Dear lord, hideous!
I tend to think most road bikes are a bit nasty anyway, when they were skinny they looked fragile, now they're just well; purposefully inelegant.
They'll doubtless sell loads to the Rapha crowd
Don’t think a single pinarello from the last decade has been an aesthetic sensation. Across the whole range.
Don’t think a single pinarello from the last decade has been an aesthetic sensation. Across the whole range.
I was going to suggest that the Grevil wasn't too bad but then I looked at pictures to post to support my point and now I've changed my mind.
I think the closest any modern carbon frame comes to elegant is the Specialized Aethos which does a fair job of impersonating steel.
Though I currently find myself lusting after something less esoteric. Like this Mason Definition with 12 speed mechanical 105.
I've never liked the look of Pinarello's but do agree about the Aethos looking great, would consider one for my next road bike if there are any iterations out there that don't cost stupid money
The Aethos starts around £5500 RRP for a non-SWorks model though I have seen ads for around £4000. A friend of mine has one and loves it. He also loves climbing.
Though I currently find myself lusting after something less esoteric. Like this Mason Definition with 12 speed mechanical 105.
Hurray an opportunity to shameless post a picture of my Mason in King Alfred's Way mode last week. Always a great choice of bike.
I've never understood the love for Pinarello, all the wobbly tubes and weird angles. Maybe they have a purpose, but my god they're ugly!
Was going to say the same, Spesh Aethos is my current favourite bike for looks alone.
And options for all budgets (from £6k to £16k).
Really ? my last road bike was £1,300 (ok the wheels were another £1,200)
IMO bikes are designed like that to try and justify sky high prices.
Cannot stand Pinarello's, gopping. I very much like a Mason, here's my Resolution in winter mode.
I think the closest any modern carbon frame comes to elegant is the Specialized Aethos which does a fair job of impersonating steel.
I like the Aethos. I don't think it's the 'steel' look so much as the simple lines and proportions, something we're used to in older steel frames. So yeah, you're right and I also see the same visual appeal in some aluminium bikes, the Kinesis Aithen was similar. And the old Genesis Aether was similar. Wait.. what's with those names.
It's like viewing a nice bike through a heat haze. Bizarre.
TBH, the worst thing about that Pinarello to me is the wheels.
TBH, the worst thing about that Pinarello to me is the wheels.
TBH there's not really anything that's "right" about it at all.
But it is quite amusing they've picked those fugly wheels to go on their fugly bike.
I'm almost tempted to think they're doing it on purpose.
I think they are trying to design in "purposefulness" to justify the price, so the bike tech nerdy owners can point to various parts of the bike and tell their bored, skint friends about how this feature saves 0.58 watts at 40km/h...
(Like they do with the huge spoiler on the back of their Porsche)
How did I know this would be about Pinarello before opening the thread
Pinarello Dogma? Dog-turd would be a better name, looking like that.
Still has the Bates cantiflex forks. Top tube looks bent. Not a fan. Colnago C69, De Rosa or Pegoretti please.
But then I like this (unless it cracks)
That Pinarello looks like it’s been crashed into a wall at speed. All sorts of wrong.
I really like the Spesh Aethos pictured, very nice. I have a not so subtle Acid mint green camo Sworks Tarmac SL6 disc, a Crux Expert (which is basically an Aethos on stilts) and a Mason Def2, all proper looking road bikes with the tubes in the correct places.
I like it*
*but only if every squiggle/lump/bendy/wiggly bit serves a factual purpose in creating speed/managing air flow/stiffness etc.
If it's purely for aesthetics then I'm not interested.
I quite like the look of a nice road bike - particularly with deep ish section carbon wheels.
Not that Pinarello though - it’s gross.
Maybe I’m the odd one out but I don’t like skinny tubed steel road bikes that much.
I quite like a Cannondale System 6 and I quite like my Dolan GXC - but that’s more related to the colour than the tube profile .
