Pinarello Dogma K8 S Road Bike Frameset 2016

Rear suspension isn't something you often think of when conceptualizing road bikes, but when your superstar team asks for something to help soften the cobbles of the spring classics and reduce rider fatigue, you get inventive. At the request of Team Sky, Pinarello brought in the same group of Jaguar supercar engineers who helped design the revered Dogma F8 to create the new 2016 Dogma K8 S Road Bike Frameset. Boasting venerable Pinarello heritage and an unprecedented lightweight rear suspension, this frameset sets the new standard for rough road speed. Sticking with its proven ally in composite development, Pinarello again relies on Japanese carbon fiber supplier Toray for the K8 S frame's material. It features Torayca T1100 1K Dream Carbon with Nano alloy technology, which is the same material used in the Dogma F8. While the stuff's name is certainly impressive, its application is even more so. T1100 1K is the current go to outer skin for many modern aircrafts, and its stiffness to weight ratio is nothing short of stunning. But weight, of course, is only a slice of the Dogma equation we all know tube shaping also plays a vital role in the bike's handling and overall efficiency. Starting at the front of the frame, Pinarello applies its Onda fork, with ever slightly more rake than the F8's front end to add a hint more compliance and stability to the ride. The Onda fork is derived from that of Pinarello's TT specific Bolide, wearing an optimized surface profile that works with airflow from the front wheel. The blades describe a somewhat bowed or convex shape, which Jaguar's engineers say keeps air attached, reducing the size of the wake without creating too large a frontal zone. Moving to the frame, the front triangle closely mirrors the shape and aerodynamic profile of the Dogma F8. Pinarello incorporates its signature FlatBack technology with its oval front and flattened back tubing throughout the frame and fork for an aerodynamic profile that slices cleanly ...