As per my reflections on the tech tendencies I count on to see forward of the Tour de France I discover myself but once more penning issues in a departure lounge. Press launches are predominantly an opportunity for manufacturers to indicate off their newest wares in a rigorously crafted surroundings, and that is by no means extra true than for a flagship bike. The outgoing Dogma F had been a little bit of an outlier in its time insofar because it was a ‘one bike’ answer to Ineos Grenadiers’ racing wants. Pinarello is fast to level out that different manufacturers have determined to comply with swimsuit in current occasions, however no matter what everybody else is doing the brand new Dogma F takes over as a like-for-like single bike answer for climbing, aero, and Classics duties.
All the modifications and the extra technical elements of the bike are detailed in our new Pinarello F launch story, however for these of you unwilling to get caught within the weeds of carbon moduli, the headline figures are a 108g weight saving, 40g of which comes from a brand new cockpit, a 0.2% enchancment within the drag coefficient, and an elevated tyre clearance as much as 30c. As we’re more and more seeing, the modifications to bike fashions have gotten ever extra iterative and marginal.
The commenterati throughout social media had been fast to level out that “it appears identical to the outdated one”, and I feel visually it’s a stretch to say it’s a drastic departure, however as I famous after I went to the launch of the brand new Pinarello F7, the model has an eye fixed on aesthetics virtually in parallel with efficiency, and the distinctive silhouette is one thing of a trademark, so you may hardly blame the Italian model for wanting to maintain issues recognisable.
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The construct
Bike launches are at all times awash with top-spec bikes, however the brand new Dogma F solely actually is available in top-spec builds. Dura-Ace, Red, or Super Record Wireless are your solely choices. My check unit was fitted with Shimano Dura-Ace, the brand new Talon Ultra Fast cockpit (extra on that later), and Princeton Peak 4550 wheels, which had been laced as much as White Industries hubs.
The tyres had been offered by Continental within the type of the superb GP5000S TR, arrange tubeless, and had been initially pumped as much as an extremely Italian strain which I then let loose to one thing extra befitting of the width, highway floor, and the torrential rain.
Truly a standing bike in addition to a efficiency machine. Besides the color, and the compact chainset, it’s mainly as an Ineos staff bike can be arrange.
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The route
Normally press journey routes are reasonably difficult. Not so exhausting that anybody feels completely lifeless by the top, however not really easy that you simply really feel such as you haven’t pushed the bike. For this launch the bicycle and bicycle-adjacent press had been gathered in Alta Badia within the Dolomites, and everybody was roughly left to their very own gadgets on the route, which I slightly favored.
A 50km mountainous loop with 1,600m of climbing, delivered in 4 sustained climbs – with subsequently ripping descents – was difficult sufficient. Chuck within the truth it was completely torrential rain and it was definitely a check of each bike and rider. Hairpins a-plenty, with various surfaces.
First impressions
Right, let’s be clear, it is a very superb bike. Having ridden roughly the complete suite of Italian superbikes at this level (Colnago V4Rs, Bianchi Specialissima, Basso Diamante SV, Colnago C68) it’s, when it comes to absolute efficiency, a reduce above the others. The Specialissima runs it shut, however they’re totally different propositions.
To begin with what stood out, the dealing with is completely chic. The Bianchi Specilissima felt somewhat jittery by comparability, and the V4Rs with its longer wheelbase and slacker entrance felt slightly pedestrian. The approach it become corners was miraculous, particularly contemplating the descents had been each pitted and cracked, and infrequently lined with operating water.
I by no means rode the outdated Dogma, and whereas the geometry modifications have been minimal I believe the addition of a fork with a barely longer rake (47mm up from 43mm), plus the broader tyres are solely going to have helped. Rapid and responsive however by no means unstable, even at warp pace. I usually discovered myself turning right into a hairpin, and midway by feeling assured sufficient to tighten the road mid-turn, such was the cornering prowess.
As effectively as being brilliantly balanced, the overriding impression was one in all smoothness. The Specialissima notably had this razor’s edge ping about it, whereas in distinction, the Dogma was fairly serene. Silent, no chatter. Even the White Industries freehub was very quiet, which I’m at all times a fan of, and whereas the noise doesn’t actually do a lot to have an effect on efficiency, it does add one other layer to the air of composure that exudes from the bike.