Here's a lovely bike that makes me smile. It's a collaboration between The Service Course and Isen Bikes to build a lightweight STEEL hill climb bike. The frame was a shade over 1kg and the entire bike 5.4kg.
There's a video of the whole project too.
Obviously a hard day's work in the Pinarello naming department again.
Wonder if Elon Musk will sue.
Most of their bikes look like the designer modelled it in liquorice then left it next to a radiator overnight. The next day the factory team have come in, picked up the resulting mess and gone "yep, we can make that!".
They’ll doubtless sell loads to the Rapha crowd
I love my Rapha but you would never get me buying that!!😀
Most of their bikes look like the designer modelled it in liquorice then left it next to a radiator overnight. The next day the factory team have come in, picked up the resulting mess and gone “yep, we can make that!”.
Haha.
But they must know how hideous their bikes look. The previous ones were bad enough, but I just can't get my head around them doubling down on the ugliness with this thing.
In that first picture the handlebars are perfectly placed with the model name.
Perhaps it could also have "Shaking" or similar as a prefix.
Someone bent the toptube on that pinarello although I do like the geo of the frame.
God this whole thread is a write off.
Pinarello, obviously.
Those Masons with the bent chainstays and seatstays, hard pass.
The Enigma downtube reminds me of the early-mid 90s shift to aluminium when frames had to be OVERSIZE.
Conversely the fork on the Indy Fab is too slender, the dropouts and headtube are poking out like knobbly knees. Also BDHU.
The Isen, almost, except for that ugly stem ruining the transition to the headtube spacers.
The Service Course and Isen Bikes to build a lightweight STEEL hill climb bike. The frame was a shade over 1kg
How is that possible with steel??
Those Masons with the bent chainstays and seatstays, hard pass.
I thought you were being a bit harsh, but after scrolling back up the thread... yeah I agree.
Personally I quite like the current ubiquitous all-round road frame with dropped stays - like the Tarmac, Supersix etc. Or the TCR with standard stays.
The Aethos looks nice enough, but feels a bit of a "dad bike" IYKWIM.
But my road bike is a Boardman, so judge me as you see fit.
But my road bike is a Boardman, so judge me as you see fit.
Mine is a Grevil 😀
I am currently building up an Epoca R30 though which will be about as classic a build as a carbon frame can get, short of a C60 (except I'm putting SRAM on there, oops).
Mine is a Grevil 😀
Oh mate, those Mason owners might be along soon to lecture you about stones and glass houses.
slender steel tubing ✔
rim brakes ✔
external cable routing ✔
no deep section wheels ✔
“normal” head tube ✔
quick release ✔
Completely out of date ✔
Pain in the arse finding spares/replacement parts ✔
They’ll doubtless sell loads to the Rapha crowd
I think that lazy link died about the same time as the Orange Five / Audi one.
I think Pinarello know their target market and play to it pretty well. They clearly invest quite heavily in Design/Engineering and must use CFD as a design tool (same as F1 teams) to come up with those shapes and profiles. The Dogma bikes are a weapon of choice round here for your typical affluent middle aged roadie - along with anything that says TREK or S-WORKS on the downtube in big letters.
As much as i love Italian & French Road bikes (currently ride a Basso) if i have Pinarello money i'd be looking at Colnago, Time or Look instead.
Those Princeton Carbon wheels though.. i'd be all over that as i love the wavy profile.
if i have Pinarello money i’d be looking at Colnago, Time or Look instead.
Why would you favour these brands over a Giant, Cannondale, Spesh, Canyon etc?
Just the "heritage" and brand identity thing? Or do you think Italian designers do something different?
Completely out of date ✔
Pain in the arse finding spares/replacement parts ✔
Brakes way better in the dry for sure but otherwise in date, out of date, classic Vs modern etc, all subjective stuff.
But what spares/partss for a 90s steel road bike can't you find now?
