PINARELLO DOGMA F DURA ACE Di2 – PRODUCT FEATURE

 

The Dogma F is Pinarello’s top of the range model within their premium range of road bikes; the Italian brand is regarded around the world as the absolute pinnacle of bicycle design and manufacturing, with their bikes featuring the perfect balance of performance and aesthetics.

Our Fast Bike feature takes a detailed look at the Pinarello Dogma F in Electro Lime, spec’d with Shimano’s blingiest of road components, the 12-speed Dura-Ace Di2 groupset. This stunning bike quickly garnered a lot of attention on the Wheelbase Lake District shop floor, so we decided it was worthy of some special treatment when it came to shooting the bike. Our regular freelance photographer James Vincent teamed up with Wheelbase feature writer Johnny Dodgin to build a temporary photographic studio and they spent a considerable amount of time playing around with the lighting to help to really do this beautiful road bike justice. So let’s get into it…

The Dogma F sits at the very top of Pinarello’s range of premium road bikes.

 

The Pinarello Dogma F’s DNA consists of pure road racing heritage, with each recent iteration of the Dogma boasting multiple Grand tour wins as well as Olympic Gold medals. If you follow pro cycling and are into your tech you’ll already know that most teams have different models of bike at their disposal, with each team’s bike sponsor equipping them with a choice of a superlight climbing bike, a super-aero bike and maybe an endurance style road bike designed to have more compliance, making it more comfortable on the cobbles in such races as Paris Roubaix.

The junction from the stem and headset spacers transitions seamlessly into the top tube.

 

Unlike those other brands Pinarello have always maintained that the Dogma should be able to do it all; one bike that’s able to perform at the highest level when it comes to four key considerations – aerodynamics, low weight, comfort and handling. Informed by the professional cyclists of Team Ineos the Dogma F has been designed to excel in all areas; it’s a bike that can climb brilliantly, descend confidently and hold its speed efficiently on long flat roads.

Made from Torayca T1100 1K Aerospace Carbon the Dogma F’s frame and fork is an Italian masterpiece.

 

So what does this all mean for us mere cycling mortals? Well, it means that the Dogma F better suits our own cycling circumstances; for those of us not being followed by a team car stacked full of different types of road bike, we can enjoy the ultimate ‘one bike does it all’ machine. The Pinarello Dogma F is not only versatile enough to suit all types of road riding, it’s designed and constructed to EXCEL in them. The Ineos pro team is famed for its no-nonsense ‘marginal gains’ attention to every detail and that’s enough evidence for us that the Dogma F is built to perform at the highest level in every riding and racing scenario.

The finish on the Dogma F is stunning, with its mix of gloss electric lime and matt black fading into raw carbon.

 

This premium Pinarello road bike includes a beautifully integrated cockpit featuring a smooth junction between handlebar, stem and frame with all cables routed internally producing a significantly improved aerodynamic performance when pointed directly into the wind. The headtube blends seamlessly with the redesigned F Onda fork which is now even more aero efficient, with this disc brake model registering 7.3% less drag than the rim brake version.

Seen from the side the elongated, teardrop profile of the steerer tube and stem spacers is obvious.

 

That slim head tube is designed to cut through the air; frame and fork blend beautifully.

 

Pinarello’s rich racing history means that they’re realists when it comes to how their bikes should ride on the open road; particularly in the heat of battle within the world of professional road racing. Bike handling is at the very top of their list of design priorities, over and above weight; they know that obsessing over the scales in the design studio can be distracting, adversely affecting the most important properties of the bike out on the road. That said, they’ve still managed to shave off some significant weight from previous generation Dogma, meaning that the Dogma F is actually 11% lighter than its predecessor, the F12.

When the Pinarello Dogma F was launched last year it was clear that the Italian designers had taken advantage of the UCI’s most recent changes to their tightly controlled bicycle design rules. The Dogma F had evolved to feature a narrower seat tube and seat post and the seat stays were dropped lower down the seat tube for less drag and more aero-efficiency.

The beautifully sculpted seatstays are positioned low down on the seat tube to significantly reduce drag.

 

Pinarello’s focus on aerodynamics is holistic, with every frame angle and tube profile carefully considered and painstakingly analysed during endless hours spent in the wind tunnel, as well as real world testing on the open road. Even the area around the bottles and cages are an aero consideration on the Dogma F, with prototyping leading to a new down tube profile shaped specifically to enhance airflow, helping improve aerodynamics beyond simple straight line efficiency; this is even more effective when the bike is fitted with a bottle cage and water bottle.

Even the area around the bottles and cages are an aero consideration on the Dogma F, with a recess in the downtube shaped specifically to enhance airflow.

