The latest "Colnago for Ferrari" bicycle has been created in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Italian car manufacturer Ferrari. This new model will be introduced worldwide for the first time at the China Cycle Show which will be held in Shanghai from May 4-7.

This exclusive bicycle, which continues a seven year collaboration between the two Italian firms, is based on the Colnago Extreme Power frame, completely made in carbon fibre and assembled through lugs, which allows for a truly custom-made bicycle. The 60th anniversary "Colnago for Ferrari" has the classical red livery, symbol of the ''cavallino rampante'' house, and on the front a stylised Italian tricolour flag, symbol of these two leaders of the ''Made in Italy'' design. The fork is the Carbon Star completely made in carbon fibre, synonymous of reliability and safety. The ''Colnago for Ferrari'' will be the 60th anniversary pearl.

The relationship between bike maker Colnago and car maker Ferrari began in earnest seven years ago with the introduction of the Ferrari-branded CF1. The red and black paint scheme of the bike included both the Colnago cloverleaf emblem and the Ferrari raging horse on the top tube. The rear portion (Colnago) of the frame was clear coated revealing bare carbon while the front portion (Ferrari) of the frame was painted in Ferrari Red. The Colnago and Ferrari logos on the downtube were painted in silver to match the colour of a Ferrari engine block. The Colnago-Ferrari CF1 was only offered as a complete bicycle. Ernesto Colnago dedicated the CF1 to Ferrari in recognition and appreciation of their long-lasting relationship and Ferrari's commitment to technology. Only 500 models of the CF1 were produced with Ferrari car owners placing orders to complete their collections of everything Ferrari. One of the first owners of the bike was Michael Schumacher.

The next model in the Colnago-Ferrari relationship was a full-suspension mountain bike called the CF2, which also used a carbon fibre frame and was limited to just 1,000 units. Currently Colnago builds the CF4 (a high performance road bike) and the CF5 (touring bike).

Colnago

Colnago, arguably the most desired brand on the planet, has been producing race winning frames for the best cyclists in the world for over 50 years. What began in a humble workshop in Cambiago, Italy is now known globally as the quintessential, race-bred bicycle. Ernesto Colnago began his relationship with the cycling world when, at the age of 12, he served as an apprentice in the workshop of craftsman Dante Fumagalli. He later tried his hand at amateur racing and was fairly successful until he broke his leg at the end of the 1951 Milano-Busseto Classic. Bed-ridden due to his accident, Colnago began building wheels, which in turn gave him the idea of starting his own business.
 

Colnago would then go on to open his own shop and later wrench for the Italian national and various professional teams. He later would begin to build frames and even be the first person to cold-forge the fork blades of a bicycle fork. One of the most memorable springboards for Colnago’s fame in the cycling community came in 1972 when Eddy Merckx established the new hour record (49.431km) aboard a bike built by Colnago. Over the years, the hour record distance was pushed further and further, with advances in technology aiding the riders. In 1994, Tony Rominger made two record-breaking assaults on the hour aboard a Colnago, with a final mark of 55.291km. By 2000, technology was overshadowing athleticism in the hour record. The Union Cycliste International then set new equipment standards for any attempt on the hour record and honoured Merckx’ 1972 Colnago-borne distance as the mark to beat.

In the 80s and 90s Colnago would continue to refine his racing geometry and frame material use by the sponsorship and, more importantly, the intimate relationships he developed with numerous teams including Team SCIC, Del Tongo, Clas-Cajastur, Mapei, Rabobank and most recently Team Milram. Since 1974 there have been over 5,000 pro wins on Colnago bicycles. In regards to Colnago’s machines themselves, many critics consider the Colnago brand to lie on the traditional side of the frame design spectrum. While this may hold true to a certain extent, it should not be ignored that Colnago was one of the first high end frame manufacturers to experiment and ultimately employ carbon fibre in their designs.

One of the qualities that Ernesto Colnago can boast most about his frames is the International Organization of Standardization 9001 certification that Colnago’s manufacturing process was granted in 1998. ISO is the globally recognized standard of quality that is shared across a wide spectrum of products throughout the world. Colnago is one of only a few in the entire cycling industry to have ISO 9001 certification.

Heritage, true-world race refinement and attention to quality are all aspects of the Colnago racing bicycle. From humble beginnings and through hard work, all the while with a deep respect for time proven technology, Colnago has been successful in consistently providing professionals with the most reliable tools for their trade while simultaneously being able to offer the identical machines for cycling enthusiasts of all levels.