If I could work out how to post pics I’d post one of my (new to me) 1991 dynatech. A quick ride down the street confirms it’s absolutely horrendous as far as actual ride experience goes, but as an object to look at, it’s a thing of beauty
It’s my 50th birthday in 3 years, my treat to myself will be a colnago world master with full campag. The most beautiful bike ever made.. need to get saving..
^ Colnsgo Master rides rather well imho. Stiff enough but light and steely enough too. Superb handling.
But what spares/partss for a 90s steel road bike can’t you find now?
I rebuilt my 90s steel road bike this year and didn’t have any trouble, though choice was very limited in some cases. Spec includes quill stem, one inch threaded headset, deep drop calipers and a 135mm rear hub. Admittedly, the cost of a replacement Ultegra 6700 chainring did make me wince but that's nothing to do with the frame.
Why would you favour these brands over a Giant, Cannondale, Spesh, Canyon etc?<>Just the “heritage” and brand identity thing? Or do you think Italian designers do something different?
Yeah, 100% Brand identify and heritage i think - and no i don't think Italian designers do anything radically different
I've nothing against the brands you mentioned - I've also got a Giant Defy which i love, and thought the new Defy which hit the media last week looks stunning.
I guess you could draw similar comparisons when buying a sports car - why are Ferrari revered and respected so much more than Nisan? The Skyline is an Epic Sports/GT car..
I didn't realise Indy Fab were still in business making frames. Their web page is a bit dated, and so are their MTB frame designs!
It’s my 50th birthday in 3 years, my treat to myself will be a colnago world master with full campag. The most beautiful bike ever made.. need to get saving..
A friend collects them, he has a whole set inc an ex pro tour frame which he then spent £2k having resprayed in the original colour scheme.
They look amazing, he probably has £50ks worth of Colnagos in his garage!
From our last Wednesday ride..
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53212697096_4afe5f44b2.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53212697096_4afe5f44b2.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2p5dYWL ]Colnago C59[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
On another note - is it just me, or does anyone else think rim brake bikes looks shit now?
Yeah, 100% Brand identify and heritage i think
Fair enough.
I'm much more of an MTB geek, and it's nice that there's actually loads of things to differentiate frames on that side (compared to road bikes).
I rather like the understated simplicity of my Pinarello.
It might be old and garish but it rides like a dream with its 10speed Campag record. Even with the skinny tyres (25s are the widest that will fit).
My old Time from 2005, currently in the loft looking for a period 6650 SL groupset. I think this still looks cool
They look amazing
I really don't like anything where they've written their name on every single tube - is is a Colnago? I'd never have guessed.
I bought this to replace after 17 years
I am still not sure, its faster but prefer to ride this.
I built this for my son a year ago, I loved it and we got a lot of compliments. Sold now as he outgrew it by the end of the summer
Re: The Time Edge, if you get close the tubes are gorgeous, such a pretty bike close up, but you have a point about the name. Never noticed it
On another note – is it just me, or does anyone else think rim brake bikes looks shit now?
Nah, not really. I don't really have a strong opinion on the visuals of either braking option, you can make gopping or pretty bikes with either type of brake.
Discs are the norm now though and maybe that's what you notice, something 'old' that is starting to look a bit unfamiliar now we're all used to rotors and disc callipers on all road bikes.
is it just me, or does anyone else think rim brake bikes looks shit now?
No, I prefer the symmetry of them and think they look less utilitarian in a weird way, I guess because the shape of a rim brake calliper lends itself to being 'sculpted' a wee bit.
That monstrosity on the front page looks awful, but what do I know? I ride a steel frame and rim braked road bike…
For £16k, I’d be getting a custom Sturdy, shod with everything he makes.
^^ That does look very nice - not sure I'd want to ride a £16k bike though cos that'd be some very expensive wear and tear and an eye-wateringly expensive crash scenario.
