This exclusive Colnago Steelnovo, made of steel, costs 17,500€ and commemorates the manufacturer's 70 years

In 1954, Ernesto Colnago founded the brand that bears his name in the Italian city of Cambiago. Little did he imagine that, 70 years later, it would become pure history in cycling and a cult brand for road bike enthusiasts. What better way to celebrate than by doing what they do best, a very special bike, the Colnago Steelnovo. A tribute to the brand's trajectory and, at the same time, a nod to the future as its name suggests.

Colnago merges past and future in its exclusive Stelnovo celebrating its 70th anniversary

If Colnago has been famous for anything over the years, it has been for its fantastic steel bicycles, hand-welded by its artisans, meticulously crafted to build bicycles that historically have accompanied the great champions of cycling. In fact, even today, they continue to do so and a certain Tadej Pogacar still proudly carries the Colnago name on the roads.

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On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the brand's founding, Colnago has decided to create a bike that captures all that heritage, and what better way to do it than with what is known in the cycling world as a neo-classic. That is, a bike with a traditional frame, in this case, as it could not be otherwise, made of steel. But with features of modern bicycles such as disc brakes, internal wiring, or electronic shifting that make it perfectly usable today without having to envy modern carbon bikes.

Colnago wanted this bike, in the tradition of the brand, to maintain all the essence of an authentic Italian bike, so, in addition to being built, assembled, and painted in its various factories, it has also turned to Italian suppliers to create a bike that is 100% made in Italy.

A local manufacturing process that starts with the supplier of the tubes, which, speaking of steel, could only be Columbus, a brand that, after the difficult years of transition to carbon, is experiencing a second youth thanks to the many artisanal manufacturers around the world who do not hesitate to choose their famous tubes. In the case of the tubing for this Steelnovo, the tubes do not belong to any of the series that Columbus usually markets but have been specially designed and customized for this bicycle.

The next step in making a Colnago is to join these tubes, a union that, when it comes to the brand from Cambiago, can only be done with one technique: the use of lugs. Here, Colnago has taken the opportunity to add a touch of modernity and has turned to the also Italian firm, Additiva, specialists in 3D printing, which has provided minimalist lugs that integrate perfectly into the lines of the tubes as well as the rear dropouts, the one for the UDH system, and the rear disc mount. The bottom bracket lug represents a small concession to history as it uses the T47 standard instead of the traditional Italian thread.

The frame is welded extremely meticulously, and the welds are polished to achieve the desired result, making it impossible to guess where they are, leaving the tubes with a completely smooth transition where it is impossible to discern where the tube ends and the lug begins. A process that is repeated in each of the 70 units that Colnago will produce of this Steelnovo as it is a limited edition.

Continuing with Italian brands, you can probably guess which manufacturer they have turned to for the groupset. This Steelnovo could only be equipped with Campagnolo, which supplies its flagship groupset, the Super Record Wireless, which includes a customization of the graphics for this bike with details featuring the Italian flag on the cranks and derailleurs. The graphics on the wheels that accompany the set are also customized, once again, with the best that Campagnolo has in its catalog: Bora Ultra WTO 45 wheels.

To fit the wheels, once again an Italian brand like Pirelli, which has been producing its bicycle tires in its Bolate factory, near Milan, for a few years now. The chosen tires are the sportiest from Pirelli, their P-Zero Race. By the way, regarding the tires, it is worth mentioning that the wheel clearances on this Colnago Steelnovo can accommodate up to 35 mm.

The assembly of this Steelnovo is completed with a saddle provided by Selle Royal, specifically a Brooks Cambium C13 that gives it a more classic look, and a cockpit signed by Colnago itself, an integrated CC.01 identical to the one used on their top-of-the-line carbon bikes. Details such as the hardware or the thru-axles are also customized by the, obviously, Italian brand Carbon-Ti.

Obviously, the exclusivity of being only 70 units, a top-of-the-line assembly, and a detailed manufacturing process to the limit, come with a price, the €17,500 that will have to be paid to acquire this small piece of cycling history.

Colnago Steelnovo 70: Technical specifications

• Price: €17,500
• Frame: Columbus steel with customized tubing and 3D printed lugs
• Groupset: Campagnolo Super Record Wireless customized for Colnago, 48/32 chainrings, 10-29 cassette
• Wheels: Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 45 customized for Colnago
• Thru-axles: Carbon-Ti customized for Colnago
• Tires: Pirelli P-Zero Race
• Saddle: Brooks Cambium C13
• Handlebar: Colnago CC.01