Colnagos new G5-X gravel race bike is everything in only one package CyclistColnagos new G5-X gravel race bike is everything in only one packageColnago has released the G5-X, its third generation gravel race bike, which bucks the modern trend of super-aero gravel bikes in favour of a versatile package design for all kinds of gravel races, from fast races where aero is important to multi-day ultras.It takes over from the G4-X, which the brand admits was still very harsh to ride, leading to a bigger rethink of the genre, its demands and what the next bike had to be given the G-series positioning as the gravel equivalent of the V-series all-round road race bikes, making this the off-road V5Rs.That led to an adjusted geometry and new handlebars for better handling technical terrain, a new carbon layup to enhance compliance without sacrificing responsiveness, adventure-focused features including six mounting points, down tube storage and a Fidlock bottle system, plus 53mm tyre clearance with room to spare for mud.The real proof of what Colnago believes the G5-X to be was at the media preview event in Tuscany last week, where journalists were taken on a couple of hair-raising rides on strade not-so bianche. You can read our first impressions of the bike in our Colnago G5-X first ride review, which will be live shortly.Claimed weight is a touch over 7.5kg for the 51 size, and, being Colnago, this is a premium-only bike, with electronic shifting only, and three specs, starting with the SRAM Rival AXS model, which is priced at 5,299.99 / 5,799 (France) / 4,900 (rest of Europe) / US pricing TBD.Colnago G5-X in shortA bike for all gravel races, prioritising versatility, handling and responsiveness Geometry geared towards technical riding slacker head tube angle, increased fork rake, shorter trail, longer wheelbase, increased BB drop New carbon layup for improved compliance53mm official tyre clearanceSix mounting points, plus down tube storageSold 1x only, but 2x compatibleFidlock bottle system, but can be fitted with normal cagesRound 27.2mm seatpostWhat is a gravel race bike anyway? Colnagos logic behind the G5-X updatesColnagoRoad metrics such as weight, stiffness and aerodynamics cannot simply be transferred to a gravel bike, Colnagos press release says, which should please those readers tired of reading about lighter, faster, stiffer on every new bike launch.Davide Fumagalli, Colnagos head of R&D, explains in more detail: For this third evolution we were looking at whats really happening when you ride a bike like this.Gravel racing means a lot of things nowadays. Gravel racing is a short gravel race, very fast; is a medium, 200, 300km gravel race, where you have to carry something; and its also a long distance gravel race.That means that the bike must be able to afford all different kind of races, where you need to be super-light and super-fast, or where you need to carry something with you, where you need to have a more compliant bike, where you need a bike more relaxed because you are more tired, where you need something more stable, races where you need to use a super-fast tyre and races where you need a 50mm tyre.Gravel is becoming quickly like a mountain bike 30 years ago, it was mountain bike full stop, and then we start to have cross country, trail, enduro, downhill. Gravel is becoming the same thing, we tried to put everything into only one package, and thats the G5-X.Colnago has highlighted four gravel races that show the demands of the category and the breadth of what the G5-X is expected to do: the Traka 200 shorter, faster but with highly technical section; Unbound 200 all-out, all-day speed, plus mud; Badlands, which was just won in record time by Colnago-sponsored pro Piotr Havik 800km self-supported ultra including lots of climbing and a mix of technical terrain; and GranGuanche Audax full storage capability, plus multi-day comfort.How does that translate into the design of the Colnago G5-X?GeometryGiona Mason / ColnagoProbably the most notable aspect of the G5-X is its geometry, so Ill let Filippo Galli, Colnagos R&D project leader explain: At first this has been designed as a racing bicycle, but around 50mm tyres. This means that the whole bike is longer to accommodate bigger tyres, and so its more stable and more compliant from this point of view together with the tyre. But, because of this, we didnt want to compromise with handling and with quickness in the handling, so the steering angle is more slack to both accommodate the bigger tyre and to allow more precise riding, but also the rake of the fork has had a significant increase. Now we are at 52mm of rake, that means that the trail of the bike is quite short, and this really gives a racing feeling.On top of this, to allow the