Review: 2011 Colnago World Cup

By Scott Hackett | Published Dec 17, 2010

Right Out of the Box

First Impressions

We took delivery of this bike at Interbike after meeting with Alessandro Colnago and Billy Kanzler, National Sales Manager for Colnago USA. The World Cup is every bit as stunning on the Interbike show floor as the high end Prestige sitting right next to it. Billy personally helped me pack up the bike as it had arrived in the original box in Chicago, we then shipped it home on my return flight to Colorado.

Ease of Assembly

The bike was very easy to put together, like most quality bicycles, the World Cup should arrive boxed about 90% pre-assembled. Cables and housing were precut to length, making total assembly time about 30 minutes including minor adjustments to be ride ready.

Bling Factor

One word is all that is really needed here. Colnago! The company web site states that “A Colnago paint finish is an intricate and beautiful job. Except for the head badge, none of the colored areas or logos on a Colnago frame is a stick-on decal; all are the result of the painstaking skill of our paint team.” This statement is not hype at all, each and every one is hand painted. The subtle white & black main colors accented with red upside down swoosh graphics accentuate the bikes classic lines and style. The World Cups seat post, stem and handlebar all painted gloss white with black and red accents top off the full custom package. There is no need for over the top anodized trinkets to dress up the Colnago World cup as this bike is no a dull looker at all. What you get is a clean sophisticated style that only the Italians are capable of. After the initial shake down ride to my team shop Green Mountain Sports to weigh it and pick up some cleats I had ordered, I immediately had to give her a good polish and 2 coats of wax before I gave the World Cup a thorough thrashing on my enduro test loop. Everywhere I go with this bike nothing but positive comments on what a looker it is.,

Road Test Ride

Climbing

With simple shaped oversized tubes, the down tub being bi ovalized, bent seat stays, with the relatively short bent and ovalized 420mm chain stays and the hydroformed seat cluster that doubles as a support for shouldering a Colnago exclusive adds stiffness and stability connecting the front and rear triangles. Stomp on the pedals and this baby climbs, though the World Cup would be a better climber with a lighter crank and seat post. Together both yield a hefty 1,236g, the durable but heavy Shimano WH-R500 wheelset (Claimed 1884g Actual 1989g with rim strips no skewers) also slows the climbing of the World Cup, but keep in mind these are primarily training wheels and should be durable first.

Cornering

Stable and predictable for commuting, I was sitting up no handing corners at 20-25mph with just a little lean and turn of the hips to pressure the outside of the saddle. Get aggressive with a bit more rider input and it will carve a turn with the precision of a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon.

Handling

The shake down first ride on the World Cup was less than inspiring mainly due to the very narrow handle bar for the bike size. This bar measured 40cm center to center at the end of a flared bar not the bend were the shifters mount so its actually a 38mm bar. Talking with a owner of a 2010 World Cup at a race, he said all the Colnago's he has owned are equipped with a narrow bar. Though for a CX bike I believe that the bars should be one size wider than your road bike for more steering leverage and to open up the upper body just a bit more. When measuring the bike to just above the seat collar horizontal line parallel the size 52 is a traditional 54 square. For proper fit and my aggressive DH’r riding style I choose a wider bar 46mm bar with a longer reach 88mm vs. the 80mm on the stock bar and slightly shorter stem 100mm vs. the 120mm. I end up with a reach just slightly shorter and a wider stance for better cornering control. Once my fit preferences were addressed I was able to get back to my typical agressive riding style. I was jumping out of the corners, getting hard on the brakes before tight switchbacks with a just hint of brake shutter but you really got to be grabbing a whole lot of brake. Descending Lookout Mountain at 50mph I felt confident, and you should too when piloting the World Cup.

Ride Feel

Despite the overall stiffness of the frame, and from my experience oversized aluminum tube frames are to stiff and are not compliant and comfortable to be ridden long without feeling you have been riding on rumble strip for a 100miles. Not so much with the World Cup on a road ride of 60+ miler with 5000 feet of climbing. I equiped them with road tires for this ride and I found there was just a hint of road vibration compared to my Ti road bike. I arrived home feeling great, not needing the massage like the last aluminum CX bike I road. When on the road with the stock Kenda Kwicker 32’s inflated to 55psi the World Cup is sure-footed and very comfortable all attributable to the not overly shaped tubes becoming so common in the industry an effort to make a bike as stiff as possible but resulting in compromising ride comfort and vertical compliance. The World Cup is predictable and lively, jumping on and off curbs sideways at speed for my many impulsive unplanned diversions are handled with confidence.

Dirt Test Ride

Climbing

Just as on the road the bike climbs very well because of the same attributes, though the 12-25 gearing kept me searching for more gears especially when wanting to take it a bit easier and I am a strong climber at 5’10” and 145lbs a 12-27 cassette would have been a better choice to spec the bike with and would be more usable for the non UCI level racer that this bike is aimed at.

Cornering

Go as fast as you dare, just as on the road, off road this baby corners and only gets better the faster you go. The sharp and predictable cornering of the World Cup up won’t let you down. In the dirt the hefty crank, seat post and wheels as mentioned before do affect the bikes cornering and acceleration when speed is scrubbed off. I would still keep the R500 wheels as training and commuting wheels, as they are tough and durable.

Handling

Since the geometry is inspired by the legendary C50 cross frameset, a frameset ridden to victory by the likes of Sven Nys and Lars Boom, I was expecting a lot. The first day taking the World Cup off road was on my Enduro test route which includes sections of Green Mountain that has moderate to steep climbs, imbedded rocky to smooth trail with fast 30 mph+ descents, then back on the road down to Golden to a CX/ MTB short track race course then over to the Golden Bike Park to hit a dirt jump line. I felt that comfortable on the World Cup to hit a twelve foot table top on the World Cup then road back on the rode almost all climbing home cutting back trough Green Mountain to gt back home the Shimano R500 wheel set is as straight and true as when I started. When I did push the limits to far since crashing doesn’t scare this test pilot, I had no problem reining the World Cup back under control without any complaints. The hefty crank, seat post and wheels do slow what would surely be livelier and faster bike with a lighter race wheels, crank and seat post. Under hard braking especially on a downhill with a sharp turn as CX courses are known for a bit of fork shutter was present no worse than what I was expecting on a CX bike with cantilever brakes. The World Cups stable and predictable handling only got better the faster the bike was ridden and whenever I was on the dirt a big ear-to-ear grin was present.

Ride Feel

On smooth fast trail, grass the World Cup is really nice with as with the road just a hint of vibration. On rough trail and grassy sections the back end did get a bit jarring but not so bad it overly affected the handling. Taking into account my lightweight of 145lbs and aggressive riding style I do not think this will be any problem with the majority of riders that get to saddle up on the 2011 World Cup. I will post an update when the before mentioned heavy parts are replaced with lighter options, to see if the World Cups attributes are amplified or diminished.

Trainer Test Ride

Replaced by

FRAME & FORK BUILD QUALITY 4.5 Cowbells

The World Cup sports solid and perfect double welds of the 7000 series butted and swaged tubes. What is double welding? There are a few types depending on what is being welded. Though in all cases the benefit is increase weld penetration and integrity without compromising the alloy as compared to standard TIG welded tubes. I have yet to get an answer from if this is indeed the case though Colnago did feel it was important enough to label it on the head tube. One notable difference from the 2010 frame, a Colnago exclusive is the new hydroformed seat cluster that doubles as a support for shouldering the bike during run-ups, model just as with the carbon fiber Prestige frame. The light 466g carbon steer tube and carbon straight blade fork w/ bonded dropouts is as stiff as it’s good looks, though not the same fork that graces the carbon fiber Prestige frame all I was told it was different. The vertical and horizontal alignment of all tubes was spot on. After subtracting all the parts, all removed one time or another through my testing and upgrade process, the frame weight is a respectable 1597g.

Race Test Ride

Replaced by more on

COMPONENT SELECTION 3 Cowbells

The company product sheet states, “We spec’d the World Cup Cross 105 5700 to deliver the best possible racing bike to the budget-minded consumer. We believe the NEW Shimano 105 5700 drive train with the FSA Omega cross-specific crank set provides ample performance to beginning and experienced cross racers. We also spec’d the bike with Shimano WH-R500 wheels because we know that people who buy the World Cup are training and racing on the bike. They want a set of wheels that will hold up to the abuse of cyclocross. We could have gone for less expensive stem, bars and seat post on the World Cup to save ourselves a little money, but we didn’t. We chose the NEW Colnago Celsius series to offer a custom look with no compromise in performance. ” As a whole the statement is true more in my upgrades and final say section of the review. Other components and parts worth mentioning: The Colnago branded saddle is a Prologo Kappa with a polyamide shell provides stiffness at a small weight penalty compared to carbon, the 145 width at the tail and thin front end is an excellent choice I found it instantly comfortable looks great as well. The Tektro brakes listed on the Colnago product page as Shimano 105 5700’s though Shimano no longer makes cantilever brakes are a the best value in CX brakes set up properly they will adjust your speed quite well.

