the pedals. The feeling is like when on a steep climb with a sturdy road frame, and you can really dig into the effort. 

Is this Cool? 

There comes a time in every ride when you push the limits, and on the C68 Gravel, those times were flying down some techy single track and rocky/washboard-style descents. Taking a $14K bike down this terrain can be nerve-racking (fun), but the bike performed excellently. The shorter stem allows for a playful front end and helps you pull out of a tailspin if your handling is slightly off. For example; while descending some unfamiliar cracked earth features (the kind where the trail can eat your wheel up to the hub). I found myself off the line and bouncing towards doom, in a last-ditch effort I pulled to jump back on the line but prepped for a fall. The bike reacted quickly, and I was safe from the dreaded press camp crash.

Colnago C68 Gravel — Lasting Impressions 

Having spent two days of mixed-surface riding on the Colnago C68 Gravel, I have strong impressions of the bike. First off, I liked the ride (not just the trails). The customer for the C68 Gravel could be (is) a more road-focused gravel rider who likes to go fast, not necessarily slogging through miles of roots and rocks. That said, the bike can handle it, and gravel is unique because everyone defines it differently. Colnagos definition of gravel with the C68 Gravel is comfortable, fast, elegant, and powerful. 

The C68 Gravel is a fantastic ride, but it might not be for everyone. Colnago is cool with that. However, if you’re looking for a bike that handles beautifully, like a bike you’ve ridden for years, it is worth checking one out. 

Is it worth the price? Well, that’s up to the buyer, but if you can purchase a C68 Gravel and appreciate the road feel and elegance — this is your gravel bike — this could be your only bike. If you’re looking for something to race ‘cross on and do some endurance gravel events, the G-3X might be a better fit. Either way, Colnago has entered gravel full force, and the C68 is a clear statement of intent. This bike challenges what a road-focused, “classically styled” gravel bike can be. Something more refined than ultra-wide bars, mountain bike tires, and dropper posts.

Colnago.com

The post The Colnago C68 Gravel is a Symphony of Off-Road, Drop Bar Elegance in Italian Craftsmanship appeared first on Bikerumor.

Colnago knows a thing or two about drop-bar off-road bikes, even though most think of them as a road-only brand….thanks Pogačar.

Let’s not forget that legends like Sven Nys and Niels Albert rode the Colnago Prestige — the same with a very young Wout Van Aert. The Prestige would eventually fade out of the Colnago line. The World Cup and World Title winning machine was replaced with the gravel/cyclocross-focused Colnago G-3X.

The G-3X is more of a gravel bike than a pure ‘cross-machine, but it does have that iconic Colnago kick and more tire clearance than the Prestige ever had.

In recent years, though, Colnago has put effort into re-thinking their business’s gravel side. Adding to it, they have created something pure Colnago. A performance-focused gravel bike. One that looks at home on the white roads of Tuscany or on twisty American single track (more on that later). Plus, it’s handmade in Italy.

What is the Colnago C Series

The C series is a moniker for the top tier of Colnago bikes; the more attainable version for most is the ‘V’ series. The C68 bikes are handmade in Italy and aim to balance beauty and performance. The Colnago C68 Series of bikes boasts a Road, All-Road, Titanium Custom, and now a Gravel bike.

Colnago describes the C Series as: “C for Carbon, Colnago, Cambiago (where the bikes are made), and Class. The 68 represents how far Colnago has come since its founding in 1954.”

Colnago C68 Gravel Frame Details

There’s much to unpack here, so let’s start with the frame creation. First, the Colnago C68 is 100% hand-made from high-modulus carbon fiber. Some parts are lugged, making it also a modular frame.

What does Colnago mean by ‘modular’?

The C68 Gravel is comprised of six separate carbon pieces. The engineers designed the headtube/downtube and top tube junction to be maneuverable when building the frame. The tubes are lugged and modular, as the builder can move them slightly, augmenting the stack slightly, the same as the headtube height.

