Pinarello History
A brand that is today associated with podium finishes, Pinarello started with one man, himself a cyclist.
Giovanni Pinarello (called Nani by his friends) started racing bikes in the post World War Two golden era of cycling, alongside greats of the sport such as Coppi and Bartali. Winning over 60 races in his career, his first major win took place in Treviso, Italy ‘la Popolarissima at the age of 20. It was a race that garnered attention from pro level riders and teams alike, his ticket to compete on the professional circuit.
After the 1951 Giro D’Italia, where he finished with the Maglia Nera (Black Jersey), awarded to the last place finisher, Nani was offered a record severance by his team of £100,000 to step aside and make way for new talent. Every cloud has a silver lining though, this money would go on to be used to open his own bicycle workshop that would one day carry riders into the Pink Jersey.
Nani started Pinarello in 1953 with the aim of building quality, hand-made Italian bicycles close to home in Treviso. In 1975, the Giro d’Italia was won by Fausto Bertoglio using a Pinarello bike, turning the wheel that would lead Pinarello into the brand it is today, a brand ridden by the likes of Chris Froome in all of his Yellow Jersey victories.
In 2016, Pinarello was acquired by LVMH. It’s one of the more unexpected cycling acquisitions of recent time with Pinarello joining fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton and Dior, under the Conglomerate's umbrella.
Innovation
The Italian brand has always sought to push the boundaries of what a road bike is capable of, seeking out new design and construction techniques and working with the latest materials and technologies.
Perhaps the greatest advancement made by Pinarello was its development of the asymmetrical road bike frame. The ‘Dogma’ was the first bike to feature a frame constructed specifically to provide greater rigidity when put under the uneven pressures of pedalling. The use of asymmetrical design is commonplace today, but it was arguably the Dogma that progressed bicycle design beyond symmetry.
Pinarello Cycling Products
Along with providing an all-conquering range of top end road bikes, Pinarello creates a number of other bicycles that cater to a range of ride styles, whether you are hitting the trails on a mountain bike, riding to work, or racing the clock in a time trial or dominating the bike leg of your triathlon there’s sure to be a bike in the range to suit your style.
In addition to bikes, Pinarello also has an in-house componentry brand Most, which provides the finishing components to the many of the brand’s bikes. The Italian brand also offers a stylish range of cycling clothing and caps, to help you look the business on your new ride.