We Liked

The World Cup’s clean sophisticated head turning looks. The top quality welds and construction of the 7000 series tubes, the full carbon fork, uncommon for an entry-level less than 2K CX race bike. The standout is the Colnago exclusive support for shouldering the bike that adds a bit of comfort to the uncomfortable task of runs ups. The new Shimano105 5700 shifters and derailleur’s offer similar performance of Ultegra and Dura Ace at a reasonable cost. The 105 5700 levers are a similar shape to the latest Dura-Ace and Ultegra units – with which they are compatible, along with the rest of the new 105 5700 kit – brake lever blades have an outward sweep for easier shift throws just like the DA and Ultegra counterparts but with aluminum instead of carbon lever blades. When Piloting the World Cup at races the quick and stable handling made it EZ for passing in the corners my favorite way to pass, when on long off camber sections and 180’s like at Boulder Cup this year the bike was nothing but stable an predictable making my task of moving though the field fun.

We Didn't Like

There is nothing at all wrong with the World Cups frame and fork and most of the component selection. I would like to see the bike come with the 34mm wide version of the Kenda Kwicker tire, yes the 34 wide tire is not legal for a UCI sanctioned event, but he World Cup is not aimed at that rider. With the 32’s I found myself trying not to flat again and not riding as fast or aggressively as I would with a bit more rubber under me when training or just kicking around. I later measured the width of the Kwicker’s 32 and to no surprise they are actually 30mm wide. The FSA Omega crank is a boat anchor at 976g rings and BB included, a better choice for a mere $50 retail is the FSA Energy crank and would save 176g in the process. The narrow bars and heavy seat post 357g the next level up in the FSA line would do the Colnago name better justice and still keep the price basically at the same level. Not least is the 12-25 cassette a 12-27/28 would be more appropriate choice.

Upgrades

Besides the before mentioned boat anchor FSA Omega Crank, and 357g seat post, a lighter set of wheels for racing is the obvious choice. There is nothing wrong with the Shimano R500 wheels they are solid well build wheel set and should be last many miles but heavy at actual weight of 1,989g without skewers. Though the performance of the 105 5700 shifters and rear derailleur is similar to that of Ultegra and only 37g heavier, Ultegra is a better choice. I did find that the 105 5700 rear shifter only shifts one gear at a time up or down, I can shift 1-3 gears up on my old 7103 Dura Ace shifters (2005 models) I am not sure about the newer models for Ultegra & Dura Ace as I have yet to use them. The front up shifts did take noticeably more effort in comparison to my much older DA units.

Simple upgrades: Shows cost increase to full bike MSRP Energy Crank - 176g Cost + $50 Seat Post -100g Cost + $30 Wheels Mavic Kyrium Equipes – 200g Cost + $220 Ultegra Shifters – 30g Cost + $200 Total weight savings -513g = 8,486g 18.71lbs Cost + $480 = $2369.99

Upgrades that I made during the 2010 CX Race Season

Avid Shorty Ultimates

Increased brake feel.

Ability to use road style brake pads necessary to easily change brake pad types.

Eliminated brake shudder

Decreased weight.

ENVE 1.45 Ultra light Wheel Set

Decreased weight 998g

Improved Aerodynamics

Faster Acceleration and Deceleration

Durability

Ritchey Alloy WCS Single Bolt Seat post

Decreased Weight

Simpler and more Durable Clamp Construction

Time Attack XS Pedals

I have prefer Time Pedals for all MTB and CX riding

Durable

XS offers adjustable tension

Consistent Engagement & Disengagement

FSA Octal Energy Crank

Decreased Weight

The Final Say

I understand what Colnago is trying to do with the 2011 World Cup, though I believe going for the sub $1900.00 USD price point is a mistake. Colnago is a marquee brand and entry level into a marquee brand is not really entry level. Sort of like buying a Baby Benz it still is a Mercedes. I would like to see the World Cup come as a frame set as well just like the Prestige Frame Set. Even with what I consider component choice flaws the 2011 World Cup is a great value from one of the marquee brands in the industry. The 2011 World Cup clean sophisticated style that only the Italians are capable of. High quality construction, stable and responsive handling that won’t break the bank. When piloting the World Cup It begged me to go faster and I will continue to comply every time, so man or gal up since you too will be asked as well. I can’t wait to riding in some snow and ice with the World Cup when it finally does snow in the Denver metro area.

Share this Review

• Login or register to post comments
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•