Colnago’s C68 Gravel is the latest addition to the brand’s premium C Series family, with a revised gravel geometry and a new integrated bar and stem.
The C Series bikes are handmade in Italy and described as having “the perfect balance between performance and compliance”. Colnago’s V Series bikes, in comparison, such as the Colnago V4Rs, are designed purely for racing.
The Colnago C68 Gravel will start from £6,899.95 / $7,995.95 / €7,250 for a Shimano GRX RX820 build with Fulcrum Rapid Red 900 wheels. The range-topping SRAM Red XPLR eTap AXS build with Zipp 303S wheels will set you back £11,099 / $13,199.95 / €12,010.
The Colnago C68 Gravel will also be available as a frameset, retailing for £5,269 / €5,935 / $7,100 / AU$8,799.
Modular carbon construction
The Colnago C68 Gravel borrows many design cues from the C68 Road and C68 Allroad.
The gravel bike shares the same multi-piece modular construction, which sees multiple carbon tubes lugged together to form a frame.
The tube profiles are said to be unique to the C68 Gravel, with slightly broader tubes used to increase the frame’s strength.
Colnago says the head tube is of a completely different shape that accepts the larger 1.5in Acros headset bearings.
Colnago claims a painted size-480 frame (equivalent to a size medium) with hardware weighs 1,150g. The fork is said to weigh 480g with the steerer uncut.
The C68 Gravel can accept up to 42mm (actual width) gravel bike tyres, which is 7mm wider than the tyre clearance of the C68 Allroad.
Although Colnago specs all of the bikes with a rigid fork, the brand says you can run a gravel suspension fork if you wish.
Mounting points are limited on the C68 Gravel, with the traditional two-bottle-cage arrangement in the front triangle, with top tube mounts for a bag or bento box.
The frame can accept either a mechanical or electronic groupset. While there’s a removable front derailleur mount, Colnago only recommends running 2x in an electronic format because it reckons the shifting quality will be compromised with mechanical. This can typically be one of the downsides of integrated cable routing.
The bike uses a T47 bottom bracket standard.
Unlike the other C68s, the C68 Gravel does not include an integrated Granite Designs multi-tool in the steerer tube due to its larger size.
Gravel geometry
For the C68 Gravel’s geometry, Colnago says it took inspiration from its G3X gravel bike. But the brand adapted the geometry to improve the C68 Gravel’s stability across different surfaces.
Compared to the C68 Road, the C68 Gravel has a shorter reach and taller stack. Colnago says this means you can run a shorter stem to “allow the rider to have maximum control of the handlebar”.
The head tube angle has been slackened to 70.5 degrees for all sizes and the wheelbase has increased, both to improve the bike’s stability.
The C68 Gravel will be available in five sizes – 450, 480, 510, 540, 570 (centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat tube). All sizes are of a sloping top tube configuration.
| Frame size (mm) | 450 | 480 | 510 | 540 | 570 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head tube angle (degrees) | 115 | 130 | 157 | 185 | 212 |
| Head tube length (mm) | 70.5 | 70.5 | 70.5 | 70.5 | 70.5 |
| Seat tube angle (degrees) | 75 | 74 | 73.5 | 73.2 | 73 |
| Bottom bracket drop (mm) | 74 | 74 | 72 | 72 | 72 |
| Top tube length (mm) | 520 | 545 | 569 | 590 | 600 |
| Chainstay length (mm) | 425 | 425 | 425 | 425 | 425 |
| Front centre (mm) | 596 | 612 | 632 | 652 | 660 |
| Reach (mm) | 375 | 386 | 397 | 408 | 419 |
| Stack (mm) | 541 | 555 | 580 | 605 | 630 |
A gravel-specific cockpit
Colnago is debuting its new CC.01 Wide integrated handlebar for the C68 Gravel.
Compared to the CC.01 used on the C68 Road and Allroad, the new bar has more flare and a shorter 72.5mm reach. It has a 120mm drop and an 82-degree stem angle.
The one-piece integrated bar uses a monocoque carbon design, which Colnago says is to save weight and increase rigidity.
Colnago says the greater width at the drops significantly enhances control on descents, while the narrower hoods improve aerodynamics.
Five combinations will be available, from 80 to 120mm stem lengths. All handlebars share the same 40cm width across the tops, flaring to 46cm between the drops.
Colnago C68 Gravel range and specifications
Colnago C68 Gravel Shimano GRX RX820
- Groupset: Shimano GRX RX820, 12-speed
- Wheelset: Fulcrum Rapid Red 900
- Tyres: Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H, 700c x 40mm
- Price: £6,899.95 / $7,995.95 / €7,250
Colnago C68 SRAM Force XPLR AXS
- Groupset: SRAM Force XPLR AXS, 12-speed
- Wheelset: Fulcrum Rapid Red 500
- Tyres: Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H, 700c x 40mm
- Price: £8,099.95 / $9,599.95 / €8,690
Colnago C68 Gravel SRAM Red XPLR eTap AXS
- Groupset: SRAM Red XPLR eTap AXS, 12-speed
- Wheelset: Zipp 303S
- Tyres: Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H, 700c x 40mm
- Price: £11,099 /$13,199.95 / €12,010
