Colnago CT2

2003 Colnago CT2

2003 Colnago CT2

A personal favorite.  This is my bike.

This is a Colnago CT2, a moniker that denoted Colnago’s second iteration of carbon and titanium cooperation in a single frameset. The front end of the frame (under layers and layers of paint) is made up of 6/4 blend titanium tubing. The rear stays and front fork are carbon fiber.
Since the 1970’s bike builders have been mixing materials to whip up the perfect blend of style and ride quality.  Carbon fiber bonded to aluminum to reduce road vibrations.  Carbon fiber bonded to steel to reduce weight.  Titanium and Carbon fiber bonded together to make a bike that’s more interesting than one built out of either frame material alone.

Head tube badge

Titanium front end

Carbon back end

So Colnago went the interesting route with the CT2. The seatstays on the bike are Colnago’s “B” stay, a design which was borrowed from the flagship C50 model along with the unique “HP” leaf-spring like chainstays that might have some vibration damping characteristics or might just look neat.

Dura-Ace 7800 STI Lever

Colnago HP chainstays

Selle Italia Novus saddle

Colnago’s miraculous handling characteristics might be easier to visualize on this bike since it has a level top tube and such straight lines. See the Force Carbon front fork? Does it look a little kicked out to you? That’s a 71.8 degree head tube angle, which is pretty slack for a road bike of this size. That slack head tube angle, coupled with Colnago’s superbly engineered forks seem to give these bikes absolutely unreal control and smooth handling.

The Colnago and Paul in action

Over the years this bike has put on pounds and gone on diets. It has rolled around on the bike shop’s inventory of high-performance wheels. It has been a test platform for Sram Red and Mad Fiber wheels (14 pounds!). It’s been outfitted from all the latest groups to see just what all the fuss is about. Campagnolo parts, Sram, various versions of Shimano’s electronic and mechanical component groups, even some stuff from Mavic and FSA. There was an aerodynamic period with Dedaccai’s one-piece Alanera handlebar, Hed trispoke wheels and an aero seatpost. There hasn’t been much variety in pedal brands, but there have been four generations of Time pedals on this machine (and the latest Xpresso pedals are definitely the best).

For our photo shoot and for the foreseable future the CT2 is built up with Shimano’s Dura-Ace 9000 group and Vittoria’s Elusiun wheels (with an unusual odd number of 21 spokes in the rear). A Fizik Aliante saddle and aluminum Ritchey handlebars. Like the frame, these components represent a fine mix of new technology and classic engineering. Not to be outdone by the latest plastic bike, the CT2 tips the scales at a respectable 16.8 pounds like this and rides just great.