Westbrook Cycles Welcomes Pinarello
Steeped in a rich tapestry of cycling history, Pinarello is more than just a brand; it's a legacy on two wheels. The saga began with Giovanni "Nani" Pinarello, born in 1922 in Catena di Villorba, near Treviso, Italy. Growing up amidst the golden era of Italian cycling, Giovanni's love for racing was kindled at a tender age. Although he carved a niche for himself by winning the Maglia Nera at the Giro d’Italia in 1951, his destiny was intertwined with frame-building, a craft he honed during his amateur racing days at the Paglianti bicycle factory. The year 1952 marked the inception of the Cicli Pinarello bike shop, laying the cornerstone for what would become a cycling dynasty. Giovanni’s ambition was clear-cut: to craft the world's paramount bikes. Fast-forward seven decades, and his son Fausto Pinarello continues to uphold this illustrious tradition, propelling Pinarello to pinnacle after pinnacle in the cycling realm.
Today, synonymous with triumph and technical excellence, Pinarello bikes are viewed in the same vein as Ferraris are to Formula 1 aficionados - a fusion of Italian heritage, formidable racing pedigree, and engineering brilliance. The narrative of Pinarello is one adorned with iconic moments, victories at the grandest of stages, and a relentless pursuit of cycling perfection. As the brand celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2022, the ethos of victory is more ingrained than ever, resonating through every curve and weld of their masterfully designed bikes.
We at Westbrook Cycles are beyond thrilled to intertwine our narrative with that of Pinarello's, as we commence the journey of offering Pinarello bikes to our discerning clientele. The road ahead is promising, and as we unveil the revered Pinarello Dogma F, the new Dogma X, and other exemplary models, we're not just offering bikes; we're extending an invitation to be part of a legendary cycling narrative.
A Racing Pedigree
Pinarello’s involvement in road racing is as rich and layered as its meticulous bike craftsmanship. The brand’s racing pedigree germinated from humble beginnings with local teams, leading to its first international triumph in 1961 when Guido De Rosso clinched victory in the inaugural Tour de l’Avenir. This victory was a prelude to the brand’s burgeoning reputation on the racing circuit. The real game-changer transpired in the early 1960s when Pinarello began sponsoring amateur teams, starting with Tognana-Pinarello. The brand's reputation soared when Tullio Campagnolo introduced Giovanni Pinarello to José Miguel Echavarri, who was seeking a bike manufacturer for his Reynolds team. This collaboration blossomed, marking the onset of a fruitful partnership with the young rider Miguel Indurain, heralding an era of significant victories and groundbreaking bike designs, such as the iconic Espada bike designed in the wind tunnel and made from carbon fiber, a radical departure from the traditional round steel tubes.
As the brand established its racing legacy, numerous illustrious names embraced Pinarello bikes for their racing endeavors. For instance, on September 2nd 1994, Miguel Indurain rode a Pinarello track bike to set a new hour record of 53.040km, eclipsing the previous record held by Graeme Obree. Over the years, Pinarello became synonymous with the pinnacle of cycling competitions, its bikes becoming a common sight at grand tour races and other prestigious cycling events. The unique designs and technological innovations of Pinarello bikes continually set them apart, with their performance on the racing circuit serving as a testament to the brand’s enduring commitment to excellence.
In the modern racing era, Pinarello's legacy continues to flourish through strategic partnerships with elite racing teams. The alliance between Pinarello and Team Sky, which later transitioned to Ineos Grenadiers, stands as a hallmark of this enduring legacy. Since its WorldTour debut in 2010, Ineos Grenadiers has relied on Pinarello's technological prowess, racing on 17 different models of Pinarello bikes in the world's biggest events. The partnership, grounded in a shared love for racing and innovation, has yielded a staggering 393 victories, including triumphs in all 12 of its Grand Tours and seven Tours de France. The continuous evolution of the iconic Dogma frame and other models like the Bolide time trial bike underscores the symbiotic relationship between Pinarello and Ineos Grenadiers, with each party pushing the other towards unparalleled excellence in the demanding and competitive realm of professional cycling.
The Technology
Pinarello's journey of employing cutting-edge technology in bike manufacturing dates back to its early years. Initially, all Pinarello frames were crafted from steel. In the 1980s, the company transitioned to using Columbus tubing for most of its models, while lower-end models in 1989 featured tubing by Oria. The mid-1980s saw the introduction of Tange Prestige tubing, marking the first use of non-Italian tubes for the US-based Levis Cycling team. Fast forward to 1993, the Banesto Line emerged, exclusively utilizing Oria tubing such as Oria Cromovan, Oria ML34, and Oria ML25. The technological evolution continued throughout the 1990s until 2004, with Pinarello creating frames from various materials including conventional steel tubing, oversize aluminum with TIG welded joints, magnesium, and carbon fiber among others.
