Pinarello Bolide F Frameset w/3D Printed Bar

The Pinarello Bolide F Frameset w/3D Printed Bar is the top configuration of Pinarello's time trial and triathlon line, a frame and fork built around one goal: the lowest possible drag for a rider who already knows their position. Pinarello introduced the original Bolide for Team Sky in 2013. Bradley Wiggins rode the Bolide HR for his Hour Record, and the Bolide TT has since been used in time trials at grand tours and championships. The Bolide F carries that line forward as a disc brake aero frame, and this version comes with a custom MOST 3D printed cockpit.

Aerodynamics Developed Around the Disc Brake

The Bolide F is built from TorayCa M40X carbon. Pinarello says it worked with the University of Adelaide and NablaFlow on its AirStream aerodynamic approach, and claims a 2.28% reduction in CdA compared with the previous Bolide F TT. Treat that figure as Pinarello's own number, since it comes from the brand and not from independent testing. Launch coverage notes that adding disc brakes carried an aerodynamic penalty compared with the earlier integrated rim-brake Bolide, and that Pinarello set out to recover it by reworking the seat tube, seatpost, top stays and chain stays.

Two details stand out. AeroNodes, a tubercle-inspired pattern on the seat tube and seatpost, is designed to manage airflow along the rear of the bike. At the bottom bracket and the hubs, Pinarello uses longer, slimmer airfoil shapes, so the areas around the drivetrain and wheels get the same attention as the tubes. The fork is the Bolide TT Onda with ForkFlap, and the cable routing is the TiCR system, which Pinarello describes as fully internal. The headset is integrated and the head tube is tapered.

The 3D Printed Cockpit

The distinguishing feature of this package is the cockpit. The stem and aerobars are custom MOST 3D printed TT pieces, made as one integrated unit. MOST is Pinarello's in-house component brand, and Pinarello's 3D printed bars, including the ones Geraint Thomas has used, are printed in titanium using powder bed fusion, where metal powder is melted layer by layer. Printing lets the bar take shapes that are difficult to produce with conventional tube and carbon construction. For a rider chasing marginal gains in a fixed position, it means the cockpit can match the rider's setup instead of the other way around.

Fit, Geometry and Tire Room

The geometry is aggressive, as you'd expect from a bike meant to hold a low position for an hour or more. It comes in four sizes, 45, 48.5, 52 and 55cm, with a 77-degree seat tube angle across the range and a 395mm chainstay. The 52cm frame has a 494mm stack and 413mm reach. Head tube angle runs from 72 to 73 degrees depending on size. Tire clearance is 32mm, up from 28mm on the previous Bolide, according to Pinarello. That extra room gives you the option of wider tires on rough road surfaces, where they can roll faster. Pinarello recommends a professional bike fit before ordering, and with a custom cockpit that advice is worth following.

What You Need to Build It

This is a frameset, so wheels, drivetrain, cranks, saddle and pedals are not included. It uses an Italian-threaded bottom bracket and needs a braze-on front derailleur. The frame is finished in Top Black, and it runs 700c wheels with Pinarello's aero seatpost. It suits the racer or collector who has a specific position, a specific build in mind and the budget to match. For someone who wants a ready-to-ride bike, a complete build is the better starting point.