Thoughts on a Pinarello Prince?
#51
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I think the only reason for the wavy design is for looks no? Or, is Pina touting a performance advantage to them? (edit: Apparently Pina touts the "asymmetrical frame" as a performance advantage, but I just assumed this was written by the marketing department 
Either way, regarding the aesthetic aspect, the Canyon would be the exact opposite it seems to me.
i.e., it looks like one of a billion other bikes out there. Not that there's anything wrong with that; the Pina is just more pleasing to my eye.
What's the hate on integrated headsets? (it's not your post I'm referring to, but I've seen other people hating on them online as well). Is it the practicality of having to do work on the bike? In my case, I have never taken mine apart and haven't adjusted the position in years. Is there another reason they would be undesirable (aesthetics aside).
In the Canyon, the cables are almost purposefully intrusive. In my Domane, they are tucked into these clips that make it look a lot better.
That all being said, it's more and more likely that I'll be going with a Cervelo (or Canyon) at this point. Again, if practicality/performance is the motivation, there are much much cheaper/better deals on bikes out there. I'm just looking for something other than just that.

Either way, regarding the aesthetic aspect, the Canyon would be the exact opposite it seems to me.
i.e., it looks like one of a billion other bikes out there. Not that there's anything wrong with that; the Pina is just more pleasing to my eye.
What's the hate on integrated headsets? (it's not your post I'm referring to, but I've seen other people hating on them online as well). Is it the practicality of having to do work on the bike? In my case, I have never taken mine apart and haven't adjusted the position in years. Is there another reason they would be undesirable (aesthetics aside).
In the Canyon, the cables are almost purposefully intrusive. In my Domane, they are tucked into these clips that make it look a lot better.
That all being said, it's more and more likely that I'll be going with a Cervelo (or Canyon) at this point. Again, if practicality/performance is the motivation, there are much much cheaper/better deals on bikes out there. I'm just looking for something other than just that.
EDIT: The issue isn't integrated headsets, it's the internal cable routing through the handlebar and stem. The parts tend to be proprietary for that manufacturer, and are a pain in the @$$ to work on...but, damn, that clean look is sharp!
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Last edited by Eric F; 01-31-23 at 01:23 PM.
#52
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IMO...Buy the bike that excites you, regardless of what anyone else's feelings about it are. Buy the bike that screams "RIDE ME!" at you, every time you look at it. The blue bike in the sea of black bikes that I posted above does that for me. It's your money, and your bike. Buy it for your reasons.
Internal cable routing, whether through the frame or the handlebars is a PITA when you have to change cables. Personally, I would rather go back to all externally routed cables, but that's just me. I don't think external cables look "dirty", they look functional.
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What's the hate on integrated headsets? (it's not your post I'm referring to, but I've seen other people hating on them online as well). Is it the practicality of having to do work on the bike? In my case, I have never taken mine apart and haven't adjusted the position in years. Is there another reason they would be undesirable (aesthetics aside).
In the Canyon, the cables are almost purposefully intrusive. In my Domane, they are tucked into these clips that make it look a lot better.
In the Canyon, the cables are almost purposefully intrusive. In my Domane, they are tucked into these clips that make it look a lot better.
As for fully internally routed cables and hoses, I dislike the large head tube, headset, and stem spacer junction the various routing options offer. I don't own one, obviously, but I would strongly dislike having to work on a bike with fully internally routed cables and hoses because it makes maintenance more difficult.
I worked on cables and housing for a bike build last night. I cut new housing and strung everything. It took 15min to measure, cut, install, and tune both brakes and derailleurs.
Obviously that is different from what you are looking at since you want hydraulic and di2. That's cool. Point remains though.
#54
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This largely comes down to aesthetic preferences vs. tolerance for PITA install and maintenance...and it's a mean battle. Personally, I find the clean look of internal everything very attractive, and I would probably make the decision to deal with the PITA to get the appearance., if I was in the market for a current high-end road bike. I completely understand why someone might have a different preference.
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This largely comes down to aesthetic preferences vs. tolerance for PITA install and maintenance...and it's a mean battle. Personally, I find the clean look of internal everything very attractive, and I would probably make the decision to deal with the PITA to get the appearance., if I was in the market for a current high-end road bike. I completely understand why someone might have a different preference.
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Internal routing and integrated cockpit for the win!
It doesn’t cost much to have the shop handle any work required required in the cockpit, which is really only the hoses on a modern bike with electronic shifting. People buying $6k or more expensive bikes aren’t whining about spending $100 for shop work.
It doesn’t cost much to have the shop handle any work required required in the cockpit, which is really only the hoses on a modern bike with electronic shifting. People buying $6k or more expensive bikes aren’t whining about spending $100 for shop work.
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I don't see cables as being unaesthetic. That's like saying headlights on cars look unaesthetic. Granted some cars in the past have had concealed headlights because someone thought lights were unattractive. In a weird kind of way, I kind of miss those shifter housings that used to protrude directly out of the shifter and down the downtube.
The first generation of Shimano 10s was the last one to have the protruding shifter housings. Shifting performance (mechanical) has never been better.
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I don't see cables as being unaesthetic. That's like saying headlights on cars look unaesthetic. Granted some cars in the past have had concealed headlights because someone thought lights were unattractive. In a weird kind of way, I kind of miss those shifter housings that used to protrude directly out of the shifter and down the downtube.
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I'm sorry, I just can't get over the name. It's amazing what little nitpicky things will sour a person's decisions. And what's up with naming a Italian company's model Paris? Parigi might have been a better name, or not.

