Colnago goes gravel-lite with the C68 Allroad

Boosted 35mm tyre clearance and relaxed geometry say endurance road bike rather than gravel shredder

By Ashley Quinlan

Published: Thursday, 02 March 2023 at 12:00 am

Colnago has launched the C68 Allroad, a more relaxed version of its C68 road bike platform, with tweaked geometry and wider tyre clearance.

The Italian brand says it has increased the stack height and shortened the reach of the C68 Allroad frame, while pushing out the fork rake.

Despite the changes, the core lugged construction technique of the C68 road bike family remains, as well as the brand’s integrated road-going CC.01 integrated cockpit.

The increased tyre clearance comes via the geometry tweaks, plus a modification of the chainstay assembly.

The C68 Allroad has a suggested price tag of €15,335 with a Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 Di2 groupset. Other builds are available, with prices to be determined.

“Not a road bike, nor a gravel bike”

""
The C68 looks more like an endurance bike on paper.
Colnago

The new C68 Allroad isn’t positioned as either a pure road bike or a gravel bike to the extreme, but as a bike designed to take on “smooth asphalt to light all-road riding”.

The bike’s modified geometry is designed to make life easier when the going gets rougher.

Despite the all-road moniker, the bike’s geometry and modest tyre clearance means it’s probably best aligned to a modern endurance bike, rather than a full-blown gravel bike.

Colnago says it has added 19mm to the stack height, while shortening the reach by 3.5mm, on average.

The fork rake has been increased by 7mm, which should combine to relax the handling of the C68 Allroad and make it more stable on rougher roads.

""
The ride position is more relaxed versus the standard C68.
Colnago

Colnago says the rake increase was chosen to compensate partially for the wider tyres a C68 Allroad rider can run – wider rubber generally brings the contact point with the road back towards the rider, effectively shortening the rake.

The bike also features an increased bottom bracket drop to the tune of around 4mm, depending on the frame size.

Where many all-road bikes often raise the BB height to increase clearance, Colnago claims clearance is already increased by running higher-volume tyres, so chose to lower it to retain ride stability.

It also points out that increased ground clearance isn’t the express goal of the C68 Allroad, given its focus on “light off-roading” duties alongside its road genealogy.

All-in, Colnago says the new geometry puts a rider in a more relaxed position, transferring some weight from the hands to the saddle (versus the C68). This, it says, is “less aerodynamic but easier [to ride in] for a longer time, especially on the back and neck”.

Seat tube length (mm)430460490520550580
Axle to crown (mm)379379379379379379
Rake (mm)505050505050
Seat tube angle (degrees)75.57574.57473.573
Front centre (mm)586594602609618631
Chainstay length (mm)412412415415417417
Head tube length (mm)117136157177198219
Head tube angle (degrees)70.67174727272.5
Bottom bracket drop (mm)76765377457272
Effective top tube length (mm)506521563554603591
Stack (mm)5235433805833936.23
Reach (mm)370375380386393400

Still a C68

""
A taller head tube is topped with CeramicSpeed SLT headset bearings.
Colnago

Under the skin, this is still a C68, with Colnago lifting major elements from the road-specific model.

For example, the seat tube angle remains steep (74.5 degrees in a size 490) to pitch the rider over the bottom bracket.

The frame’s internal routing system is unchanged, and the bike is compatible with the brand’s CC.01 integrated cockpit.

""
The seatpost and clamp are ported over from the standard C68.
Colnago

It uses CeramicSpeed’s SLT (Solid Lubrication Technology) in the headset, and the same D-shape seatpost and internal clamp mechanism.

The frameset is also only compatible with electronic groupsets.

""
A more angular down tube arguably hints at less importance placed on aerodynamics.
Colnago

The fork crown and rear triangle have been widened to accommodate 700 x 35c tyres (the C68 can take up to 32c rubber).

The C68 Allroad’s head tube is visually taller to arrive at the increased stack height, while the down tube has also seen a light reprofiling, with a more angular octagonal shape compared to the C68.

Colnago C68 Allroad availability and prices

""
Expect the C68 Allroad to be available in high-spec builds.
Colnago

Colnago says the C68 Allroad will be available in a range of builds, spanning Campagnolo EPS, Shimano Dura Ace R9200 and Ultegra R8100 Di2, and SRAM Red and Force AXS.

It also says accompanying wheelsets will include the ENVE SES 3.4, Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 45, Shimano Dura-Ace C50 or C35, and Fulcrum Wind 400 and Racing 600 DB.

A Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 Di2-equipped C68 Allroad with Shimano Dura-Ace C50 wheels, Colnago CC.01 integrated handlebar, Prologo Scratch M5 CPC saddle and 700 x 30c Pirelli P Zero Race TLR tyres will cost €15,335.

Prices for other models and territories are still to be confirmed.