In recent years, Pinarello has leaned heavily towards carbon technology. The carbon layup and material choices, particularly with their partnership with Toray, which is hailed as "the best carbon fiber producer in the world," are fundamental in enhancing bike stiffness and strength. These advancements are witnessed in the 2023 Pinarello road bikes, where carbon technology is employed to strike a balance between weight, responsiveness, and damping ability. This technology also transcends to aerodynamics, as seen in the aero-shaped seat post and tapered seat tube that come with the bikes, ensuring every possible watt is saved, demonstrating Pinarello's commitment to harnessing modern technology to improve cycling performance and experience.
The technological strides by Pinarello have not only bolstered performance but also diversified the riding experience. For instance, the Pinarello Dogma F series, which boasts the Onda fork designed to enhance aerodynamics and reduce drag, offers a glimpse into how technology is harnessed to finesse the aerodynamic efficiency and overall performance of Pinarello bikes.
Pinarello's rich technological history intertwined with its modern-day advancements underscores the brand's enduring commitment to delivering top-tier bikes. Through continuous innovation, Pinarello ensures cyclists enjoy not only the thrill of speed but also the comfort, efficiency, and the pure joy of cycling.
The Pinarello Dogma is celebrated as a hallmark of excellence in the realm of road bikes, embodying a blend of aesthetic allure and performance-driven features. The Dogma series, especially the Dogma F, reflects the high-quality materials and engineering invested in its creation.
Dubbed as one of the "winningest road bikes" of all time, the Pinarello Dogma F is designed to excel across all road cycling disciplines, showcasing its versatility and dominance in the cycling arena. The Dogma F is often referred to as a serious superbike, continuing the legacy of its predecessor, the F12, as one of the foremost race bikes.
From the lens of engineering and design, the Dogma F is a masterpiece that encapsulates advancements in handling, comfort, and aerodynamics. Its design ensures a balanced performance whether climbing steep ascents, sprinting on flat terrains, or descending at breakneck speeds. The Dogma F is crafted to respond adeptly to the diverse challenges thrown by different road conditions, making it a reliable companion for cyclists aiming for peak performance.
The Pinarello Dogma series, with its blend of Italian craftsmanship, innovative design, and racing heritage, continues to be a coveted possession among cycling enthusiasts and professional racers alike.
The Pinarello Grevil is a marvelous creation for those enticed by gravel biking, encapsulating a blend of features from the revered Dogma series while introducing elements suited for mixed terrain adventures. The Grevil, at its essence, is a gravel bike that inherits the flashy aero aesthetics characteristic of Pinarello's top-end bikes, yet augments this with off-road competence. The ride is described as whippy, responsive, and brimming with fun, making every pedal stroke feel powerful and efficient, especially with the compact cockpit design that enhances the rider's posture for aggressive pedaling.
The Grevil doesn't shy away from showcasing its distinctive looks which resonate well on varied surfaces, marking its presence as an aero gravel bike with a penchant for speed. Unlike the Dogma, the Grevil's geometry is optimized for gravel, with a shorter reach and higher stack than a traditional road bike, alongside a modified fork angle and rake, all enveloped in a uniquely-shaped frame made of Toray T700 carbon fiber.
The Pinarello Grevil embodies a commendable venture into the gravel bike arena, extending the brand's lineage of high-quality, performance-oriented bikes into a terrain that demands a blend of speed, aerodynamics, and robustness. Through the Grevil, Pinarello continues to stake its claim in the diverse world of cycling, catering to the evolving preferences of cycling aficionados.
The Pinarello Nytro range encapsulates the brand's venture into the electric bike realm, marrying the traditional aesthetic and performance characteristics of Pinarello with modern e-bike technology. The 2023 iteration of the Pinarello Nytro E road bikes comes with a revamped design, featuring an extremely compact TQ drive system that complements the sleek aesthetics synonymous with Pinarello bikes​. The range is updated around TQ's HPR50 motor system, which, coupled with the lightweight design, earns the Nytro the title of the 'lightest e-bike of its kind'.
At the core of the Nytro range's appeal is the additional power the TQ-HPR50 motor system provides, offering an extra 300 watts of power to conquer even the steepest climbs without unnatural sensations. This, combined with the motor's class-leading inaudibility, ensures a seamless blend of natural cycling experience with the assisted power when needed. Whether it's the electric gravel bike or E road bike variant, the Pinarello Nytro range showcases a well-thought-out fusion of traditional cycling dynamics with modern electric assist technology, embodying a forward-thinking approach to diversifying cycling experiences.
Pinarello X Westbrook
As we usher in this exciting chapter at Westbrook Cycles, our anticipation brims with every thought of bringing the illustrious Pinarello range to our esteemed clientele. Pinarello's rich tapestry of history, unrivaled racing pedigree, and the relentless pursuit of technological innovation resonate profoundly with our ethos. The prospect of offering the revered Pinarello Dogma, the versatile Grevil, and the electrifying Nytro range heralds not just a business milestone, but an opportunity to extend the legacy of cycling excellence to our community. As we unveil the Pinarello collection, we are not just selling bikes; we are inviting you to become a part of a legendary narrative, to experience the fusion of heritage, performance, and modern-day cycling innovation. Our journey with Pinarello commences, and we are thrilled to have you ride alongside us on these iconic two-wheel marvels.
