New gravel race bike gets increased tyre clearance and CC.01 integrated cockpit
Colnago has announced a new dedicated gravel race bike, the G4-X, joining the recently released C68 Gravel in its line-up.
Colnago says the new G4-X builds on the 2019 G3-X, although it doesn’t stray far and takes some aero learnings from the V4Rs race bike.
Tyre clearance has increased from 42mm to 45mm, while the bike adopts the CC.01 integrated cockpit from the C68 road bike, highlighting Colnago’s push for aero optimisation.
For riders seeking more off-road control, a flared, gravel-specific version of the CC.01 bar has been designed.
Prices range from £4,500 / $4,750 / €4,330 for two Shimano GRX RX820 builds and top out with a SRAM Red eTap AXS XPLR build for $9,750 / €8,870. There’s no Campagnolo groupset option offered.
The G4-X will be available from 20 June 2024.
Liam Cahill rode the new G4-X SRAM Red eTap AXS at its launch event in Girona, Spain, and you can read his first ride review here.
Wider tyre clearance
Just as Cervelo has done with its updated Áspero gravel bike, Colnago has increased tyre clearance – to 45mm on a 700c wheel. This is up from 700×42mm or 650b×47mm on the G3-X.
While the G4-X is very much aimed at gravel racing, recreational riders are increasingly looking to use slightly wider tyres than the 40mm we commonly see favoured by gravel pros.
Offering space for 45mm tyres will likely appeal to those riders, although Colnago isn’t going as far as some brands. Santa Cruz’s Stigmata, for example, has space for 50mm tyres.
Big bar selection
Colnago says the G4-X is available with three cockpit choices. Firstly, you can have a standard two-piece setup, with an RS10 Alloy stem and Deda Superzero Gravel Alloy bar.
For a cleaner aesthetic, the brand offers the CC.01 integrated handlebar, which retails at £789.99 aftermarket.
This 310g bar (110x410mm, claimed weight) debuted on the C68, with Colnago claiming a 16 per cent drag reduction over the two-piece cockpit seen on the V3Rs.
Unlike many integrated cockpits, which feature a bonded construction, the CC.01 has a monocoque design.
Both reduced weight and improved rigidity are claimed benefits of this method.
At launch, Colnago offered 16 size combinations, but for the G4-X there is an additional option.
Colnago says the CC.01 Wide has been designed with revised drop and reach figures, as well as 6cm of flare, to better suit challenging terrain.
This bar uses a (2mm shallower) 120mm drop and (12.5mm shorter) 72.5mm reach. The revised figures are relatively standard fare for a gravel bike integrated cockpit. Unlike the standard CC.01, the Wide version comes in five sizes.
The width is limited to 40mm at the hoods and 460mm at the drops, but stem lengths range from 80mm to 120mm (in 10mm increments).
Colnago says it doesn’t want to force riders onto this system, so it swapped to a 1.5in upper headset bearing to allow for a 1/1-8in steerer tube. This enables riders to use any one-piece or two-piece bar and stem.
Frame revisions
Colnago has made other, smaller revisions to the frameset. Gone are the rubber protections on the bottom of the down tube, while the chainstay protector has been slimmed down.
Interestingly, Colnago has recessed the top tube bag mounts. A small plastic cover has been introduced to cover the area when not using a tube bag.
The arrival of the C68 brought with it the demise of Colnago’s Threadfit 82.5 bottom bracket standard. The Italian brand jumped aboard the T47 bandwagon and the G4-X continues the theme, adopting the widely accepted threaded standard.
Another change is that the G4-X will be compatible with SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH).
The bike continues to be compatible with 1x and 2x drivetrains, with the ability to fit electronic or mechanical systems.
For the fastest racers, Colnago says a chainring of up to 54T in size can be used.
While some brands, such as Merida, are looking to the world of mountain biking for more progressive geometries, Colnago is keeping things largely the same as the G3-X.
That means on a size 52s (where ‘s’ stands for sloping), you’ll find the same 430mm chainstays, 573mm stack and a reach of 390mm.
To squeeze larger tyres into the rear triangle, Colnago has redesigned the chainstays.
The main change is to the right chainstay, which has been made thinner. The new design still enables a mechanical shift cable outer to pass through, though, according to Colnago.
Colnago admits such a move has resulted in some torsional stiffness being lost, all things being equal. However, the brand says it has compensated by employing higher-modulus carbon in this area.
An asymmetrical design is also used, which, in theory, should help balance pedalling forces.
There has been a slight tweak to the front end, with a 1mm shortening of measurement from front axle to bottom bracket, now at 613mm. The smaller 45s and 48s sizes get an additional 2mm bottom bracket drop at 72mm.
Head and seat tube angles remain unchanged at 71.5 degrees and 73.5 degrees respectively.
Colnago has also designed a new seatpost clamp with the aim of withstanding greater tightening torques.
Optimised for cyclocross
Colnago has a rich history in cyclocross, with its Prestige bikes previously ridden by the likes of Sven Nys and Wout van Aert.
However, the G3-X had gradually replaced the dedicated cyclocross bike, and Colnago’s G4-X will be used by the likes of Silvia Persico and Ryan Kamp.
Colnago doesn’t explicitly say how the G4-X is optimised for cyclocross, but the increased clearance around a UCI-legal 33mm tyre should help reduce mud building up on the frame.
Colnago G4-X prices and availability
The range starts with 1x and 2x Shimano GRX builds (the only builds coming to the UK) at £4,500 / $4,750 / €4,330.
Three SRAM bikes are available with mechanical Rival at $5,250 / €4,830, Force AXS XPLR at $6,250 / €5,710 and Red eTap AXS XPLR for $9,750 / €8,870.
No Campagnolo builds are offered and Colnago says the bikes won’t be available until 20 June.