This method is only used on the C series frames, though Colnago has used lugged carbon construction since the 1980s. The lugged tubes give the C68 Gravel a unique look, and the matte green pearl paint (similar to the Aston Martin) accentuates the curves.

How much does it weigh?

The frameset’s claimed weight is 1,150g for a 480s (roughly 54 cm) C68 Gravel frameset. The weight includes everything (framewise), including the rear derailleur hanger and seatpost wedge. The uncut painted fork is an additional 480g; add that to the overall weight, and the total weight is around 1,630g.

Yes to Top Tube Bag But No Third Bottle

As for modern gravel bits, the C68 has a top tube bag mount and can fit two large bottles (think 38oz) in the frame. There is no third bottle mount under the frame, so if you’re planning a super long, unsupported ride, you’ll need to plan accordingly.

The tube shaping in the C68 Gravel is designed for power transfer, minimizing road chatter, and handling a flying rock to the down tube without cracking.

The frame uses a D-shaped seatpost similar to the one on the G-3X but with an updated tightening mechanism.

The bottom bracket is a T47, the same as the C68 All Road.

The frame is optimized for a fully electronic groupset but can run a mechanical 1X like the new Shimano GRX 12-speed. The placeholder for a front derailleur is a neat 3D-printed cover, which takes nothing away in performance but adds cool points.

The chain guard is also 3D-printed and pictures the mountains of Italy.

Colnago Gravel Geometry

Though the C68 shares some features of the Prestige, All Road, and G-3X, it has a unique geometry. It has a shorter reach and higher stack than the C68 Road. The updated reach-stack ratio allows for a shorter stem, giving the bike a lively feel on the trails and lots of control over the front end.

C68 Gravel will be available in 5 sizes, all in sloping configuration: 450 (52cm), 480 (54cm), 510 (58cm), 540 (60cm), and 570 (63cm)

Colnago feels this setup offers better handling for challenging gravel or trail features without sacrificing an aggressive setup. I agree after spending some hours on the bike.

The Colnago CC.01 wide bar/stem combo riffs off the new C68 gravel geometery. The new Wide version of the CC.01 is specifically designed for gravel. The Colnago CC.01 Wide has more flare than the road version of the Colnago CC.01. The reach is 72.50 mm and a drop of 120mm with a stem angle of 82 degrees.

The Colnago CC.01 Wide is available in five different stem combinations with the same 40 hood and 46 wide at the drop: 80mm – 40/46, 90mm – 40/46, 100mm – 40/46, 110mm – 40/46, and 120mm – 40/46. The C68 Gravel complete bike arrives with the Colnago CC.01 Wide cockpit but is compatible with a traditional bar/stem combination.

How about tire clearance?

When I asked about tire clearance, the Colnago team calmly stated, “Up to 42mm but it performs best with the 40s”. Why not 50mm or something more extensive like the trend? The team told me, “This isn’t that kind of gravel bike.” The C68 is a fast bike designed around a more aggressive riding style, leaning more toward the gravel-road/racing side.

It’s the same reason you’ll find no internal storage on the C68 Gravel. The team didn’t want to compromise on the bike’s silhouette or the tubes’ integrity. I admire the choice not to follow the trends and to keep the design focused on speed, handling, and beauty.

Now, the team says 42mm is the max, but that is the maximum for the rear tire. If you want to push the limits, you can get a larger tire in the front. But the fork is more sculpted than some, and you could run into mud clearance issues if you run bigger. The frame can fit gravel suspension forks if you’d like…but like the super wide tires and internal storage box — that might not be this kind of bike.

Colnago C68 Gravel Builds and Paint Options

Currently, the C68 will come available as a frame and fork or in three different build options. The builds range from SRAM Red XPLR, Force XPLR, and Shimano GRX 822 mechanical.

All bikes will come equipped with Colnago CC.01 Wide integrated handlebar, Selle Italia Regal Short Open Fit CRB (Carbon) saddle, and Pirelli Cinturato Gravel TLR 40mm.

