Eurobike 2012 Spotlight: Colnago’s Prestige Disc Brake Cyclocross Bike
Although Europe’s cyclocross bike market isn’t quite as large as the American market, each year the giant Eurobike trade show has more cyclocross product on display. While Cyclocross Magazine is still a bit small to afford sending an editor to the big show, we have managed to get you a sneak peek at the latest cyclocross bikes and products at the show in Friedrichshafen, Germany, thanks to contributing photographer Thomas van Bracht.
First up is Colnago’s new disc-equipped Prestige cyclocross bike.
Disc brakes will be standard on many of Colnago's new bikes for 2013, including this Ultegra Di2-equipped Prestige. ©Thomas van Bracht
Cyclocross legend and Colnago rider Sven Nys plans to race disc brakes this fall, and Colnago had a Avid BB7 mechanical disc-brake-equipped carbon Prestige cyclocross bike on display, a preview of the frame Nys will be riding. The display model, expected to be available as a complete bike shortly, comes with a Shimano Ultegra Di2 drivetrain (see our review in the upcoming Issue 18) with internal wiring, a carbon Colnago cockpit, and a Formula/Colnago carbon tubular wheelset dressed with Vittoria tubulars.
The frame is constructed from a monocoque carbon front end, mated to a lugged rear triangle—a different construction method than the lugged Colnago C-40 cyclocross bike of years past.
Colnago's Prestige brake caliper is chainstay post mounted. ©Thomas van Bracht
The Formula wheels beg the question as to whether we might see a cyclocross brake from Formula in the near future at the World Cup level. We already know from our Issue 14 tests that the Formula R1 hydraulic brakes work well on a cyclocross bike, and at Sea Otter 2012 we saw Formula’s hydraulic drop bar lever that’s Dura-Ace Di2 10-speed compatible (not compatible with the chip-based Ultegra or Dura Ace 11 speed).
Since it’s hard to imagine racers like Nys racing on Ultegra Di2, and with Shimano’s 11-speed Dura Ace Di2 and hydraulic road/cyclocross brakes aren’t quite ready, a Formula lever and brake might meet a short-term need.
Stay tuned for more Eurobike 2012 cyclocross product from Cyclocross Magazine. Jordan Villella contributed to this report.
Full Photo Gallery of Colnago Prestige Disc Cyclocross Bike:
