Colnago

CLD Women's Road Framset-2015

Ernesto Colnago's passion for cycling means his company works with the most talented cyclists in the world, including his countrywoman and former world champion Bronzini. The world-beating likes of Bronzini ride Colnago's flagship frames, but the Colnago CLD Road Frameset means that those of us with more modest cycling aspirations can enjoy similar Colnago ride quality at a price that's much friendlier to the self-sponsored cyclist. Whether you're a newly-minted queen of the mountains or a young upstart looking to make your mark on the world stage, the CLD has enough punch to accommodate your growth as a racer.

The fact that it's been designated a women's bike doesn't mean the CLD is built with cheap, run-of-the-mill carbon. In fact, the carbon comes from the same mill as that featured in the world-beating C60: Toray's Japanese factory. Toray also has operations in China and elsewhere, but the carbon produced in Japan is the most consistent in the world. It's guaranteed perfect, every time, which is why — in addition to Colnago's C60, V1-R, K-Zero, etc., frames — it's the only material Boeing will use in its aircraft. This carbon is so sought after that Toray enjoys a degree of selectivity in who they sell it to, so Colnago is the only cycling manufacturer able to use it for 100% of its frames.

While Colnago designed the CLD from the ground-up to be a woman's bike, it does share certain dimensions with Colnago's AC-R and the now-retired M10, which was the Italian manufacturer's flagship monocoque frameset before the advent of the all-new V1-R. The CLD has a slightly taller head tube than the relatively slammed AC-R and shorter chainstays designed create a seat tube angle that better accommodates a woman's body. Other than that, the CLD's four sizes slot into the gaps in the small end of the AC-R's size chart, peppering the range with options for a more upright position while preserving the other elements of the AC-R's race-ready geometry.

As you'd expect from a Colnago, the CLD also places a premium on comfort without sacrificing responsiveness. It ensures efficient power transfer with elements like the tapered head tube, a built-up bottom bracket, and shaped chainstays while smoothing the ride with compliant, flattened seatstays and a plush 27.2mm carbon seatpost diameter. The oversized legs on the carbon fork also absorb road noise and complement the secure handling of the tapered steering tube and long wheelbase. For those keeping score at home, that's efficient, responsive power transfer, a plush ride, and graceful handling, the combination of which constitutes the ride quality that Colnago is known for.