Bikes, Frames & Forks

I've owned well over a dozen high-end road bikes over the past 25 years. This is far and away the best riding bike I've owned. I should note that many of my other bikes are/were all-out race bikes (i.e., the bikes that the TdF pros rode), so they compromised comfort for performance. But I've also owned a few endurance bikes that were nowhere near as comfortable as this one.

The Dogma X is aimed at the rider seeking a more comfortable ride without giving up much on the performance front. And I think Pinarello has succeeded admirably. It feels fast and responsive, and my ride times for my regular routes are about the same as my race bikes, but I don't feel nearly as "beat up" at the end of the ride.

The handling is solid, with excellent grip in the corners. It's not quite as nimble as some of my race bikes, but is plenty responsive to avoid obstacles.

Since acquiring this bike last year, I've decided to sell several of my other road bikes. I used to like switching between them to get a bit of a different flavor, but I haven't ridden anything but this bike since getting it. It's that good.

Of the carbon gravel frames which I have owned and put miles on, the 3T Ultra is my favorite. Currently riding with 650b x 57 mm tires, and have plenty of clearance. The flex characteristic feel perfectly dialed. Unlike other carbon frames I've ridden, the 3T Ultra feels in sync with my pedal strokes and does not wear me down as I ride. I cannot overstate how important this is in a frame. 3T seems to understand the materials and construction better than other manufacturers who's bikes I've ridden. Also, the aero design I probably don't benefit much from, however, I have noticed my speed when descending is far faster than it used to be. I think that's where I notice the aero design the most. That and my average speed on familiar routes has increased, and without a big increase in my fitness level. Another thing I appreciate about the 3T Ultra is the reach and stack figures for my size are a better fit than 90% of the frames on the market. Pinarello and a few companies are working with more reasonable reach and stack figures, but would love to see more of the industry follow suit. The 3T Ultra's aesthetics are not really my own, but the look has grown on me, and the color is quite nice. My value rating is based on having purchased the frame while it was on sale.

This remarkable frameset builds into one incredible gravel bike. It's amazingly comfortable...the frame really dampens vibrations from the road/trail...but yet is incredibly stiff. Sound like a paradox? It's not...whatever LOOK did with this bike, it must be magic. Power transfer is instantaneous. The best part about this bike is its handling. It is so easy to ride, it's predicable, it carves through a corner and holds a line like it's on rails, all without you thinking about it. It just does whatever you want it to do...and does it very well...no arguments. If you never felt the biomechanical connection of bike and rider before, this bike will let you experience that feeling. It truly becomes an extension of you.

I upgraded from the Sid Select. Not only did I lose a half a pound in weight but the performance is really noticeable. First, off my Select was only 110 mm of travel. I have the Epic Evo and those 10 mm really seem to make a difference. Haven't smacked pedals yet. For the performance. I really do notice a differnce, seem to have a lot more control on choppy, rocky surfaces that we have here in Northern California. Also feels more plush with things really do get rowdy.