 

As we mentioned at the top of this feature the Pinarello Dogma F in Electro Lime comes spec’d with Shimano’s top-tier Dura-Ace Di2 semi-wireless electronic 12-speed groupset. Why semi-wireless and not totally wireless as seen on the groupsets produced by their rivals SRAM? Well, Shimano state their system guarantees longer run times thanks to a more efficient central source of power, compared to SRAM’s totally wireless front and rear derailleurs which require their own battery power source located on the mechs themselves.

The Dura Ace Di2 R9200 groupset is a sort of ‘best of both worlds’ approach which sees all the benefits of having wireless shifter units that don’t require wires to be routed from the handlebar, through the stem and then through the frame as was the case with the previous version; that wireless cockpit is then paired with an internally wired portion which links the front and rear derailleur with an internal battery that powers them both.

This Dogma F comes spec’d with Shimano’s premium Dura-Ace Di2 12-speed semi-wireless electronic groupset.

 

The Shimano Dura Ace Di2 shift levers send their wireless commands directly to the rear derailleur which is the designated ‘connectivity unit’ or brains of the system, those signals from the lever either move the rear derailleur as required or instantly send a message via the wired portion of the system to activate the front derailleur. The 12-speed rear derailleur communicates wirelessly with Shimano’s E-Tube smartphone app and also features the function button which used to sit within the Junction A box on the previous generation Dura-Ace Di2 groupset. Re-charging is taken care of via a charge port on the rear derailleur and LEDs to indicate charge level.

Electronically-speaking the RD-R9250 rear derailleur is the brains of Shimano’s semi-wireless system.

 

This new-gen Dura-Ace Di2 groupset also includes a front derailleur that boasts a greatly reduced weight compared to its predecessor, now tipping the scales at under 100 grams. The Dura-Ace chainset is befitting of it’s top-tier status in the hierarchy of Shimano groupsets, with its strikingly good looks boasting further refinement of what Shimano have previously engineered. Years of development mean that this latest version benefits from all of the science and testing that went into previous versions and includes hollow arms and chainrings to keep weight to a minimum while ensuring stiffness and shifting precision are enhanced.

The stunning Dura-Ace chainset quickly catches the eye and lets everyone know you’re riding the ultimate Shimano groupset.

 

This latest semi-wireless Dura Ace groupset sees Shimano increasing the speed at which the signal to shift gear travels from shifter to derailleur, with these wireless signals four times faster in processing shifting commands than their wired predecessors. In fact Shimano claim that the new-gen Dura Ace Di2 delivers 58% faster rear shifting and 45% front shifting so we’re not talking about insignificant amounts here. Shimano’s smartphone app even allows you to fine tune shift speed, letting you determine exactly how fast the rear derailleur moves; you can also customise button function too. The Dura Ace Di2 12-speed wireless gear shifter and hydraulic brake units are powered by small non-rechargeable CR1632 coin-cell batteries which have a run time of 1.5-2 years.

The 12-speed wireless shifter send a signal to the rear derailleur which is wired to the internal battery and front derailleur. 

 

The wireless shifters feature coin-cell batteries that boast a 1.5-2 year lifespan.

 

This latest iteration of the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset saw a complete overhaul of their hydraulic braking system, with the new BR-R9270 versions being noticeably more compact and significantly lighter, thanks in no small part to their one-piece ‘Mono-Body’ construction technique. Shimano have also increased rigidity and enhanced pad clearance for a quieter ride and no potential for any disc rub; they’ve even redesigned the brake bleeding process to help make home workshop maintenance more simple and user-friendly.

The compact Shimano BR-R9270 calipers are incredibly efficient at slowing you down quickly and perfectly in control.

 

Over the past few seasons the word on the professional road racing scene was that team mechanics who were working on bikes spec’d with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupsets were actually fitting Shimano mountain bike disc brake rotors because overall they performed better than their road-specific counterparts. Shimano were obviously paying attention because for this latest-generation Dura-Ace groupset they’ve paired the BR-R9270 hydraulic brake calipers with their existing Shimano XTR RT-MT900 disc rotors, taken directly from their top-tier mountain bike groupset. These disc brake rotors are actually a little lighter than the road-specific rotors they are replacing and have proven to better withstand temporary deformation caused by overheating on long alpine descents.

The Dogma F sports 160mm RT-MT900 disc rotors.

 

Continuing the Dura-Ace theme Pinarello have fitted the Dogma F with a lightweight pair of carbon fibre Shimano Dura-Ace C36 wheels. These lively wheels allow you to instantly accelerate when you put the power down letting you fly up the climbs or jump away from the front of the bunch when you open up your sprint. The all-carbon rims, featuring a 36mm deep profile, are equal parts aero and featherweight making them perfectly suited to the versatile Dogma F. Meanwhile their wide rim profile leaves the 28mm Vittoria Corsa Graphene 2.0 tyres with a relatively square sidewall profile (not pinched in), leading to more tyre surface area in contact with the ground for enhanced control.