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When heading uphill issues are fairly distinctive too. The snap of acceleration is such that I usually discovered myself in a single or two gears too straightforward when shifting earlier than getting out of the saddle. Many of my colleagues commented that they discovered the bike flip-flopped facet to facet extra simply than they had been used to, however I imagine it’s because many of the check bikes had been fitted with narrower bars than is regular. To me, it didn’t really feel something out of the abnormal in comparison with the bikes I run everyday with 38cm bars or narrower, and was only a much less exaggerated impact than what I discovered when operating the slightly excessive 22cm Lambda crosswing bars.
One factor that undoubtedly will differ to the Ineos setup is the chainset. All of the Dura-Ace outfitted check bikes got here fitted with a 50/34 compact chainset, and whereas the 34t got here in helpful on the lengthy climbs at altitude, the 50t was inadequate for the descents. I’m not blind to the truth that this bike could also be purchased as a lot as a standing image as a efficiency machine, however in case you are comparatively quick you’re going to seek out the chainset desirous to be swapped. Maybe simply purchase it because it comes, take the compact off, and hold it in a field for these biking holidays the place the routes are sometimes far hillier than the norm.
Tyre clearance
Speaking with the pinnacle of R&D, in addition to what got here throughout within the preliminary presentation, the important thing factor to notice with the Dogma F is that it’s extremely a lot designed for the Ineos riders. While many new bikes are coming with house for 32c and even 34c, the choice to stay with a most of 30c was all the way down to the truth that’s what the staff would use as a prime finish. Any wider would have meant a discount in backside bracket stiffness, and whereas I have never been capable of again to again in opposition to the outdated mannequin, the brand new Dogma F is clearly extraordinarily stiff. The backside bracket is fairly monumental, particularly with the ‘aero-keel’, and energy switch is as near a zero-loss as I’ve ever felt.
But what about Roubaix? Well that was on my thoughts too, however the reply was clear: Roubaix is a single race, and never price sacrificing efficiency throughout the entire season for. Ineos Grenadiers ran 32c tyres on the outdated Dogma F, which claims a max clearance of 28mm, so that they’ll presumably proceed to do this on the brand new bike too.
Aero good points
Pinarello claims an enchancment of 0.2% when it comes to the coefficient of drag. That is, I’m afraid, mainly negligible. To put it into context swapping from the quickest to the second quickest helmet in our wind tunnel check resulted in an distinction of 0.6%, and would internet you a 7 second achieve over a 40km time trial.
A 0.2% enchancment, of you ignore the rider place and simply take the bike, would achieve you 2 seconds over a 40km time trial, driving at 250 watts. Or, in the event you might take away the rider from the equation totally (inconceivable, I do know, however for the sake of the maths), the brand new bike would require 82.14 watts to carry 40km/h, versus 82.3 watts for the outdated mannequin.
This is so small a distinction as to be pointless for all however the top-flight riders on the Ineos roster, who’ve doubtless exhausted all different wattage good points. For us mortals, other than the load saving, it is mainly simply as quick because the outdated one.
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Cockpit
Back into extra tangible issues, the brand new Talon cockpit is generally beautiful. It is available in an amazing number of widths and reaches, and the tops particularly have been slimmed down so driving on them (as I are inclined to whereas climbing) is far more nice.
The flare is noticeable, and to my tastes, it is maybe somewhat too flared, however I believe I’m within the minority. The drops have somewhat flex to them that I additionally discovered on the cockpit of the F7, and whereas it wasn’t horrible it was noticeable when out of the saddle.
The incontrovertible fact that the cockpit is fairly good is noteworthy as a result of, because of a brand new ovalised steerer tube designed to enhance cable routing, you may’t run anything.
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Initial verdict
The new Pinarello Dogma F is a superbike of the best order. It climbs brilliantly, it appears beautiful, and the place it actually stands out is in its completely chic dealing with traits.
What I am unable to fairly shake is the sensation that the good points are somewhat too marginal. A achieve of 108g, half of which is from the cockpit, will not be precisely earth-shattering, and the aero enhancements are so marginal I do surprise if the model is probably being held again by its dedication to aesthetics. When you’ve gotten a motorbike that’s as a lot a standing image as a efficiency machine it appears a everlasting center floor has been reached, with the designers and aero technicians dug into their respective trenches for the lengthy haul. Some time again I prompt that professional biking wants pro-only bikes, and this does considerably add grist to that specific mill I feel.
The incontrovertible fact that it hasn’t modified a lot does not make it dangerous, it’s extremely superb, and with out driving the outdated one I can not say for certain, however my feeling is it is not a lot of an improve on the outdated one. If you are coming to it afresh you then will not be disillusioned, however my recommendation is do not rush out to flog your outdated Dogma F on eBay.