Last edited by seypat; 01-31-23 at 07:27 PM.
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That all being said, it's more and more likely that I'll be going with a Cervelo (or Canyon) at this point. Again, if practicality/performance is the motivation, there are much much cheaper/better deals on bikes out there. I'm just looking for something other than just that.
If the Pinarello is what makes you want to ride- go that route. If a Cervelo does that for you- cool. Etc etc
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Paris and Prince are legacy model names used by Pinarello for 20+ years. Paris was the model Jan Ullrich rode to his 1997 TdF victory.
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I will agree here starting with 5800/6800/9000, mechanical shifting has never been better. What has been wanting is Shimano shifters penchant for eating shifter cables. Combine frequent cable changes with internally routed cabling is what made me switch to SRAM Force 22 which shifts just as nicely as 6800, but hopefully without having to replace a rear shifter cable every 1500-2000 miles.
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People remember and take note of the things of the time period that started/peaked their interest. Pinarello won their first GT and a Vuelta-Giro double before that. The 2nd with the winner running a triple on one of the most important stages. That's what put them on the map. For you it's Big Mig and Jan. For others it's other things.
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People remember and take note of the things of the time period that started/peaked their interest. Pinarello won their first GT and a Vuelta-Giro double before that. The 2nd with the winner running a triple on one of the most important stages. That's what put them on the map. For you it's Big Mig and Jan. For others it's other things.
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I'm aware of the history of Pinarello. Accurate that the Jan/Mig time period was notable to me. My point was that Paris and Prince aren't new model names for the brand. They're almost old enough for the C&V folks to be interested - LOL. From what I can tell - and what I recall - these model names originated with Pinarello's first foray into aluminum frames...which is not of so much interest to C&V folks.

Those model names might not be any more important/revelant than this particular shoe model.

Last edited by seypat; 02-02-23 at 09:26 AM.
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How would you describe the difference between the Synapse and the Paris? I bought a 2018 Synapse with Ultegra Di2. It was a very nice bike but seemed to lack responsiveness. In 2020 I bought a Super
Six and swapped over the Di2. After 26 years on a Merckx Century and a brief interlude on the Synapse the Super Six is a lot of fun. Handles more responsively. How would you describe the Paris’ handling vs. the Synapse?
Six and swapped over the Di2. After 26 years on a Merckx Century and a brief interlude on the Synapse the Super Six is a lot of fun. Handles more responsively. How would you describe the Paris’ handling vs. the Synapse?
As for the responsiveness, while I was pleased with the handling of the Synapse, the Paris’s overall handling is just that much more responsive making it a more exciting and fun bike to ride.
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I agree with Eric F . Buy the bike the excites you.
Also. I have two friends who ride Pinarellos. Both of them swear they are the best bikes they have ever ridden. Expensive? Yes. But each of them say the price of admission was worth it.
Also. I have two friends who ride Pinarellos. Both of them swear they are the best bikes they have ever ridden. Expensive? Yes. But each of them say the price of admission was worth it.
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