Much has been made of Team Sky's launch and their subsequent start to the season in Australia, and the bike that carried the British squad to glory in last Sunday's Cancer Council Helpline Classic befits the excitement.
The Pinarello Dogma 60.1 team bike seen here is that of 22-year-old sprinter Ben Swift, the former track rider from Rotherham who moved to Sky from Russian squad Katusha earlier this year.
Based around the Italian marque's flagship frame, which is adorned with the usual swoops and strange tube shapes, it's one of the best-looking and most well-equipped rigs in the peloton.
As befits Team Sky's cutting-edge approach to preparation, marketing and presentation, the technology found on this bike is impressive. The best of everything and the latest in racing and training equipment has made its way onto the squad's machines.
The spec includes an SRM power meter – the all-new PowerControl 7 unit – plus prototype Shimano Dura-Ace 7810 composite pedals and prototype C50 composite tubular wheels. These complement the complete Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset – Sky are one of several teams at this year's Tour Down Under to run the electronic shifting system.
Initial PowerControl units were tested by Mark Cavendish and George Hincapie at last year's Tour de France, and the British super squad have their riders measuring power through the German company's latest.
The pedals are almost completely constructed from composite material, save for the small alloy plate. There's no word about production as yet, but watch this space for news on when to expect them on the market.
The same applies to the wheelset – there's still no word on the likelihood of these hoops going into production. They're an impressive-looking wheel, though, and both the 50mm and 35mm versions have proven popular with professional teams during the 2009 season and into 2010.
While the Di2 gruppo hasn't been spotted on many production bikes, it has been increasingly adopted by Shimano-sponsored teams as part of the promotion and continued testing process – a second generation of the Japanese company's flagship groupset may make an appearance sometime this year or next.
Swift's down tube features the Latin phrase "Is Qui Est Est Is Qui Non Est Consectatur" which apparently translates to: "He who is, is. He who is not, seeks (or perseveres)." Nice.
Bike
- Frame: Pinarello Dogma 60.1
- Fork: Pinarello
- Headset: Pinarello integrated
- Stem: Deda Zero100 (135mm)
- Handlebars: Deda Newton (420mm)
- Tapes/grip: Prologo
- Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace 7900
- Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace 7900
- Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
- Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
- Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
- Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
- Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 (11-23)
- Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace 7900
- Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 (53/39)
- Bottom bracket: Pinarello Crossover
- Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace carbon prototype
- Wheels: Shimano Dura-Ace C50 tubular
- Rims: Shimano Dura-Ace C50 tubular
- Front hub: Shimano Dura-Ace
- Rear hub: Shimano Dura-Ace
- Spokes: 16 F, 20 R
- Front tyre: Vittoria Corsa EVO tubular
- Rear tyre: Vittoria Corsa EVO tubular
- Saddle: Prologo Scratch Pro TR
- Seatpost: Pinarello MOST
- Bottle cages: Elite
- Computer: SRM PowerControl7
Critical measurements
- Rider's height: 1.79m (5ft 10in)
- Rider's weight: 65kg
- Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 745mm
- Saddle setback: 25mm
- Seat tube length, c-t: 565mm
- Seat tube length, c-c: 505mm
- Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 575mm
- Head tube length: 150mm
- Top tube length: 540mm (effective)
- Total bicycle weight: 7.7kg (16.98lb)