The wheels for each model change slightly, with the SRAM Red arriving with Zipp 303S carbon wheels, Force with Fulcrum Rapid Red 500, and the Shimano GRX with Fulcrum 900.

Paint-wise, the new Colnago C68 Gravel will be available in Green Pearl (in most photos) or gloss black with red undertones in the sun. Having seen the paint up close, both are great options (I’m a glossy fan), but the Green Pearl should hide the scratches and abuse of gravel riding better.

Colnago NFC Tag

Like other Colnago bikes, the new C68 will have a near-field communication or (NFC) tag. The tag is linked to the MyLime Polygon Blockchain and is inextricably linked to the bicycle. 

How does this help the rider? If your bike gets stolen, you can use the NFC as proof of ownership. The NFC also helps with re-sale and helps prevent (or disrupt) counterfeit Colnago bikes from entering the market. For more info, check out Colnago’s explanation of why they chose to be the first bicycle company to adopt Blockchain here.

Colnago C68 Gravel Pricing

• Frameset only $7,100.00, €5,935, £5,269.00 *Includes frame, fork, Colnago CC.01 bars and seatpost.
• SRAM Red XPLR, ZIPP 303S Wheels, $13,199.95, €12,010.00, £11,099.99.99
• SRAM Force XPLR, Fulcrum Rapid Red 500, $9,599.95, €8,690.00, £8,099.95
• Shimano GRX 822 1X, Fulcrum Rapid Red 900, $7995.95, €7250.00, £6,899.95

Look for a ride review shortly, and for more information and availability near you, check out; Colnago.com

The post Colnago Unveils its Vision of Gravel Racing with the Italian Crafted C68 Gravel appeared first on Bikerumor.

Never one to miss a beat on new groups, the Kogel Kolossos GRX gives you an oversized pulley cage option for Shimano’s latest 12-speed GRX gravel group.

It uses a similar alloy cage construction as their others, but Kogel says this is their stiffest cage design yet. Inside are a 14-tooth upper pulley and 18-tooth lower, both rolling on ceramic bearings with low-drag road seals. Switch to their ‘cross seals for wet riding conditions.

The overall length of the Kolossos is within a few mm of the stock cage, so ground clearance remains similar, but you may need to add a bit of chain length, depending on your setup. Stock Shimano GRX RX820 derailleur pulleys both have 13 teeth, so the Kolossos GRX kit will require more chain wrap.

It comes in gold, red, and black. MSRP $475, available now.

Kogel.cc

The post Kogel Kolossos GRX Upgrades Shimano 12-speed Gravel Group appeared first on Bikerumor.

KS hasn’t kept their new GTC gravel suspension fork a secret. It was on display in prototype form at Sea Otter in 2021, which looked completely different.

Then they showed it in near final form at Taipei Cycle Show in March 2023, along with a wireless dropper and inverted MTB fork concept. Now, finally, it’s official and available.

The KS GTC gravel fork has alloy dropouts bonded into carbon fiber legs and brake arch on the lowers, with an AL6066-T6 forged alloy crown and steerer. That combo gives it a reasonably low weight of 1,385g (claimed).

Travel is fixed at 40mm with an air spring and 30mm stanchions. Tire clearance is rated for 700x50mm, letting you fit the biggest rubber in there. It’s compatible with 160-180mm brake rotors, flat-mount rotors only.

Adjustments include external low-speed compression with a lockout lever on top, and a rebound adjuster on the bottom.

The KS GTC fork is rated for e-gravel bike use, too, and comes with a stealth thru-axle with a hidden, slide-out lever. Here’s a quick recap of the specs:

• AL6066-T6 crown, steerer & dropouts
• High Modulus carbon lowers and brake arch
• 30mm stanchions
• 40mm travel
• 46mm offset
• Axle to Crown is 435mm
• 700×50 tire clearance
• Tapered steerer
• External compression & rebound dials w/ locket

All this, and the MSRP is only $599. For the US, it’s available through dealers or direct from Bikefy.us.

