Pro bike: Chris Froome's Pinarello Dogma F8 - video

Pro bike: Chris Froome's Pinarello Dogma F8 - video

Could this be the Vuelta winning bike in 2014?

Chris Froome's Pinarello F8

Ben Delaney / Future Publishing

Ben Delaney

Published: August 22, 2014 at 3:38 pm
Chris Froome's Pinarello F8 - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Each Team Sky stem is marked to exact length - not the claimed standard 10mm increments - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Many riders have found Shimano's climber switch to be bulky. When you are Chris Froome, you can do something about it - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Removing the faceplate of the climber switch keeps the functionality at a fraction of the size. Also note the blacked-out K-Edge Garmin mount - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Many of the Team Sky Garmin's are stickered over with Stages, the power meter Sky uses. Not this one - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
The F8 fork has a bow-legged stance, which supposedly minimizes turbulence - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
The ovalized rings may not be pretty, but Froome has found success with them - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Pinarello has a clean solution to making a single frame for both mechanical and electric drivetrains: tidy covers for unused ports - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Product from companies that don't sponsor the team get the blacked-out treatment - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
The F8 sports a wide chain protector behind the small chainring - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
The Stages power meter on the left crank measures left-leg power, and doubles the number for a wattage readout - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Fizik is rolling out new saddles at the Tour de France, but Froome has an 'old' Antares - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Veloflex tubulars are often seen in the Tour de France, sometimes with their own brand, as here, and sometimes with another brand hot-badged on - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Even on a carbon superbike, sometimes the humblest solutions are the best, such as electrical tape to keep the valve stem from rattling - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing

Chris Froome’s fast exit from the Tour de France meant we didn’t get to see the how quickly he could drive the new Pinarello Dogma F8 up the mountains, but with Froome beginning the Vuelta a Espana this weekend, we should finally be able to witness the new bike in action.

Chris froome's pinarello dogma f8

The Pinarello Dogma F8 is a curvaceous Italian machine with some interesting aerodynamic flair and a mix of professional polish and handmade alterations.

Truncated aerofoil tubing - called FlatBack in Pinarello parlance - a tidy integrated seatpost clamp, internal cable routing and a bowlegged fork borrowed from the company's Bolide time trial bike all suggest aero gains over Froome’s previous 65.1.

While the majority of the machine features showroom-level parts, there is also a bit of DIY handiwork present, from the blacked-out Osymetric chainrings and K-Edge Garmin mount to the partially disassembled Di2 climber switch next to the stem.

But functionality is clearly the top priority regardless. Built up with Shimano Dura-Ace C50 wheels, the bike flirts with the UCI legal limit minimum weight of 6.8kg, tipping the BIkeRadar scale at 15.08lb / 6.84kg.

Power-meter duties are handled by Stages, the small single-crank device that measures wattage output at the left leg and doubles it for a single power number.

Complete bike specifications

  • Frameset: Pinarello F8
  • Headset: Pinarello integrated, 1 1/8-to-1 1/2in tapered
  • Stem: PRO alloy, 120mm
  • Handlebars: PRO Vibe, 40cm
  • Brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace 9000
  • Shift/brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace 9070 Di2
  • Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 FD-9070
  • Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 RD-9070
  • Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-9000 11-28t
  • Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-9000
  • Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace FC-9000, 172.5mm
  • Chainrings: Osymetric
  • Power meter: Stages
  • Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace
  • Wheels: Shimano Dura-Ace C50
  • Tyres: Veloflex Carbon tubulars
  • Saddle: fi'zi:k Antares
  • Seat post: Pinarello F8
  • Computer: Garmin Edge 510
  • Bottle cage: Elite Custom Race
  • Other accessories: K-Edge Garmin mount (blacked out)

Critical measurements

  • Rider's height: 1.85m (6ft 1in)
  • Reach, saddle tip to bar: 59cm
  • Drop, saddle top to handlebar top: 12cm
  • Saddle height: 80cm
  • Stem length: 124mm

Ben Delaney

Contributor

Ben Delaney is a journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for and editing some of the biggest publications in cycling. Having studied journalism at the University of New Mexico, Ben has worked for Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, VeloNews and BikeRadar. He has also previously worked as Global Brand Communications Manager for Specialized. Ben covers all things road and gravel, and can be found logging big miles in the Rocky Mountains that nestle alongside his home in Boulder, Colorado. He has covered the most important bike races in the sport, from the Tour de France and Tour of Flanders, to the Unbound gravel race, and specialises in tech content, showcasing what the pros are riding and putting everyday equipment through its paces.
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