Abraham’s Colnago C68

This week, we're featuring a bike belonging to one of Signature's Co-owners, Abraham. This is his new Colnago C68, and here, he explains the vision behind his new dream bike, and the experience of riding it on the dream roads of the Swiss Alps.

When I was a kid watching the Tour de France, I saw many teams with jerseys representing various sponsors from different nations. I loved them all, but there was one in particular that stood out from the rest and which really captured my young, cycling-mad imagination: Team Mapei.

The Italians took flair to another level. The Mapei kit was something else, emblazoned with those legendary multi-colored tumbling cubes, and their bikes were always absolutely exceptional. The Colnago Master in the Mapei livery became embedded in my head as the coolest bike ever.

As the years progressed, the more I learned about Colnago the more I appreciated the brand. From winning the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia with Eddy Merckx, to once again dominating the Tour in the 2020s with Tadej Pogacar and winning both races again with Colnago in the modern era, it’s clear the Italian company knows how to make a bike that can make a pro rider explode his potential.

After seeing all those iconic riders taking the top step of the podium over the decades, I wanted to give it a try myself – to experience what a frame hand-made in Italy must feel like. And I can tell you, the C68 rides even better than it looks – and that’s no mean feat. With its tube-to-tube construction, the frame has a smooth feel that mirrors its aesthetic. Climbing the cobbled four miles of the classic San Gottardo Pass in Switzerland was easy and descending off it, the bike was super stable and absorbed the vibration coming up from the ancient stones. Downhill, the Colnago is an absolute pleasure. I enjoy going fast on a bike, and the perfectly judged geometry of the frame supplies a responsive yet confidence-inspiring ride on the sharp switchbacks of the Alps.

I opted for the Lightweight Wegweiser wheels, not only to complement the hand-made craftsmanship of the C68 but also so that I could run a wider tire – a 30c – for an even smoother ride on our Swiss trip. Personally, I like the way Shimano components perform on the road and the ergonomics of the Dura-Ace hoods fit my hands perfectly. The shifting is also fantastic, and the CeramicSpeed pulleys and bottom bracket made this C68 even faster on those long mountain days.

I have ridden many stock bikes in my life, and each has something to highlight, but after riding this beautiful Colnago for over a week, logging 41,000 feet of elevation and 280 miles, I can tell you the C68 packs all the great qualities into one package, delivering a bike that defies all expectations.

Riding this Colnago C68 during our Swiss/Italian trip made it even more special, but also being in Italy and experiencing first hand the country’s love for cycling also made me understand and appreciate all the passion and craftsmanship that went into making this frame.

It is the culmination of that incredible heritage – a total dream bike!