The Pinarello Bolide: 15 percent less drag and 5 percent lighter than the Graal, say the test figuresSam Dansie/Future Publishing
Wiggins is using mechanical Shimano Dura-Ace shifters and a bar unit designed at the UK Sports InstituteSam Dansie/Future Publishing
Wiggo in gold – referencing his medal success at the 2012 Olympic games in the road TTSam Dansie/Future Publishing
Pinarello produced the carbon brake leversSam Dansie/Future Publishing
Gear cables exiting the front bars under the restsSam Dansie/Future Publishing
The steering assembly is fully integrated into the frame – another big development on the GraalSam Dansie/Future Publishing
Top view of the steering assemblySam Dansie/Future Publishing
The standard three-spoke HED H3 carbon front wheel runs close to the shaped down tubeSam Dansie/Future Publishing
Integrated front brakes are housed at the front of the forkSam Dansie/Future Publishing
Cables run in a smooth arc back into the frame, just behind the steering assemblySam Dansie/Future Publishing
The water bottle can be placed in three positions on the down tubeSam Dansie/Future Publishing
Small Union Jack set at seat tube heightSam Dansie/Future Publishing
The seat tube clamp is recessed into the frameSam Dansie/Future Publishing
Clearance between tyre and frame is just a few millimetresSam Dansie/Future Publishing
Ending any dispute over whether brakes housed under a fairing are allowed by the UCISam Dansie/Future Publishing
The rear brakes are housed under there – the UCI permits fairings over brakes as long as they fit into an 8cm box, as defined by the UCI technical regulationsSam Dansie/Future Publishing
A Fi’zi:k Ares sits atop the seatpostSam Dansie/Future Publishing
Track bike-style horizontal dropouts allow the mechanics to get the Pro Carbon Textreme disc right up to the frameSam Dansie/Future Publishing
Front on, there’s not much for the wind to push againstSam Dansie/Future Publishing
Wiggins is using regular gearing for the 2013 Giro d’Italia Ischia time trial: 56/44T chainrings and an 11×24 cassetteSam Dansie/Future Publishing
Speedplay pedals complete the ensembleSam Dansie/Future Publishing
The Pinarello Bolide: 15 percent less drag and 5 percent lighter than the Graal, say the test figures`Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Bradley Wiggins’ winning margins in the 2012 Tour de France were built on excellent performances in the time trials, and dominating in TTs has been a tactic he’s used to huge effect as a dedicated stage racer. The 2013 Giro d’Italia has more than 90km against the clock on three separate days of racing, though 20.6km of that is a mountain time trial on stage 18.
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Last week, Team Sky’s bike sponsors, Pinarello, unveiled the brand new Bolide time trial bike. Could this be the key weapon in the team’s latest objective – victory at this year’s Giro d’Italia?
Wiggins will be the only rider using the new frameset in today’s 17.4km team time trial on the island of Ischia. As such, Team Sky’s mechanics were very protective of the bike when BikeRadarwent to photograph it at the team hotel on the outskirts of Naples last night.
The Italian company claim that in tests, the new frame, made of the same carbon used in the Pinarello Dogma 65.1 (Torayca 65HM1K), produces 15 percent less drag than its predecessor, the Graal. Plus, it’s supposedly five percent lighter.
Wiggo in gold – referencing his medal success at the 2012 olympic games in the road tt:Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Referencing road TT success at the 2012 Olympics
First impressions are that the Bolide looks neater and more aero than the Graal, thanks to the aerofoil tubing and the elimination of cabling entering the side of the head tube. The rear wheel – inserted via horizontal dropouts – also sits extremely close to the frame.
Wiggins is using a mechanical Shimano Dura-Ace groupset, with an SRM crankset mounted to a BB86 bottom bracket. The carbon brake levers are made by Pinarello. The cockpit – apart from the bar extensions – is a special unit designed at the UK Sports Institute.
Front on, there’s not much for the wind to push against:Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Front on, there’s not much for the wind to push against
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In terms of wheels, at the front is a tubular HED H3 with 22mm Veloflex Carbon tyre. At the back is a PRO Carbon Textreme disc with a 25mm Veloflex Carbon tyre. Completing the bike are a Fi’zi:k Ares saddle and Wiggins’ Speedplay pedals.
