Colnago C40 51cm

[MelC]

Looking to get back into more road riding and train for and compete in a Centurion perhaps at the end of the summer. Lots of hills. Long hiatus after doing triathlons. Sold my Cervelo Tri bike years ago and I have a chance to pick up a Colnago C40 used, 51cm with a 51cm top tube. My experience has always been to get a really good bike used is better than spending the same on a lesser quality new bike and this would be in the top end of my budget. However, because I am not going to a store I don't have the luxury of a fitting or size choice. I will try the bike before I decide but wanted to get an idea of whether there was any point in trying it out. Getting mixed messages on what I could find online in Colnago sizing.

I am 5'4" and very proportional. Have about a 30" inseam. I ride a Surly Crosscheck 50cm comfortably. The top tube on the Surly is closer to 53cm from the current specs but also bought this a long time ago and don't know if specs have changed. Will measure tonight when I am home to be sure. What is the thinking? I won't bother trying it out if consensus is it will be too big and will wait for something else to catch my eye (or buy something less spectacular new).

[Owlie]

If you can comfortably ride a 50cm Cross Check (they have tweaked the geometry recently, and they're even longer in the TT than they were in the past), I would say that the Colnago is going to be on the small side.

Torso length-wise, we're probably similar. My CX bike has a 53cm ETT, though on a Cross Check I'd be more comfortable on a 46cm. I'd feel really cramped on something with a 51cm ETT. You could put a longer stem on it, but my guess is that it already comes with a 90-100mm stem, and I wouldn't go beyond 110mm because of how it affects handling.

[MelC]

Mine was an old crosscheck so the designation, geometry might be different. Don't think is a 50 after all, more like the 46 I think. I actually had remembered it as a 48 or 49 but when I didn't see that option thought it had to be bigger than the 46 so went 50. Whatever its designation measurements show about a 51cm top tube but a shorter seat tube at closer to 46cm. So reach might be okay but standover and seat position might be more awkward and less adjustable. I have my crosscheck seat elevated a couple of inches so it may be doable.

Worth a try?

[Pedal Wench]

I'm 5'4" too, and my Colnagos range from 48-51, because their geometry changes often. I find that if the toptube measurement is good, the rest will follow. So, they all have around a 51-52cm toptube, and I'm good. I love my C40!