Similar to people who turn up at bog standard 2nd / 3rd cat crit races with £10k of S-Works. 🤯
<p style="text-align: left;">Don’t race what you can’t replace. I wince at the Di2 on show in 4th cat crashfests. I’ve heard a lot of carbon splintering down the track in my time.</p>
and personally, I think Dura Ace 9000 callipers and my new TRP CX 8.4s in black and silver on the cross bike are fabulous. I do like skinny tubes and deep section wheels though, so not just classic steel (or titanium in my case).
custom? Rourke. Bling custom? English. He makes the most beautiful bikes. Fabulous filet braised? RIP Barry Chick who made my TT frame.
English. He makes the most beautiful bikes.
Rob was in my DT class at school, he’s come a long way since then, his frames are fantastic.
I agree with Cha****ng, I prefer the look of disc brakes, I also despise logos all over frames and wheels. Big fan of the Colnago of bwf up there.
I’m quite happy with my Tarmac SL6 in the looks department.
@beaker - that's a pretty bike; possibly the only thing I've ever seen which looks good with tan walls.
My sworks sl7 is leagues ahead of anything I’ve ridden before, and that includes bikes from 2005, 2010, and a rather nice canyon from 2016
but it’s not the prettiest to look at by any means
It’s weird though because it’s the only bike I’ve ever had that folks compliment at the cafe stop. It’s just an (admittedly very well designed) generic carbon bike that looks like any other expensive generic carbon bike. I see it as a tool, it’s not something I’m remotely emotionally attached to. Old bikes are works of art, even if they probably aren’t nearly as fast
@daffy thank you for the compliment! That picture isn’t doing the paint justice really. It really does pop. The tan wall tyres give it a good retro aesthetic which appeals to me.
not sure I’d want to ride a £16k bike though cos that’d be some very expensive wear and tear and an eye-wateringly expensive crash scenario.
I feel the same on this.. I reckon the point where you start getting diminishing returns on serious road bikes is about £5k.. yeah i'm sure a £10-£12k Tarmac or whatever will be sublime - but is it worth 2 of the £5k bikes?
My late 80’s Joe Waugh. Comfy as a comfy thing.
My 50th birthday present to myself Aethos.
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beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that, but I like my bikes aesthetically. Admittedly they’re not as nice as Beakers Isen above but I still like them.
I loved the Aeroad and think it’s decent looking for an aero bike. The saddle on the bottom picture doesn’t help, I’d only just received and hadn’t set it up. But a great bike to ride.
The Emonda is great to ride. I did try and buy an SWorks Tarmac but the shop weren’t particularly helpful with sizing, stem / bar set up. So went back to Project One (that’s my third). And yep, I raced on them.
Some lovely looking bikes up there ^^^
nickc, re Indy Fab...I have a fully rigid SS steel deluxe (off road) and it's, without doubt, the most comfortable bike I have ever ridden; as a general rule I would suggest...ignore the geometry charts and ask - how does it ride?
I would extend the same to their road bikes - and acknowledge I've neither seen nor sat on one of them but would love to.
Since we’re doing classic looking bikes… I was going to replace my Genesis 931 this year as I was finding it uncomfortable after an accident last year, but sheesh the prices of an Ultegra-level build test the VFM criterion! So instead I gave the existing steelie a mini makeover for a comparatively mini price (nearing completion in this pic)…
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I quite fancy one of those Spesh Aethos, but in the meantime I’m quite enjoying whistling along on my current bike albeit on shorter rides because of neck / back.
Pinarello have made some nice bikes in the past, this one spends most of its life hanging on my mates wall, he does take it out for a spin a few times a year when the sun is shining.
That genesis is lovely. Without knowing your size or set up, rather than raising the bars, try dropping the saddle a cm. See how it feels. Most pain is from over extension and that’s easy with a saddle too high, but seldom too low. You could also try a 1cm shorter stem flipped. And you’d have level saddle and bars as a point to start from.
and since we are on steel. Here’s another with guards and rack. First time out for a long time on this. 