Colnago C68 Gravel

Allow me to introduce you to the “dirtier, dustier, muddier” sibling, the all new C68 Gravel.

A novelty introduced in 2022 with the C68 road bike was the concept of a family of products linked by the same philosophy and designed for a certain type of rider. 

Colnago’s, made in Italy, C series of bikes is the perfect balance between performance and enjoyment. They are dedicated to the handmade multi-part Italian tradition process for those who love bikes with a unique and exclusive design.

The 68 represents how far Colnago have come since they were founded in 1954 and the prefix “C” stands for Carbon, Colnago, Cambiago, Class. Something I think we all associate with anything Colnago produces.

Being part of the C Series range, the production of the modular C68 Gravel, constructed from tubes and lugs and sanded together, is carried out exclusively in Italy using the knowledge gained from years of experience, now brought into the booming gravel world. 

Colnago hasn’t just designed a new frame and stopped there. They’ve gone and given the C68 Gravel a cockpit of its own, the CC.01 Wide. Similar to that of its road sibling but with more flare. The bars measure at 40cm wide on top and 46cm in the drops, giving you a position that inspires confidence in all situations. 

Compared to the G3-X, the front end of the C68 Gravel has fully internal cable routing keeping everything looking neat and uncluttered.

It would be off-piste for Colnago to spec such an amazing bike with anything less than the best when it comes to groupset choices. There are 3 stock builds coming from the Colnago factory. SRAM Red XPLR, SRAM Force XPLR and the new 12 spd Shimano GRX820.

Our demo was specced with full SRAM Red XPLR in a 1 x set up. With the 40T chainring and 10-44 12spd casstette, you’re geared for just about any terrain you may find yourself riding.

You’ll be rolling on Zipps Tubeless ready 303S carbon wheels with Pirelli’s Cinturato Gravel Hard tyres in 40mm keeping things grippy. Quite fitting to finish the build off with a fellow Italian tyre manufacturer.

Colnago labels the C68 Gravel as the ultimate Colnago gravel bike. A masterpiece that embodies the perfect fusion of Colnago technology and timeless Italian craftsmanship for cyclists who seek the ultimate riding experience.

After spending a few days with this bike, I find it hard to believe that anyone can disagree with this statement.

The Ride

Clipping in for the first time, I could immediately feel the years of craftsmanship put into the bike as a whole, complete package. The shape of the new CC.01 WIDE integrated handlebars was perfect for someone who likes a one piece bar, but doesnt like the sluggish and bulky feeling that many integrated aero bar-stem systems can have. My hands were comfortable in just about every position I could imagine trying and more importantly I felt in control the entire time in all the positions, on all terrains.

This bike is confidence inspiring. The handling was reactive and conducive to fast riding on every terrain I touched. 

The gravel specific geometry ensures that the C68 Gravel will achieve the perfect ride and balance of compliance and performance. Compared to the current Colnago G3-X, the shorter reach and higher stack height offers optimal handling and seating position on the bike while still embodying the ethos of its road sibling. 

The slacker head angle and increased wheelbase further improve the feeling of stability when things get a bit rough. The C68 Gravel offers up to 42mm of tyre clearance. Allowing ample choice of tyre selection depending on your riding style and whether you’re on smooth gravel roads or pinning it down some trail.

It’s an overall perfect combination to meet the needs of the rugged terrain this bike will be ripping through.

If this review has got you drooling for a new steed, drop us a call or send us an email and let us help get you on the bike of your dreams. Our fantastic Eat Sleep Cycle team of salespeople and mechanics are always only a phone call or email away.

If you find yourself in Girona, be sure to pop into the store and if you’re wanting to explore the abundance of phenomenal riding Girona has to offer, why not avoid the hassle of traveling with a bike and rent one from us? We have one of the largest rental bike fleets to match just about every rider’s wants and needs. Renting a bike is also a great way to test a bike you may be thinking about. All our rental bikes are what we sell in store so rent one and ride it before you buy it.

Matt walks us through the C68 Gravel here: