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Columbus Trittico Brings Modern Full Internal Routing to Classic Handmade Looks

Columbus Trittico fully integrated carbon cockpit components for custom handmade bikes
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Italian tubing and component maker Columbus has an all-new Trittico system of carbon bars, stem & fork developed to bring modern fully internal cable routing to the custom handmade bike market. Designed to fit inside a conventional 1 1/8″ upper headset cup, the Columbus Trittico features a unique Trefoil fork steerer tube that outperforms many other shaped steerers. Plus, a creative stem solution delivers unmatched cockpit adjustability, without messing with your brake lines…

Columbus Trittico carbon cockpits integrate handmade bikes

The idea behind these new Columbus Components carbon Trittico parts was simple. Give handmade bikes the option to build fully internal cable routing with existing tubing – specifically headtube – sizing.

Columbus Hyperion titanium bicycle frame tubing

Columbus sells a lot of steel and (increasingly) titanium tubesets to custom frame builders. And even though most of those now use so-called ‘oversized’ tubing diameters relative to old school 1″ steel tubes. We’re still talking about a maximum 44mm headtube for tapered 1.5-1.125″ steerer tubes.

While oversized carbon bikes can often get away with going to a massive 1.5″ upper headset cup to fit shift & brake lines inside. Metal bikes start to look weird with bigger headtubes.

Columbus Trittico carbon cockpit for internal cable routing, no cables

So, Trittico means keeping whatever 1 1/8″ upper headset cup you prefer. And routing cables inside it. Electronic shifting only though, so we’re only talking about internal routing of hydraulic brake lines, or electronic wires on older groupsets.

How does it work?

Columbus Trittico carbon cockpit for internal cable routing, Futura Trefoil fork detail
(Renderings & Illustrations/Columbus)

To make that fit, Columbus developed a new Trefoil steerer tube shape for their own full carbon forks. Their patent-pending design lops off the front 2 corners of the carbon fork steerer for the cables to slip down into the frame. And of course requires a proprietary expander to go inside.

Columbus Trittico carbon cockpit for internal cable routing, Trefoil steerer tube detail

As compared to similar 1.125″ internal routing solutions with D-shaped or I-shaped steerers, the Columbus Trefoil design is uncompromisingly stiffer both front-to-back AND resisting lateral forces.

Unmatched integrated cockpit adjustability

Now, it is relatively straight-forward to route just a couple of hydro brake lines inside a separate bar and stem, assuming the correct size routing holes all line up. But Columbus goes one step further with their carbon Trittico stem. Here, they use a oversized steerer clamp diameter, and fill out that space with an alloy sleeve spacer.

The result, one -8° stem can be adjusted in length by 5mm and its angle by 5°. All without removing any hoses. The regular black steerer sleeve can be left in its 0 position, or rotated 180° to offset stem length by +5mm. Or swap in the red -5° angled insert sleeve, which keeps the original stem length, but lowers the handlebar creating an effective -13° stem angle.

That sleek carbon stem gets a removable alloy faceplate with hidden 3-bolts, and hidden GPS mount. So you get both streamlined looks and real-world ease-of-use.

Columbus Trittico fully integrated carbon cockpit components for custom handmade bikes, bar & stem

Combine it with ergonomically-shaped “Smart Fit” handlebars, and you can fine-tune your cockpit positioning, exactly as you prefer. Columbus gives their Trittico carbon bars unique shaping. With a divot for extra space behind the lever for more secure braking from the hoods – especially for riders with small hands who’ve adjusted their lever reach – and triangulated shaped drops for extra grip while sprinting.

Trefoil forks

Columbus Trittico fully integrated carbon cockpit components for custom handmade bikes, fork cover

The Columbus Trittico system is built around the Futura Trefoil full carbon 1.5″ tapered steerer road fork.

425g with 32mm tire clearance (367mm axle-crown, 45mm rake), flat mount 160mm (or 180mm) brake rotor compatibility, and a magnetic cover to hide the front mounting bolts.

There also will be a Trittico-compatible Futura Trefoil Gravel fork with bigger 700c x 57mm tire clearances, anything cage & fender mounts, and dynamo wiring routing. The Futura Trefoil Gravel fork gets a 405mm a-c and adjustable 47/52mm offset, at a claimed 565g.

Trittico component specs & sizing

Columbus Trittico fully integrated carbon cockpit components for custom handmade bikes, stem underside

The carbon Trittico stems are customizable in both length and angle with their adjustable steerer tube sleeve. The 5 sizes are 90-130mm (in 10mm steps) with the standard -8° stem angle. Rotate the stock black steerer sleeve 180° to offset length +5mm. It keeps the -8° angle, but shifts the stem lengths to 95-135mm. Or an optional red angled -5° insert sleeve keeps the original lengths, but lowers the front handlebar clamping area to create a -13° angle.

