Colnago

CX Zero 105 Complete Bike-2015

There are certain times in cycling when only the very lightest equipment will suffice. For example, if you're Voeckler, Europcar's irrepressible puncheur, you've been off the front for 70 kilometers for the third day in a row, the finish line is 400 meters of 12% grade away, and the sprinters are breathing down your back. At that point, the slight weight penalty in the Colnago CX Zero's 105 groupset may be safely considered a liability. But if you're like many of us, and the hard-charging chase is only in your head, then a bike like the CX Zero with 105 presents the perfect blend of reliable, budget-conscious components with a frameset that's worthy of the pro peloton.

The CX Zero's smooth, efficient ride starts with the same long wheelbase, high stack, and short reach as the CX Zero Evo used by Europcar in every race of the year, suffering only minor penalties in weight and stiffness. Both frames put you in a more comfortable and stable upright position than traditionally aggressive racing frames like the C60. The CX Zero's seatstays are thinned and slightly flattened to absorb hits and road noise, which is further complemented by the chainstays' slight up-kick at the rear dropout for a plush ride over unforgiving courses like Roubaix. The chainstays also spring from the built-up bottom bracket with a stiff thickness that keeps power transfer efficient for long days spent grinding up climbs.

At a more basic level, the frameset is built from the same Japan-sourced Toray carbon fiber used in Colnago's line-topping C60 and — we're not making this up — Boeing's aircraft. This carbon is trusted for such prestigious applications because it's the most consistent carbon fiber in the world, guaranteed perfect, every time, so it all but eliminates the chance of random, uncaused structural failure. That quality makes it so sought after that Colnago is the only manufacturer able to use 100% Japanese carbon fiber in its frames.

The Shimano 105 drivetrain is, admittedly, a less sought after inclusion in the CX Zero, but we challenge anyone to spend more than two hours riding on it and muster any complaint besides "it's heavy." It's been newly upgraded to 11-speed, and we're pleased to note that the new 105 enjoys many of the same benefits that Dura-Ace and Ultegra got when they made the switch. 105 boasts improved trim in the front, spring and cable pitch in the rear, and indexing in the shifters. The shift lever bodies have also been slimmed down, for a modern look that's finally moved away from the ray-gun look of yesteryear's Shimano. The kit also includes Shimano's bombproof RS11 wheelset, which rolls smoothly and will last through many years of hard use.