Colnago

AC-R Ultegra Complete Bike-2015

If you're a cycling manufacturer that can claim over 1,600 victories in the international racing circuit, then you can be excused for standards so absurdly high that the AC-R Ultegra Complete Bike can be considered your entry-level race machine. If you're any brand but Colnago, though, the AC-R and its race-ready Ultegra drivetrain would be among the stars in your lineup.

The AC-R's all-star pedigree starts with its raw materials. As with all of Colnago's carbon frames, 100% of the carbon used in its construction comes from 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.

The AC-R's geometry also recommends it for all-star status. It's the same as Colnago's retired M10, which was the Italian manufacturer's flagship monocoque frameset before the advent of the all-new V1-R. The M10's geometry was built for racing in the European peloton, and the AC-R doesn't disappoint in this regard. The long wheel base provides confident, comfortable control in sweeping corners, fast descents, and variable terrain, but the abbreviated head tube means that the front end can be slammed enough to satisfy the most critical of crit racers. Whatever your application, the AC-R is equal to it.

As you'd expect from a Colnago, the AC-R 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. The oversized legs on the carbon fork also absorb road noise and complement the secure handling of the tapered steering tube and long wheel base. 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.

According to some Competitive staffers, the AC-R's Ultegra shift levers and derailleurs are fully capable of meeting the demands of every cyclist — racer or not — up until the point where someone starts paying you to ride a bike. The ancillary kit is round out with Shimano's redoubtable RS11 wheels and an Italian cocktail of Deda and Selle Italia in the cockpit and saddle area.