The ROKH from Pinarello is a design that carries forward the Italian company's need to supply Team Sky with bikes for the cobbles and rough surfaces of the Spring Classics. The evolution of that concept also greatly informed the Dogma K and was launched as the KOBH. Think rocks (ROKH) and cobbles (KOBH). The design was built for powerful riders who needed not only to withstand the cobbles, but to attack them. The frame needed to transfer the pedaling power as efficiently as possible and absorb and mitigate the impact of the road surfaces to the rider. The KOBH was successful under Team Sky, and Pinarello brought out the ROKH as a more cost effective complement that more riders could afford and enjoy for daily use. Built as a complete bike here with Ultegra 6800 components, a Fulcrum Racing 5 wheelset and Pinarello MOst kit items, the 2016 ROKH Ultegra Bicycle is a fantastic opportunity to purchase advanced Pinarello design and craftsmanship, with the flawless shifting and braking of Shimano's 11-speed 6800 groupset.

For Pinarallo the heart of the ROKH's design comes from two advances the company has evolved over the years for different frames and applications. The first is the ONDA fork and rear stay concept. These curved and sculpted components serve to damp vibration via carbon fiber orientation and the distinctive shape. The very distinct ONDA fork design rides with incredible smoothness, yet never feels soft or struggles with deflection in corners or on rough roads. It provides superior ride quality and performance while keeping the rider fresh, and still connected to the road. With the tapered 1⅛ to 1½ steerer and subsequent frame design, the ONDA fork delivers the exceptional handling and precision Pinarello riders demand. On the rear stays, a more simple inward bow curve is used, and though it doesn't act like a leaf spring, it functions as one in that road noise and impacts from the road are dissipated, but it never feels like a spring. With approximately 2/3 of the rider's weight on the rear wheel, the ONDA stay looks and functions differently than the fork, but still uses the same concepts of a longer path the the seat junction and offers excellent overall lateral stiffness to counter pedaling forces through the rear triangle.

Which leads us to the second Pinarello focus: asymmetric design. Though countless frames have been built to counter the right-left asymmetry of a single-sided drivetrain, until Pinarello carried that concept to the complete frame and fork development process, it was generally limited to the chainstays and bottom bracket zones. By applying the load requirements throughout the design, Pinarello was able to produce a stronger frame that feels as stiff leaning to the non-drive side as it does to the drive side. This started with the fork, into the headtube, and fully back to the rear dropout. Some of this is visible to the eye, and some takes place within the tubes shapes and carbon structures, as well as the complete layup. For the ROKH, the engineers employed the KOBH design, keeping the cost's down by using lower grade, but still high quality Torayca® 30HM12K material that ensures high strength, low weight, and offers the builders to layup the fibers in ideal alignments and thicknesses to meet the goals of the asymmetric design. As part of this ROKH design the Think 2 cable stop and guide system was fully integrated for internal routing that works equally well with electronic or mechanical shifting systems.

The Ultegra 6800 groupset from Shimano is known for it's precise performance, durability and overall value. Here Pinarello has spec'ed a full group, except for the chain, which is a 105 level. Ultegra brakes are second only to Dura-Ace among all brands for performance, power, and feel, and the 6800 STI levers have excellent ergonomics. The Fulcrum Racing 5 wheelset is a perfect match for the frame, with its well known lateral stiffness and rapid response to input, with excellent build and mechanical durabilty. A pair of Vittoria Zaffiro Pro's in the 25mm width get you started with rubber, and deliver a sweet ride quality and good all-around grip.

Pinarello's MOst equipment is lightweight and reliable with proven design. The 31.8mm Jaguar XA compact alloy bar has an 80mm reach and 128mm drop, the Tiger Alu stem is an 82° model, and the 31.6mm C-Alu seatpost offers setback to carry the median width (about 140mm) Panther saddle. All balance function and lightweight, and while many will choose to upgrade over time, others will be perfectly happy with the MOst designs.

As with all Pinarello's this ROKH Ultegra Bike has a beautiful finish that accentuates the frameset and tube design. With it's distinctive look and excellent ride quality, the ROKH is a great bike for high mileage riders, those who ride on rougher roads, and sportive users who always have a few gran fondos on their calendar. One note on geometry. Though some Pinarello's share geometry charts, always check to make sure. The ROKH has a slightly taller head tube and most sizes features the balanced 73° seat and head tubes angles that offer a stable ride, but can certainly whip through corners with your guidance. It takes little sensitivity to appreciate the asymmetric design once you start testing the ROKH on sprints, corners and descents that you already know well. Then you truly begin to feel the differences and find that carving in either direction now feels more controlled, with similar response regardless of the drivetrain. Accelerations are smooth and powerful, so much so it will bring a smile to your face. When the roads get rough you will maintain control, acceleration and speed in ways you will find surprising. That experience is what Pinarello is all about, and the ROKH has a special identity that you will be drawn to, ride after ride.