rider to be more compact and more efficient on the bike, the bottom bracket has been lowered by around 1cm, so BB drop is 80mm. This allows a lower centre of mass of the whole bike and rider, and also the possibility to be more compact on the the bike for long distances. That, together with a more stable and more compliant bike, allows more efficiency at the end of the day.In short: Slacker head tube angle for added stability, bump absorption and steep descending confidence Increased fork rake to balance with the head tube angle and keep the steering quick by reducing trailLower bottom bracket to balance with bigger tyres, which lift the BB, as well as to add stability at speed and keep the rider feeling planted in the bikeLonger wheelbase for stability, smoothness, confidence on steep routes and to spread weight out more evenly on tricky climbs and cornersCarbon layupGiona Mason / ColnagoAs opposed to being stiffer and Fumagalli downplays the importance of stiffness, even in Colnagos road race bikes the G5-X has a new carbon layup designed to be more compliant, with a softer feeling on rougher terrain to help the body deal better with the impacts over a sustained period, while also staying responsive for quick power transfer.Comfort-focused spec choicesGiona Mason / ColnagoAlongside those two more complicated factors, Colnago has also made a few simpler design decisions that show the drive for comfort over watt-savings. The 53mm tyre clearance is the obvious one, more on that below, but there is also the inclusion of a round 27.2mm seatpost, which will flex more than an aero seatpost and allow for use of a dropper post on the odd occasion its necessary as well as a bigger range of choice if changing between seatposts dropper or not.The top two G5-X models also include the Colnago CC.01 Wide integrated carbon monocoque bar and stem, which has 30mm flare to the drops compared with to the standard CC.01s 10mm for better control in descents.Tyre clearanceGiona Mason / ColnagoColnago has been eager to point out the 53mm tyre clearance is nominal, with that measurement taken to include 6mm of buffer all the way around the tyre, which it says is more generous than a lot of brands quote for. That should provide extra breathing space for mud an Unbound essential. The brand also says its limited to that number because it maintained the option to swap in 2x groupsets for racing. The G5-X is only sold with 1x but the choice is there for those that want it.StorageGiona Mason / ColnagoTo cover ultra-races, Colnago has fitted the G5-X with six mounting points the two standard bottle positions on the down tube and seat tube, plus on the underside of the down tube, one on each fork leg and one on the top tube. And theres still space to strap on a frame bag and a saddle bag.Theres also down tube storage, which isnt as spacious as others on the market, but has enough room for essentials Colnago says it can fit a couple of tubes, a CO2 canister, a small pump and a multi-tool which with internal storage are better protected from the elements and come without the aero penalty of a bag.One spec choice that wont be seen in all types of races is the Fidlock bottle system in place of standard cages. Fumagallis biggest selling point for its inclusion is ease of use if riding with a frame bag that closes the top of a cage. However for those shorter, supported races where feed stops need to be rapid, the likes of Havik will swap to standard bottle cages, which can be easily subbed in.Colnago G5-X specs and pricesGiona Mason / ColnagoAll three tiers of the Colnago G5-X have the same frameset, the same sloping sizes (45, 48, 51, 54, 57), the same gear ratios (40t, 10-64t), the same two colour options (Carbon Green and Carbon Blue), the same headset, the same seatpost, the same BSA bottom bracket, the same thru-axles, and the same Sella Italia Novus saddle.What separates them? Groupset, wheels, tyres, cockpit and, unsurprisingly, price.SRAM Red Groupset: SRAM Red XPLR AXS E1, 10-46tWheels: Zipp 303 XPLR SWTyres: Goodyear XPLR Inter TLR 70050Handlebar/stem: Colnago CC.01 WidePrice: 9,999.99 / 10,999 France / 9,200 rest of Europe / USA TBDSRAM ForceGroupset: SRAM Force XPLR E1Wheels: Vision TC45 CarbonTyres: Pirelli Cinturatio Gravel RH TLR 70050Handlebar/stem: Colnago CC.01 WidePrice: 6,299.99 / 6,899 France / 5,750 rest of Europe / USA TBDSRAM RivalGroupset: SRAM Rival XPLR E1Wheels: Vision TC45 CarbonTyres: Pirelli Cinturatio Gravel RH TLR 70050Handlebar/stem: Deda Superzero Gravel Alloy/Colnago RS10 AlloyPrice: 5,299.99 / 5,799 France / 4,900 rest of Europe / USA TBDThe post Colnagos new G5-X gravel race bike is everything in only one package appeared first on Cyclist.
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