As well as the full Dura-Ace Di2 groupset, Pinarello have spec’d a lightweight pair of Shimano Dura-Ace C36 wheels.

 

Smooth-rolling and fully serviceable the Dura-Ace hubs feature straight pull spokes.

 

The 36mm deep carbon rim is both lightweight and aero in equal measure.

 

The wide Dura-Ace C36 carbon rims help to give a nice profile to the wide 28mm Vittoria Corsa tyres.

 

As you’d expect with a modern super-aero, fully integrated superbike the finishing kit on the Dogma, namely the handlebars, stem, seatpost and saddle, have all been carefully considered and factored into the holistic design approach of the complete Dogma F bike. Upfront the cockpit consists of Pinarello’s carbon fibre MOST Talon Ultra-Light handlebar which is integrated seamlessly with the carbon aero stem; with teardrop shaped headset spacers and headset top cap the whole front end of the Dogma has been designed to cut through the air as efficiently as possible. Likewise the integrated Pinarello Aero seatpost is intrinsic to the complete Dogma F chassis and its aerodynamic capabilities; the Italian designers and engineers have even managed to shave weight here, using 3D printing technology to create a printed titanium top seatclamp.

The super-aero MOST Talon Ultra-Light handlebar blends seamlessly with its integrated stem, into the headset configuration. 

 

The MOST Lynx Ultrafast Superflow L saddle follows the trend for shorter-nosed, slightly wider profile saddles and will suit most riders.

 

The Pinarello Dogma F in Electro Lime is a beautiful bike to behold and James Vincent has done a great job of capturing it in these stunning photos; if however, we steal ourselves from the pure aesthetics for a moment and consider its status as a high-performance road bike then it’s fair to say the Dogma F really is one of the most premium bicycles in the world. Pinarello would not have arrived at this point without years of hard work and development, with today’s evolution of design and engineering inherited from each and every iteration of the previous Dogma models. Pinarello’s close association as bicycle sponsor to professional cycling teams Sky, Movistar and now Ineos Grenadiers means that each generation of Dogma has been tested and proven in some of the toughest, most physically and technically demanding road races in the World.

The fully integrated Dogma F Dura-Ace Di2 featuring Pinarello’s own aerodynamic finishing kit, Shimano’s premium semi-wireless electronic 12-speed groupset and lively, ultralight Shimano C36 carbon wheels is arguably one of the ultimate road racing bikes that can be bought by an amateur cyclist and while you could most definitely race it, you’d be forgiven for simply owning this dream bike in an effort to take your cycling and enjoyment of this beautiful sport to the next level.

The Dogma F Dura-Ace Di2 in Electric Lime Green is a stunning looking bike which sits at the very top of the Pinarello road bike range.

 

Pinarello Dogma F Dura-Ace Di2 RRP £12,999.00

Dogma F Disc Frameset Technical Specifications:

• Carbon Toraya T1100 1K Dream Carbon with Nanoalloy Technology
• Asymmetric frame
• Onda Fork Dogma F with ForkFlap
• TiCR (total integrated cable routing)
• 1.5” upper and lower steerer
• Italian thread BB
• Seatclamp Twin Force
• 3D printed titanium top seatclamp
• 3XAir two positions option for the second bottle cage
• FlatBack profile
• Rad System disc brake
• Thru Axle 142 rear spacing
• Disc flat mount max 160mm
• Max tire 622x28c
• Weight: 865g Size 530; raw frame (not painted)
• UCI approved

Full Specification:

• Frame: TorayCa T1100 1K Dream Carbon with Nanoalloy technology, TiCR cable routing, Italian BB, UCI approved
• Fork: F Onda Fork with ForkFlap, 1.5′ upper and lower steerer, Ultra Light Headset bearings
• Shifters: Shimano Dura Ace Di2
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Dura Ace Di2 RD-R9200 12s
• Front Derailleur: Shimano Dura Ace Di2 FD-9200
• Cassette: Shimano Dura Ace CS-R9200 12S
• Chainset: Shimano Dura Ace FC-R9200, HollowTech 2, 12s
• Brakes: Dura Ace BR-R9200, 2 pistons caliper, 160mm rotor
• Wheelset: Shimano Dura Ace C36
• Front Tyre: Vittoria Corsa Graphene 2.0 28c
• Rear Tyre: Vittoria Corsa Graphene 2.0 28c
• Integrated Stem/Handlebar: MOST Talon Ultra-Light
• Seat Post: Pinarello Aero seatpost with 3D printed titanium top seatclamp and bolts
• Saddle: Most Lynx Ultrafast Superflow L Carbon Large 145mm

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

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