One of the first custom bikes I fell for was Italian rider Fabio Sacchi’s custom-painted Saeco Cannondale CAAD7 back in 2003. It was painted to look like a cheetah and had a custom-painted Cinelli Ram handlebar. I couldn’t get enough of it.

It’s also always fun to see what paint scheme world road race champions go for on their bikes each year, or when a national champion appears on a custom bike painted in their nation’s colours.

A brand with a long and rich history when it comes to custom bikes, is Pinarello. Giovanni Pinarello founded the brand in the fifties and there have been countless special models since then. In the modern era, the iconic red and yellow Alejandro valverde ‘Prince of Spain’ bike in 2008 got a lot of attention and is one example of an iconic custom Pinarello.

Fast forward a few years to 2018, and Michał Kwiatkowski‘s custom red and white Polish national champions Pinarello Dogma looked great, as did various commemorative Grand tour-winning machines during the Team Sky and Ineos Grenadiers era of dominance, where they won five Tours de France in a row. This year, Geraint Thomas was honoured with a custom-painted Pinarello Dogma for his final pro race at the Tour of Britain.

Fausto Pinarello is the chairman of the legendary Italian bike brand, which was founded by his father, and as you might imagine, is a man who knows a thing or two about custom bikes.

Pinarello has provided custom machines to the stars of our sport for years, and I was lucky enough to be shown Fausto’s personal Pinarello collection.

Pinarello’s Surprisingly Swift Custom Bike Design Process

Pinarello is renowned for its beautifully crafted, often uniquely painted bicycles. But how does the Italian brand approach the design of these custom machines? It’s a surprisingly swift process, according to the man himself, Fausto Pinarello.

“From the beginning, until now, I decide,” Pinarello explains. While the company now has a larger staff offering rider suggestions, the final call remains his. The process is driven by rider requests and achievements, with considerations given to friendships and legendary status. A speedy phone call between the rider and the Pinarello team often seals the deal.

The impression is that elaborate brainstorming or mood boards aren’t central to the process. While the technical aspects of design and paint are, of course, meticulous, the core decision-making happens rapidly.

“We decide first, it depends on whether it is indeed a gift or for a winner, or a national champion. It’s a very quick period; we decide in 5-10 minutes,” Pinarello states, highlighting the efficiency with which these special bikes come to life.

(Image: A custom Pinarello Dogma)

Do pro cyclists get to keep their bikes? Fausto pinarello explains

The relationship between a professional cyclist and their bike is a special one.But what happens to those high-tech machines after a season, or a particularly memorable race? Do the riders get to keep them as souvenirs, or do they return to the manufacturer?

Fausto Pinarello, the man behind the iconic Pinarello bikes, sheds some light on this often-wondered question. It turns out, there’s no single answer.

It depends on the rider, but some get to keep their custom bikes. This was the case with Geraint Thomas and the custom-painted Dogma he raced on during this year’s Tour of Britain. Fausto pinarello also pointed out the sheer length of time Thomas has been riding Pinarello bikes – 15 years on the road.

“G’s a legend. I didn’t ask him to give the bike back. I hope he’s happy to keep the bike.”

Thomas may have his final race bike, which featured the Welsh Dragon on the head tube, but the yellow Dogma he rode on the last day of the 2018 Tour de France is in Pinarello’s personal collection back in Italy; the seriously special, or race-winning machines seem to end up coming home, but Pinarello explains it isn’t always so easy.

“Many times I ask the rider, ‘Hey, can you give me the bike as you already finished yoru season?’ He adds with a resigned yet warm tone that riders frequently enough ask if they can keep them.

“They say, ‘Can I keep it?’ Yes. But for the special ones, like some GC [winning] bikes, they need to come back, 100%.”

Essentially, it’s a mix of rider loyalty, bike meaning, and a little bit of negotiation. While a rider might be able to hold onto a bike used throughout a season, those that have achieved something truly special often find their way back to the manufacturer, becoming prized possessions in their own right.

Pinarello: The Bike Brand of Champions

A custom bike is one thing, but style on the bike is another. Countless champions have raced on Pinarello machines. Indurain, Bartoli, Pozzato, Petacchi and Wiggins, all as stylish as they come on a bike, have all ridden Pinarellos in the past.

I asked Fausto who his favorite rider to watch has been, and he explained that the big time triallists