Rear suspension in Ronde van Vlanderen

[Armchair Cyclist]

A lot of mentions of Sky's new bike for today, with rear suspension.

I don't particularly try to follow the equipment and technology aspect of racing (my own bike budget is very low, so it doesn't bother me what they are using), but this seems a major departure. Indeed, I wouldn't have been certain until I read about this that road racing allowed suspensions, or that suspension could ever meet the lightweight/stiffness requirements. But that might be my ignorance on the matter...

Is it as radical a departure from precedent as I suspect? Have bikes with suspension been used successfully before in major cobbled races?

 

[Bustedknuckle]

A lot of mentions of Sky's new bike for today, with rear suspension.

I don't particularly try to follow the equipment and technology aspect of racing (my own bike budget is very low, so it doesn't bother me what they are using), but this seems a major departure. Indeed, I wouldn't have been certain until I read about this that road racing allowed suspensions, or that suspension could ever meet the lightweight/stiffness requirements. But that might be my ignorance on the matter...

Is it as radical a departure from precedent as I suspect? Have bikes with suspension been used successfully before in major cobbled races?

Old news..been done in these 2 races more than once before. Even some full-sus bikes(Bianchi) in the past. The manufacturers splash with this, then it's gone until next year.

Rear suspension on road frames has been around for 2 decades.

 

[avanti]

Greg Lemond used front suspension (MTB?) forks in the PR one year.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Re:

Greg Lemond used front suspension (MTB?) forks in the PR one year.

Team Z and I think Duclos Lasalle won with one. Rock Shox Ruby.

 

[King Boonen]

Re: Re:

Greg Lemond used front suspension (MTB?) forks in the PR one year.

Team Z and I think Duclos Lasalle won with one. Rock Shox Ruby.

It was the Rock Shox Paris-Roubaix SL, the Ruby came afterwards.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Re:

Greg Lemond used front suspension (MTB?) forks in the PR one year.

Oppps..dupe and the King is right...not a Ruby

 

[winkybiker]

It never really "takes". I think the market for suspended road bikes is very limited. The other issue is that for the amount of compliance that is needed, good tyre and pressure selection takes care of a lot of it as far as "comfort" is concerned. It's not like a MTB having to take big "hits" with 100mm+ of travel. Having said that, if the Pinarello allows for harder tyres, then the rolling resistance and efficiency may be improved. Still, don't expect the general market for this to hot up any time soon.

 

[King Boonen]

Re:

It never really "takes". I think the market for suspended road bikes is very limited. The other issue is that for the amount of compliance that is needed, good tyre and pressure selection takes care of a lot of it as far as "comfort" is concerned. It's not like a MTB having to take big "hits" with 100mm+ of travel. Having said that, if the Pinarello allows for harder tyres, then the rolling resistance and efficiency may be improved. Still, don't expect the general market for this to hot up any time soon.

I'm guessing it will help maintain wheel contact with the road over the cobbles so it's not all about comfort, but it's going to cost if it comes down to a sprint, there's no way it can't and it's a very specialised (no pun intended!) thing. Honestly, I'm a bit surprised Pinarello are selling it, but I suppose there will be people who will buy it.

 

[frenchfry]

After watching the marketing video with Brailsford, I expected that even Mary Poppins could win Flanders with one of these. I guess marketing doesn't always transform into results.

 

[ray j willings]

Its just another fancy piece of kit for some rich Wiggo wannabe to buy. Wiggo went on to his normal bike after the crash.
Its like Electronic shifting a lot of riders still use mechanical because things like this don't happen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QprXnpzS9_I

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

One of the most transparent marketing gimmicks I have ever seen. This has been done time and time again. Discovery used a suspension Trek in 2005. Moots has been making soft-tails for years. Ibis had the famous Silk Ti.

This is very old technology. The fact that Pinarello is marketing this as a "game changer" shows just how out of ideas the bike industry really is. It's like making a faster rewinding VCR and calling it a game-changer. That game's been over for years.

 

[ray j willings]

I agree Moose. But at $6000 a pop " frame only" and a willing army of Sky fan boys who like to ride around all weekend with all the gear and no idea it's good business.
Money talks. Lets bleed those Sky fan boys for every penny