Columbus also created a direct out-front GPS/GoPro mount. Called the Race Spoon, it mounts to 2 bolts on the bottom of the Trittico stem.

Columbus Trittico fully integrated carbon cockpit components for custom handmade bikes, road bar shaping

The Trittico carbon road bars come in 40/42/44cm widths at the hoods, with subtle 4° flare in the drops (below the levers) for an extra 2.7cm of width (center-center) at the ends. The 31.8mm bars feature 71mm reach and 128mm drop, with a claimed weight of 215g.

Columbus Trittico fully integrated carbon cockpit components for custom handmade bikes, gravel bar

Wider carbon Trittico gravel bars will add more dramatic 15° flare. Plus, they feature an extra ergonomic loop at the ends of the drops, yet only a shade heavier at 225g. The 75mm reach/110mm drop gravel bars will also come in 40/42/44cm at the hoods. But, in the end, 11cm wider at the drops thanks to the flare and further 4° oustweep at the ends.

There’s also a matching carbon Trittico seatpost to finish out your contact points. It’s available in 27.2 or 31.6mm diameter (200g or 210g). The seatpost features swappable 2-bolt head guts for 15mm or 25mm offset, round or carbon rail compatibility, and an asymmetric carbon shaft layup for optimal rider comfort.

Columbus Trittico – Options, Pricing & Availability

Columbus designed the Trittico cockpit system as an integration solution for custom handmade bike builders. So for now, your best bet it to buy a new custom road bike. Then, tell your frame builder that this is what you want. Columbus says a number of builders are already using the Trittico system. Beyond the Jaegher bikes I photographed above, you can also already find Trittico-equipped bikes from Barco, Beach Club, Belle, Bixxis, Cinelli, Condor, Festka, Ioklin, Legot, Onguza, Passoni, Repete, Stelbel, Titici, Victoire, Wittson, and more.

Officially, only the road bike series with the Futura Trefoil road fork has launched so far. But Columbus shared renderings with us of a gravel series with a Futura Trefoil Gravel fork and flared carbon bar. And we’ve seen the gravel product names already pop up with some distributors. Those likely are already making their way to bike builders early this year.

2024 Columbus Trittico fully integrated carbon cockpit components for custom handmade bikes

As for aftermarket retrofit installation into your existing bikes… Columbus has a “Pre-Order Now” contact form on their microsite for consumers looking to buy the Trittico system components. But we’ve also seen the individual components already being offered online separately. With fork prices around 475€, stems/seatposts/bars for around 420€.

Columbus1919.com/Trittico

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16 Comments
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Dog Farts
Dog Farts
10 months ago

I’d rather see cables than an ugly oversized stem.

Der_kruscher
Der_kruscher
10 months ago

I ordered a custom bike specifically to avoid stuff like this.

blahblahblah
blahblahblah
10 months ago
Reply to  Der_kruscher

but once you do it you will never go back

Nathan
Nathan
10 months ago

It’s a brilliant, elegant solution to a problem we shouldn’t have in the first place.

Blacksmith Cycle
10 months ago

Definitely like the look for metal bikes, where the oversized head tubes look out of place. Well done, Columbus

DaveJ
DaveJ
10 months ago

I hope dealers like yourselves will continue to offer options without this unnecessarily complex cable routing. It’s getting harder to find road bikes/frames that are sensibly considered for fitting, maintenance and travel. FWIW, I would have purchased a Bridge if it wasn’t for the integrated routing. I ended up going custom to avoid this nonsense.

Craig
Craig
10 months ago

It was sounding awesome until the part about the ugly ergo shaped drops.

King County
King County
10 months ago

Clever stuff and a refreshing change from the ‘me-too’ product articles.

Jason DW
Jason DW
10 months ago

I like the big head tube!

dcb
dcb
10 months ago

I’m thinking this would be a nice update for an Aethos, albeit a bit heavier fork. Thoughts?

DaveJ
DaveJ
10 months ago

I’d love to hear what Luescher has to say about that steerer.

mud
mud
10 months ago

I wish they had passed the cables in a channel under the stem, and not through it, like the FSA design. That would make changing stem lengths much easier. It’s frustrating how different brands come up with half-baked ideas to fix a common problem.

K.M.
K.M.
10 months ago

Well, looking back at the story on ENVE’s new handlebar/stem combo, its pricing does not seem that outrageous anymore to me. Or perhaps these are just equally outrageous..;)

Shafty
Shafty
10 months ago

Now Columbus has joined in the “how can we make bike mechanics hate us?” party. Well done, now metal bikes can piss me off too! Anyone who feels simliarly can thank roadies for this vain nonsense.

Velo Kitty
Velo Kitty
10 months ago

Wow, that head tube is hideous.

JoeS
JoeS
9 months ago

Retro grouches. LOL

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