Colnago Steelnovo: The Art of Steel Bikes Reinvented

November 20, 2024

A fusion of tradition and technology: handcrafted steel meets 3D precision in a frame celebrating 70 years of Colnago’s Italian excellence.

November 20th. /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Colnago celebrates 70 years of history with Steelnovo, a bicycle that brings steel back into the spotlight. Launched as a 70-piece limited edition, it features premium, custom components crafted exclusively by Colnago Italian partners for this release. In a carbon-dominated market, Steelnovo is a return to the essence: meticulously crafted steel, hidden welds, and 3D-printed components.

This edition is for those seeking a bicycle and a piece of Colnago’s history to take on the road, where past and future converge with every pedal stroke.

Milan, 20th November 2024

Colnago is proud to unveil its latest masterpiece, Steelnovo, a modern steel bike that perfectly combines the mastery achieved in seventy years of history by the manufacturer from Cambiago and the finest modern standards.

Entirely made in Italy, Steelnovo is launched as a limited edition of 70 pieces, equipped with Columbus tubing and Campagnolo components – Colnago’s historic partners – and boasts an elegant, refined, and modern design that guarantees high levels of performance, offering cyclists the unmistakable riding pleasure typical of the brand.

Making this bike involves several highly-specialized suppliers, all of which come from Italy, at a cost: it needs an entire working day to produce a single bike.

The Steelnovo is available in only 70 pieces, with groupsets and components by Campagnolo specifically dedicated to Colnago with a unique personalization.

Proudly Italian

The Steelnovo is an ode to Italian craftsmanship excellence. Made to celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the company founded in Cambiago in 1954, it’s made even more special by the dedicated Campagnolo groupset.

It is equipped with a modern Campagnolo Super Record Wireless, with each component customized with Italian flags, reminders of the Italian origin of the groupset and frameset suppliers.

The network of highly specialized firms behind this bicycle is entirely Italian.

All the partners have contributed significantly to the project. A particular mention goes to Columbus, who actively participated in the tube design, and Additiva, who enhanced its process to meet Colnago’s high requirements.

Design inspiration: Tradition meets Modernity

It may seem like an oxymoron, but the Steelnovo is a bike designed to enhance the grand tradition of Colnago, with an approach oriented towards modernity.

Tradition thrives primarily in two key aspects:

• Frame Material: Steel has been the cornerstone of bicycle history and Colnago’s legacy until the late ’90s. The tubes and lugs are meticulously welded and brazed, reflecting the rich Italian craftsmanship tradition in frame building. Some of the most iconic steel Colnago models are the Super (1968), the Mexico (1972), the Master (1982), and the Arabesque (1983).
• Historical Partnerships:
  • Columbus: This partnership goes beyond just supplying tubes; Columbus has played a vital role in developing custom tube shapes for Colnago that are tailored to meet specific design requirements. They even provide proprietary molds for shaping and bending the tubes.
  • Campagnolo: The latest innovations, including the Campagnolo Super Record Wireless groupset and the Bora Ultra WTO wheelset, have been specially customized to highlight the strong collaboration between these two esteemed Italian companies.

Several models from the archives represent the successful cooperation from these three brands… Think of a Master, with its distinctive 5-point-star tube shape developed with Columbus, equipped with a Campagnolo Super Record pantographed groupset. With this bicycle, there is a real celebration of the history of cycling manufacturers.

Modernity, instead, is prominently showcased in other key aspects:

• Design: The design features essential tube shapes that seamlessly integrate, thanks to fully 3D-printed lugs. This includes top and bottom head tube lugs, seat tube-top tube and seat stay lugs, rear dropouts, and custom components. There is a strong emphasis on customization and the integration of all components and details, including fully integrated cable routing, custom nylon headset components, and a seat post-clamp system that is integrated with the seat stays.
• Technology: The creation of complex, surface-modeled lugs that are internally hollow to minimize weight is made possible by advanced 3D printing technology. Colnago has partnered with Additiva, an Italian leader in technology, expertise, and quality, establishing a strong presence in top motorsport competitions. This collaboration resulted in a complete suite of 3D-printed lugs. After several iterations and refinements, the outcome is a robust connection that perfectly aligns tube profiles while achieving a competitive weight for an oversized, fully integrated steel frame.
• Performance: As always, performance remains at the heart of Colnago bikes. The Steelnovo model is compatible with all modern standards and components, ensuring that riders experience exceptional handling, superb comfort, and a strong sense of safety.
• Tire Clearance: With the ability to accommodate tires up to 35mm, riders can enjoy maximum grip in all conditions and added comfort.
• Racing Carbon Fork: The lightweight racing carbon fork, combined with oversized headset bearings, provides both stiffness and quick handling. The design also ensures steering precision and safety, thanks to the 1 1/8″ top and 1 ¼” bottom bearings, which feature SLT technology to prevent wear.
• Oversized Bottom Bracket: The T47-68 bottom bracket increases stiffness in the bottom bracket area, enhancing responsiveness during acceleration.
• UDH Rear Dropout Standard: This standard ensures compatibility with all modern electronic groupsets, making the bike adaptable to current technologies.

Geometry

Steelnovo features modern geometry to accommodate wide tires and to provide comfort in every day or endurance rides without preventing a more aggressive position for more speed-oriented riders.

It is available in seven sizes: 420, 455, 485, 510, 530, 550, 570.

Highly personalized details

The bike is embellished with several personalizations, as anticipated.

• The logo of Colnago on the front is 3D printed in relief.
• Custom steering tube cap and personalized screw from Carbon-Ti.
• Campagnolo dedicated Super Record Wireless groupset and custom Bora Ultra WTO.
• The front and the rear thru-axle are personalized with the Ace of Club logo, as well as the handlebar caps.

Configuration and Availability

The Colnago Steelnovo will be available as a limited edition in only 70 pieces. For the first 15 days, it will be available exclusively through www.colnago.com; after that, you can order Steelnovo Settanta through Colnago authorized dealers.

The suggested retail price in the US is $18,000

Technical Information

Name: Colnago Steelnovo Settanta

Model: Steelnovo

Frame material: Steel

Groupset: Campagnolo Super Record Wireless custom Colnago x Campagnolo

Chainrings: Campagnolo 32/48 special limited edition custom Colnago x Campagnolo Sprockets: 12-speed, 10-29t

Wheels: Bora Ultra WTO 45 custom Colnago x Campagnolo

Discs: 160 front / 140 rear

Tires: Pirelli P Zero Race

Saddle: Brooks Cambium C13

Handlebar: Colnago CC.01

Thru-axles: Carbon-Ti custom Colnago

Handlebar caps: Carbon-Ti custom Colnago

Bottle cage screws: Carbon-Ti custom Colnago

Bottle cage: Elite

Celebrating 70 Years of Innovation and Victories

On the evening of November 20, Colnago will celebrate its 70th anniversary with an exclusive event in Milan. For this important anniversary, Colnago has gifted itself a modern steel bike and a high-end apparel capsule collection consisting of 10 garments, which will be available only on the Cambiago-based brand’s website.

In the words of CEO Nicola Rosin: “We celebrate seventy years of innovation, victories, and passion for cycling, always with an eye to the future. We present a modern steel bike that uses cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, such as 3D printing for lugs. In perfect Colnago style, we never stop experimenting; thus, we have indulged in a capsule collection of clothing handmade in Italy with the highest quality raw materials. These projects fully embody our brand: both reflect our dedication to manufacturing, attention to detail and quality materials, and the Italian spirit and creativity that have always characterized Colnago”.

About Colnago

Colnago Ernesto & C. S.r.l., known as Colnago, is a manufacturer of high-end road-racing bicycles founded near Milano in Cambiago, Italy, in 1954. The company first became known for high-quality steel framed bicycles suitable for the demanding environment of professional racing, and later as one of the more creative cycling manufacturers responsible for innovations in design and experimentation with new and diverse materials, including carbon fiber, now a mainstay of modern bicycle construction. Among the many Colnago victories – 15 Grand Tours, 416 Grand Tour stages, 43 Classic Monuments, 28 World Championships, and 18 Olympic Gold Medals – Tadej Pogačar won the 2020, 2021, and 2024 editions of the Tour de France, the 2024 Giro d’Italia and 2024 Road World Championship riding Colnago bikes.

Media Contact

Cody Chouinard
Cody@IGTStudio.com
(802) 279-8997