This Sunday, at Ronde van Vlaanderen, Team Sky will be aboard a new Pinarello Dogma, the K8-S, which team leader Bradley Wiggins says is “game-changing,” thanks to its rear suspension.
In partnership with the team’s car sponsor, Jaguar, Pinarello developed the new model with flat, flexible seat stays to allow the carbon fiber frame to flex and compress the small shock located on the seat stays. It is said to have 10mm of travel with the elastomer-based shock. Pinarello claims the frame will weigh 990 grams. The Dogma F8 weighs 860g.
Pinarello claims the new frame reduces vibration by 50 percent, although its unclear how, exactly, that data was measured.
However, for his part, Wiggins said the frame makes a noticeable difference. “The Pinarello Dogma K8-S looks as good as the DOGMA F8, and from the moment you get on it, you realize the difference straight away, especially on the cobbles.
“I’ve never ridden anything like it on cobbles before, which is the most extreme terrain you can ride a bike on. The way it feels, its aerodynamics, stiffness, and improved flex in the rear, is game-changing for cycling.”
In March, Wiggins and Christian Knees rode the long and regular cobble sectors in the last 130km of the Paris-Roubaix route, where comparative tests were undertaken with the Dogma K frame.
Wiggins will ride his final race in Team Sky’s colors on April 12 in Paris-Roubaix, presumably aboard this new bike.
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