Velo City: Bicycle Culture and City Life

Colnago C59 Italia

Colnago C59 Italia

For all the proselytizing on The Spoken about steel frames, there are a couple of composite riding machines that I’d happily turn for. One is an Argonaut Cycle by Ben Farver, the second is a Colnago C59 Italia, which are still made by hand in the Cambiago factory. Mark McGrath, director of Dutch & Wolf, the UK’s premier Colnago distributor, recently had the pleasure to assemble a C59 for himself.

When it comes to frame technology, Colnago has often lead the industry over the years. The lugged construction of the C59, however, shows that Ernesto Colnago can still be a stickler for the old ways. Even the ribbed profile of the original Master frame’s top and down tubes make a reappearance on the C59—proof that Ernesto believes in their contribution to the ride quality.

Ernesto likes to personally monitor the manufacturing process of his high-end frames, which start out as tubes of carbon fiber made by the same specialists who create F1 chassis and Ducati MotoGP frames. After each section is glued and baked together, they’re hand finished and sent to Colnago’s color house to be painted—without the use of decals.

Mark and his C59 will be spending a lot of time together on a round robin ride that starts in Cheshire’s Alderley Edge and careens through the country lanes off the A34 before climbing into the Peak District and a return to Alderley Edge via Macclesfield, on the A537. It’s a regular ride so if you’re interested in joining in, Mark would love to hear from you. Get in touch via the Dutch & Wolf website.

Colnago C59 Italia
Colnago C59 Italia
Colnago C59 Italia
Colnago C59 Italiav
Colnago C59 Italia
Colnago C59 Italia