nycphotography

My friend is looking at Pinarellos and asked my opinion...

I went to the web site, but of course, rather than giving practical comparisons of the models that you could use to make a real decision, the entire description of every bike is pure marking drivel.

So I ask you:

Which (if any) would the be "Tour de france" frame (and why)?

which (if any) would be the "Paris Roubaix" frame (and why)?

Which (if any) would be the "fast century" frame (and why)?

Which (if any) would be the "comfortable century" frame (and why)?

Which (if any) would be the "crit" frame (and why)?

Thanks in advance for any clarity you can add to their obtuse website :-)

SushiJoe

Just my opinions:

Which (if any) would the be "Tour de france" frame (and why)? Dogma, most $$$, most R&D

which (if any) would be the "Paris Roubaix" frame (and why)? KOBH, slightly relaxed geometry, curved stays

Which (if any) would be the "fast century" frame (and why)? Prince, 2nd "best" frame they make

Which (if any) would be the "comfortable century" frame (and why)? KOBH, same reasons as Paris-Roubx.

Which (if any) would be the "crit" frame (and why)? FP Quattro, "reasonably" priced, stiff, same mold as Paris Carbon (or maybe Prince?)

merlinextraligh

And most importantly wider tire clearance.

Whichever one has the least BB drop.

nycphotography

Excellent. THANK YOU. That is exactly what I needed to know.

Now if only we could shoot all the marketing wonks (from all brands) and get the replacements to give information like that :-)

ScoJo

Damn. So no comfortable century bike at a lower price point?

pdedes

which pinarello is designed to make a dent in your wallet?

all of them.

ilovecycling

kabex

What's the best value Pinarello?

Chinarello.

nycphotography

True enough. But I don't really care what he spends... it's not my business. I just care that after he spends it he has the best bike for what he's going to use it for.

nycphotography

By the way... is this the consensus? no disagreement on this? Dogma = TDF frame, KOBH - roubaix / comfort frame, and Prince = fast century ("or last generation TDF technology")??

rat fink

I think SushiJoe has it right, I was looking at their advertising the other day, asking myself the same question, and I came to a similar conclusion.

pgjackson

OK, gotta ask...does any of this really matter? I mean, a bike is a bike. Is there REALLY a difference in a "century" frame and a "Tour de France" frame? I don't see what difference geometry makes so long as it fits properly. I'm guessing, once you get the bike set up properly for you, the contact points are all going to be the same regardless of what shape the frame is. Now, I'm not talking about the difference between a $10,000 Cervello and a $300 Windsor...I'm talking about manufacturers/consumers believing one frame design is better for a particular type of race/ride than another. Doesn't it all boil down to the motor, not the frame style?

rat fink

Actually, no. Geometry is one of the most important factor in how frame 'feels', (ride, handling, utility). Bikes have varied geometries for reasons of performance, comfort/position, body geometry, intended use, and fit. For me, geometry is one of the first things I look at when choosing a frame.

Because of my body proportions and riding style, I generally prefer the most aggressively spec'd frame a given company offers. If it's too far off, I wont be able to get comfortable.

Menel

All geometry varies, but there are two general categories. Race and comfort/endurance.

e.g.
Tarmac vs. Roubaix
TCR vs. Defy
Trek H1 vs. H3
Felt F vs. Z
CAAD/SIX vs. Synapse

The race bikes have shorter geometries and steeper steering tubes to allow for twitchier handling, turn faster. Shorter head tube to allow getting lower.

The endurance bikes have longer geometries and relaxed steering tubes to allow for more stability and 'comfort'.

Endurance bikes can be set up very aggressively with bar to seat drop. Race bikes can be setup relaxed with raised bars. But there is no adjusting some measurements such as wheelbase.

You can find more comparisons and details searching. The two different styles are going to ride completely differently. Both are very fast.
Schleck and Contador went neck and neck in the Tour on the 'race' Spec. Tarmac.
Cancellera won the Paris-Roubaix on the 'comfort' Spec. Roubaix.

revchuck 

pgjackson - good question.

rat fink and Menel - good answers.

Another reason for the different types of frames is the fact that some folks don't have the range of motion we used to. We tend to go for the "comfort/endurance" geometry due to the usually taller head tubes, which permit a slightly more upright position than the "race" version. I say "usually" because the frameset I just bought, a Specialized Allez Comp which echoes the Tarmac's geometry, actually has a taller head tube than most "comfort" frames, at least in my size (61cm). I'm set up on it comfortably, mainly due to that tall head tube.

nycphotography

thanks guys. great discussion. very helpful.

pgjackson: Actually, goemetry and fit has a larger impact on how a bike rides than brand, material or price, and size only matters to the degree that it changes geometry for a given fit.

Usually, a cheap aluminum generic bike of appropriate geometry and size and fitted well will do better than an expensive, name brand, blingy carbon bike of an inappropriate geometry and/or poor fit.

But once you get the geometry, size and fit dialed in, the better bikes will start to shine in comparison.

znomit

Pinarellos are very good for this.