Pinarello

ROKH Ultegra Complete Road Bike - 2016

For all the attention heaped on its flagship grand tour models, Pinarello has spent as much — if not more — time trying to solve the issues confronting cyclists who tackle the northern classics. After all, the grand tour recipe is surprisingly simple: light and efficient for attacks in the high mountains. Classics-minded rides like the ROKH Ultegra Complete Road Bike have to deal with short, punchy climbs, twisting roads, and horrific inclement conditions — all on a stage defined by the infamous stones of Northern France and Flanders. This requires an efficient platform that can handle the abuse of Napoleonic-era cobblestone roads, and everything from the full Shimano Ultegra drivetrain to the frame's forgiving-yet-stiffly efficient ride is designed to do just that.

The ROKH frameset is essentially a more affordable version of Pinarello's KOBH frameset, springing from the same molds but with a slightly lower grade of carbon for the main triangle and fork. The 30HM1K carbon used in the ROKH is less expensive and isn’t as stiff as the KOBH’s 60HM1K carbon, so more of it must be used to achieve the same levels of strength, but that’s the only practical difference. The sole penalty riders will observe is that of a slight weight gain over the KOBH, because all of the KOBH’s pedaling characteristics are beautiful preserved in the ROKH. Whether punching up hellingen or grinding across rough terrain, the ROKH's carbon layup is built to hit top marks for stiffness and comfort.

The ROKH's geometry also contributes to its amazing ride. The bowed seatstays are designed to eat more bumps without making any sacrifices to responsiveness, and the longer, more angled fork makes for a sloping geometry with a higher stack height that allows a more comfortable posture and more confident descending. You won't be doubled-up over the handlebars while you're in the saddle unless you want to hit the drops, and anytime you do find yourself in windy or otherwise inclement conditions, the longer wheelbase will give you more stability — a platform that's always ready to launch an attack, regardless of conditions.