Pinarello unveils new Bolide F TT

Pinarello has unveiled the latest incarnation of its Bolide F TT.

Michał Kwiatkowski (Poland), Magnus Sheffield (USA), reigning European Time Trial Champion Josh Tarling (Great Britain) and former World Time Trial Champions Tobias Foss (Norway) and Filippo Ganna (Italy) each received a carbon fibre version of this bike in a unique colourway which blends Luxter Red Gold and Luxter Blue, to compete on at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games whilst representing their respective nations in the Individual Time Trial this past weekend.

The Bolide F TT utilises many of the same technologies that have been applied to the updated Bolide F HR models being used in endurance events by the Italian track team.

This fully updated design has achieved a claimed 2.28% CdA reduction compared to the previous Bolide F TT by incorporating the following key features:

AirStream technology, developed in collaboration with the University of Adelaide and aerodynamics R&D partner NablaFlow, and inspired by the tubercules found on the flippers of humpback whales, is a unique pattern of AeroNodes which have been integrated onto the seat tube and seat post to reduce the complex vortexes generated by riders’ leg movements in order to improve airflow.

AirFoil sections on the bottom bracket and wheel hubs are longer and slimmer to reduce the frontal area.

These innovations take advantage of the UCI’s decision to remove its 3:1 rule and research found aspect ratios of 6:1, and even 8:1, performed significantly better than that original 3:1 benchmark.

A reinforced chain stay and bottom bracket has allowed tyre clearance to increase from 28mm to 32mm, compared to the previous model, without compromising responsiveness and stiffness.

Recent trends in aero frame design have seen a shift towards wide forks and seat stays to try and reduce the overall drag of bike and rider.

Pinarello’s research in this area – which included more than 2,000 Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tests – found however, that the narrowest-possible forks and seat stays minimised the weight of the frame and yielded the fastest overall results in multiple wind speed and yaw angle situations.

The new Bolide F TT also fork features the same fork flap chip support found on the new Dogma F for additional aerodynamic gains.

Optimised handlebar geometry was achieved as a result of intensive CFD testing to minimise the total drag of rider and bike.

Again, Pinarello collaborated with NablaFlow to conduct countless simulations using their AeroCloud software – which runs on AWS, the preferred cloud solution of the FIA and many F1 teams – to determine the most efficient design.

CFD studies also took into account optimal aero bottle cage and bottle positioning, achieving a simpler, more reliable, and more aerodynamic solution.

The Bolide F TT shares the same geometries and dimensions of the current Bolide F TT and is available in four standard frame sizes which have been checked and approved by the UCI.

Fausto Pinarello, Pinarello president, said: “There is no greater stage than the Olympics to launch a new bike and we are immensely proud of the new Bolide F TT.

“It is a bike that continues to push the boundaries of athletic performance and will ensure our riders have the very best chance of success in Paris.”