Pinarello has announced an updated version of its Prince road bike for 2021, alongside the relaunch of its popular Paris model from the 1990’s.
The Prince will again be available in the form of a direct-mount rim brake variant and disc brake, with clearance for 700x28mm tires. Both the rim brake and disc versions are offered in two frameset tiers – the standard Prince, which uses Toray T700 carbon fiber, and the Prince FX, which uses high modulus T800 carbon fiber.
The Prince now takes advantage of Pinarello’s TICR (Total Internal Cable Routing) system, previously solely available on the top of the range Dogma F12. Concealing the bike’s brake and gear cabling within the frame, bar and stem has resulted in an 85% reduction in cable and wire aerodynamic drag. The enlargement of the headtube to accommodate the TICR system has also enabled the development team to optimize the frame’s frontal area, further enhancing clean airflow.
The Prince also adopts another feature of the Dogma F12, replicating its bottom-bracket area design to allow the seat tube’s bottle cage bosses to be fitted 5mm lower. In doing so, the “aerodynamic impact of a rider’s water bottle is minimized”, says Pinarello.
The introduction of the Dogma F12’s trademark ‘ForkFlaps’ along with a more aggressive Onda fork shape again improves stable airflow over the bike.
Like the Dogma F12, the Prince now features more squared chainstays, increasing lateral stiffness by 10%. The bike’s downtube has also been slightly enlarged to further increase strength, while the frame draws from the Dogma F12’s aggressively asymmetric design.
As a result, the updated Prince offers optimal power transfer, ensuring “no watt is wasted out on the road”, says Pinarello.
The Prince now also comprises the famed Italian brand’s eLink system, first seen on the Dogma F10, which houses the Shimano Di2 junction box within the downtube.
Additionally, the Prince now takes advantage of Pinarello’s TICR (Total Internal Cable Routing) system, previously solely available on the top of the range Dogma F12. Concealing the bike’s brake and gear cabling within the frame, bar and stem has resulted in an 85% reduction in cable and wire aerodynamic drag. The enlargement of the headtube to accommodate the TICR system has also enabled the development team to optimize the frame’s frontal area, further enhancing clean airflow.
Although its aimed for racing, the Prince does offer a slightly more relaxed geometry than its Grand Tour winning sibling, while still maintaining its “fast, responsive and stable feel.”
Prince FX Disk TiCR
– Fulcrum Racing 500, Ultegra Di2 11spd – Fulcrum Racing 500 wheelset, Ultegra 11spd – Colours: Orange
Prince Disk TiCR
– Fulcrum Racing 500 wheelset, Ultegra Di2 11spd – Fulcrum Racing 500 wheelset, Ultegra 11s
– Ultegra Di2 costs £4,700 with the same build on the FX frameset costing £5,700.
The Paris
Using the frame design of the Gan K as a starting point, Pinarello set out to create a bike that “embodies the brand’s racing DNA while still offering its owner a stable and supremely comfortable ride”.
The result is a frame that features longer chainstays for enhanced stability, but still incorporates the Onda design elements seen in the Dogma F12, improving stiffness. Likewise, the frame’s large headtube, downtube and seat stays ensure an efficient transfer of power, counterbalanced by its 30mm tire clearance.
The frame, made from more affordable T600 carbon fiber in a UD finish to save weight, also features several of the drag-reducing technologies seen on Pinarello’s more race-oriented models.
Like the Prince, the Paris makes use of Pinarello’s aerodynamic ‘ForkFlaps’, providing a seamless fit where the fork meets the headtube and downtube to promote stable airflow over the bike’s frontal area.
– Fulcrum Racing 600 wheelset, 105 11spd
– £3,000
Pinarello
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