KSsuspension.com

The post KS Suspension GTC Gravel Fork Bounces Carbon Legs on the Cheap appeared first on Bikerumor.

With a short-nose shape just updated this past autumn, a new Fizik Argo X1 level of the gravel & off-road racing saddle sheds weight with a carbon rail upgrade. I’ve been riding & training on this saddle in 2 different spec levels for almost half a year, and it’s hard to argue with…

Fizik Vento Argo X1 off-road racing saddle gets carbon upgrade

Fizik revamped their short-nosed road Vento Argo saddles for more off-road riding & racing with the Vento Argo X a couple of months ago. But now gravel, cyclocross, and even cross-country mountain bike racers can opt for a new lighter Argo X1 with carbon rails.

Built for fast-paced off-road riding, the Fizik Argo X rounds off all the corners of its road sibling, keeping the gently curved top that is comfortable as you move around on the bike. Then, it adds a shade thicker foam, a flatter nose to perch on for steep climbs, and a reshaped ergonomic cutout for improved comfort over bumpy terrain. so your crotch doesn’t get caked in mud. Plus, that cutout gets a rubber mud flap so your crotch doesn’t get caked in grime.

Now you can get it with chromoly, titanium, or… carbon rails.

Riding Impressions

Even though it was only officially introduced last November, I’ve actually been riding the revamped Argo X since last summer on the latest Canyon Grail CF SLX, with ti rails. And now, the new carbon-railed Fizik Argo X1 is sitting on my cross bike. Strapped to my indoor trainer for a little warm-up vibes before CX Worlds this coming weekend.

The feel is exactly the same on both bikes. And that’s a good thing. The saddle has firm but supportive padding. Its fiber-reinforced shell is plenty stiff. But then, there’s still a bit of compliant flex in its wings, to not feel unyielding when pedaling. And the large central cutout prevents any undue pressure. While the small mud flap then keeps road & trail spray off my butt, with a tiny vent slit that lets a little airflow through and allows rainwater to drain out on those wettest rides.

The X1 & X3 share identical construction, but for the material of the rails. That’s a great feature in my book. As it means you can pick the model you prefer based on price, weight, and compatibility with your seatpost. My 140mm X1 weighs three grams more than claimed, at an actual 195g.

In my mind, you wouldn’t go wrong with any of the three spec-levels.

Tech Specs

• Length: 265mm
• Width: 140mm or 150mm
• Height at 75mm width: 45mm
• Length from nose to 75mm width: 120mm
• Claimed Weight: 192g (140) & 199g (150)
• Shell: fiber-reinforced nylon
• Rails: 7x9mm oval carbon
• Made in China

Fizik Argo X1 – Pricing, options & availability

The new carbon-railed Fizik Argo X1 gravel saddle sells for $210 / 199€, and comes in 140 or 150mm widths. If that is altogether out of your price range, the same shape, padding & shell are available at the X3 level for $160/150€ with Kium ti rails, or at the X5 level for just $110/110€ with S-Alloy steel rails, 41g & 52g heavier, respectively.

Get them all now at Fizik retailers, or online direct from:

fizik.com

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The latest limited edition colorway for Cane Creek is a Saran Texture finish in deep shades of green and bronze, colorshifting depending on light and angle. It comes on Helm MKII forks and eeWings titanium cranks. The painting process means each one is unique, and they’re available separately or together.

The Helm MKII Aurora comes in 29er only, with 44mm offset and your choice of air or coil springs. It comes set at 160mm travel, but is easily user-adjustable from 100-160mm for air, and 130-160mm for coil. Claimed weights are 2,080g for air, 2,340g for coil. MSRP $1,099, available while supplies last.

The eeWings Aurora come in 165mm and 170mm lengths for MTB and in 170mm and 172.5mm lengths for All-Road. They come with custom-cut clear vinyl to protect the finish, but it’s still paint (not anodized), so it will wear and chip over time. MSRP is $1,199, weights from 396g (all-road) and 400g (MTB).

CaneCreek.com

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