So I have what might be a confusing question. I am looking to perhaps purchase a Colnago Bike, but I am a bit confused as to their sizing. I am looking at a 62 cm bike which is termed a “Freuler” Style frame. Not sure how this will impact me even after reading the descripiton over and over...

I am worried that the bike might be a bit too big for me...not sure though


I am about 6'3" and a lot of this is in my legs with a 34 inch inseam. The Measurement of the top tube of this bike is 58.5 cm which compared to my Specialized Roubaix 61cm bike is shorter, which would work out well because I required a shorter stem that the stock stem when I bought that.

I might have just answered my own question, but if anyone out there has any sort of experience with these frames and can give me a bit of insight that would be great... Thanks in advance!

Colnago "Freuler" frames have significantly extended seat tubes and slightly extended head tubes. "Extended" means the tubes are longer and stick up further past the top tube than on smaller frames. It's done to give the tall rider the proper size frame, while keeping the main triangle as small and as stiff as possible.

If you look at a Colnago geometry chart for non-sloping ("tradition") frames, you'll see two seat tube dimensions. P is bottom bracket center-to-top. Pccs is bottom bracket center-to-center. The difference between P and Pccs is roughly the "extension." Starting with the 60 cm (or 600 mm) Master frame for example, the extension suddenly gets proportionally longer. That's your "Freuler" frame geometry. Here's the jump from the smaller to the larger Freuler Master frame in mm:

Center-to-top 590 = center-to-center 570. Extension is 590 minus 570 = 20.

Center-to-top 600 = center-to-center 571. Extension is 600 minus 571 = 29 - Freuler frame.

For what it's worth, Urs Freuler was a Swiss road and track pro, late 70s-early 80s. He was very tall and powerful and asked the Swiss framebuilder Huegi (later into hubs) to come up with a way to fit his tall body and still give him a stiff frame. Huegi contacted Colnago and they came up with the "Freuler" frame.

I don't think anyone can or should recommend a Colnago frame size based on your height and inseam alone. I'd consider a thorough fitting by a reputable shop.

I've only ridden one briefly (REALLY briefly, like 150 feet), but be sure of the fit before you buy. I'm an inch taller than you, with a similar inseam, and I felt pretty cramped on a 62. Might just be because my two main rides are a 64cm Atlantis and Rambouillet, which Rivendell sizes "too big" by many people's standards, but I'm much more comfortable on those. That's a lot of money for something that's not a perfect fit.

Italian bikes tend to be short in the top tube, and flimsy in the larger sizes. I tried an aluminum Bianchi in 61cm size once, and it felt like it was made of tinfoil! Consider Cannondale and Lightspeed-they seem to make the best large frames.