Behind the Scenes at Cycle 360
There’s nothing we enjoy more than turning a customer’s brief into a finished bike that looks, rides, and feels spot on. This time, Brad was on build duties for a stunning custom road setup centred around the Pinarello F9 – a bike that punches well above its price point when built smartly.
The goal was simple: deliver a high-performance road bike to a clear budget, without cutting corners where it really matters. The result? A clean, fast, and thoroughly modern build that came in under £5.5k all in.
The frameset: race DNA without the Dogma price tag
The Pinarello F9 sits just one step below the iconic Pinarello Dogma F, sharing much of the same design philosophy and aerodynamic shaping. Built from T900 UD carbon, the frame offers an ideal balance of stiffness, low weight, and long-distance comfort – perfect for riders who want race-ready performance without going full superbike on the budget.
Internal cable routing, classic Pinarello handling, and that unmistakable Italian silhouette make the F9 a seriously tempting frameset for custom builds.
Groupset: Shimano Ultegra Di2
To keep shifting crisp, reliable, and race-sharp, we paired the frameset with Shimano Ultegra Di2. Electronic shifting at this level delivers near-flagship performance with minimal maintenance and flawless consistency, whether you’re sprinting, climbing, or ticking off winter miles.
Ultegra Di2 remains one of the best value groupsets on the market, and it fits this build perfectly.
Wheels: Newmen Streem A.54 Vonoa
Rolling duties are handled by the Newmen Streem A.54 Vonoa wheels. With a deep 54 mm profile, these wheels bring serious aero gains while staying light and responsive enough for real-world riding. They complement the F9’s aero focus beautifully and help give the bike its fast, purposeful stance.
The final result
The finished bike is a great example of how thoughtful component choices can unlock top-tier performance without blowing the budget. Clean lines, proven tech, and a setup tailored exactly to the rider – that’s what custom builds are all about.
Final build items:
- Pinarello F9 frameset (T900 UD carbon)
- Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic groupset
- Newmen Streem A.54/49 Vonoa wheelset
- Profile Logo bar-tape
- MOST Lynx Ultrafast saddle
- Vibe Aero Alloy handlebars
- Tiger Alloy Aero Ticr stem
- Turbo Pro T5 tyres
Total build cost: under £5,500
