Whereas the 2 bikes featured listed here are separated by hundreds of kilos, they’re in some ways simply completely different sides of the identical coin. Each are from commemorated Italian manufacturers looking for to offer a product, and an expertise, that not solely delivers the requisite efficiency but additionally the intangible qualities that trigger cyclists to covet these marques over others.
The Colnago Steelnovo, severely restricted in numbers, can be extremely collectable in fast time, whereas the F1 affords the prospect to leap aboard for these to whom driving a Pinarello was beforehand out of attain. I’d argue that possession of each will doubtless be equally joyous regardless of the disparity in value.
Elsewhere we’ve two extra intriguing merchandise – a gravel wheelset from DT Swiss constructed round dynamo hubs and a carbon cockpit with a four-digit price ticket, utilized by Tadej Pogacar no much less.
Colnago Steelnovo
The Steelnovo’s 3D printed lugs assist create a seamless reference to the tubes
(Picture credit score: Colnago)
There was maybe no higher manner for Colnago to rejoice 70 years of bicycle manufacturing than to make the final word metal bike.
The Steelnovo is an ode to the fabric for positive, however not simply its custom, its future, too. The frameset, made in a restricted version of simply 70 items, continues Colnago’s lengthy relationship with Columbus tubing, but it surely has many up to date options. So whereas the meticulous welding and brazing conjures up metal Colnago icons of the previous, such because the Grasp, the Steelnovo additionally makes use of 3D-printed lugs (to nice impact judging by the seamless transition from tube to lug), has a carbon fork, can match 35mm tyres and makes use of two fashionable requirements – the T47 backside bracket and the UDH rear dropout.
Traditional metal tube shapes with a contemporary twist – the Steelnovo is elegant and costly
(Picture credit score: Colnago)
Fittingly, to finish the construct Colnago has teamed up with a few Italian manufacturers, with which it has a protracted historical past. There’s a Campagnolo Tremendous Report wi-fi groupset, a pair of its Bora Extremely WTO 45 wheels, shod in Pirelli tyres. Solely the saddle breaks the mould – it’s a Brooks Cambium C13, however even this British establishment is now owned by Selle Royal.
All of it provides as much as an aesthetically beautiful machine; is looking the Steelnovo the best-looking bike of the trendy period pure hyperbole? Maybe, however on condition that it’s prone to experience superbly too, it’s a motorcycle that doesn’t draw straightforward comparability. Nor does its price ticket of €17,500.00.
Pinarello F1
Pinarello has created the F1 to supply a extra inexpensive entry level to its highway bike line-up
(Picture credit score: Pinarello)
If the Steelnovo is the stuff of goals, then Pinarello’s F1 is much extra rooted in actuality.
In an effort to make its highway bikes extra accessible, the Italian marque has added the F1 to its lineup. Whereas it makes use of the identical body design because the dearer F fashions, it makes use of a lower-grade carbon – Toray T600 – to maintain the prices down. This makes the F1 a tad heavier than the F5, however solely by 40g, and you continue to get the wise geometry that’s rather less aggressive than the model’s flagship race bike, the Dogma F.
The F1’s carbon layup solely provides 40g to the body weight in comparison with the dearer F5
(Picture credit score: Pinarello)
Extra price-saving measures are taken with the selection of the F1’s parts. There’s a mechanical 12-speed 105 groupset and a set of alloy Shimano wheels. The cockpit can be aluminium. The result’s a Pinarello, full with its signature curves, for £3,000/$3,500. Whether or not that constitutes a discount is debatable however any try to make premium manufacturers extra inexpensive must be recommended.
DT Swiss dynamo gravel wheels
Dynamo hubs are a pure match for an journey gravel wheelset just like the GR 1600 DYN from DT Swiss
(Picture credit score: DT Swiss)
The practicality of a dynamo hub makes it a pure bedfollow for bikepackers and long-distance gravel riders. Up till now you’d in all probability have been required to go down the customized wheel construct route for an off-road prepared wheelset that includes the light-generating hubs. However no extra.
DT Swiss has launched two gravel wheelsets with dynamo hubs as normal – the GR 1600 DYN and the GR 1800 DYN. It’s teamed up with Shutter Precision, a market chief for dynamo hub know-how, utilizing the model’s SP PL-7 generator inside a tailor-made hub shell. In response to DT Swiss it has been created to “face up to the rigours of your off-road driving”, and is offered as a hub-only possibility too.
Including reliability to your gravel bike
(Picture credit score: DT Swiss)
The self-sufficiency that’s on the coronary heart of the dynamo’s attraction doubtless makes up for any issues that the know-how slows you down. However should you’re a bit fearful about your effectivity when the sunshine is on, DT Swiss says at 15 km/h the SP PL-7 generator solely makes use of 4.2 watts of your rolling energy to supply 3 watts of output.
Enve SES Aero Professional bars
The SES Aero Professional bars are slim on the hoods and wider on the drops
(Picture credit score: Enve)
The one-piece SES Aero Professional handlebars are the brainchild of each Enve and its most well-known consumer, Tadej Pogacar.
Utilizing suggestions from the world’s greatest bike racer and his UAE teammates, the US model got down to ship bars that mix stiffness with aerodynamic properties, whereas nonetheless delivering the consolation that skilled riders demand.
The view from Pogacar’s workplace
(Picture credit score: Enve)
And it seems it has succeeded, with Pogacar utilizing the bars in each of his Grand Tour wins this yr, in addition to his World Champs triumph. Particulars embody Enve’s In-Route inner cabling system, an built-in pc mount and shaping that goals to assist the rider obtain as small a frontal space as potential when driving within the drops.
The claimed weight varies relying on the dimensions, however ranges from 345 to 365g. As for these sizes the SES Aero Professional bars are supplied in three widths – 40, 42, 44cm on the drops – and 6 stem lengths, from 90cm to 140mm. With the bars retailing at $1,300 Pog can be glad he doesn’t must pay for his pair.
