The storied Italian bike manufacturer may be a bit behind in the e-Bike segment, but their very first e-bike, or e-Road bike as they like to say, is one gorgeous machine, powered or not.
It looks a whole lot like a F10-disk but with an even bigger downtube. It’s far more complicated under the hood, though.
Starting with the frame, the T-700 carbon fiber is laid up to share similar geometry with the F10 with the exception of a slightly longer headtube and wheelbase, as are the trademark asymmetric frame design, hidden seatpost clamp, and truncated flatback frame profile. The Nytro will accommodate tires up to 28C and is compatible with flat mount disc brakes only with 12×100 and 12×142 thru-axles to boost stiffness and security.
Pinarello has also decided to keep the Italian-thread bottom bracket in place. The frame is said to tip the scales at 9 kilograms, or 19.8 lbs without battery and 13 kilograms (28lbs) with battery installed.
As for the drivetrain, the Nytro utilizes the Fazua Evation system which is capable of 400 watts of max power output to assist up to 25 km/h (15.5mph) from a 252 watt-hour battery controlled from a handle-bar mounted remote control. Five drive modes will be available – from no support to full 400 watts of assist, as well as a dedicated mode to assist when walking with the bike. The charge time for the battery is approximately 3-4 hours.
Also worth noting is that the Nytro can be used as a regular road bike without the battery installed.
Five sizes from 46.5cm to 56.8cm will be available beginning in Europe with a starting price of $7,050.
Beer handup gone wrong. Photo: Stephen Lam/Element.ly
Still need the skills to know how to ride an eBike, and you can get a solid workout riding one, just like hardcore commuting. Photo: Stephen Lam/Element.ly
In case you're wondering. Photo: Stephen Lam/Element.ly
Moto-inspired handguards for #32. Photo: Stephen Lam/Element.ly
Carl Decker of the Giant Factory Off-Road Racing Team racing opted to do the eMTB race on a regular bike. No big deal. Photo: Stephen Lam/Element.ly
'merica. Photo: Stephen Lam/Element.ly
Unfortunately the Yeti had a flat tire. Photo: Stephen Lam/Element.ly
Group discussion about the preliminary results. Photo: Stephen Lam/Element.ly
Christoph Sauser getting high-fives at the finish after winning the inaugural Sea Otter Classic eMTB race. Photo: Stephen Lam/Element.ly
Waiting for the award ceremony. Photo: Stephen Lam/Element.ly
Turns out the best photo spot at Sea Otter was the parking lot. Photo: Stephen Lam/Element.ly
“Hey the gas station is right over there!” screams one heckler at the inaugural Sea Otter Classic eMTB bike race.
As polarizing as the opinions of eBikes are here in the States, I honestly thought the eMTB race was highly entertaining … What’s not to love when people are racing their brains out for an hour trying to put in as many laps as they could?
Plus, it dawned on me that eBike racing is very much like cyclocross of years past: Some thought Cross was silly, a European thing. Races weren’t sanctioned and super hip.
No one laughs at cyclocross now. Heck, there’s even a Cross race at Sea Otter, months after the regular cross season had ended. It’s that popular.
But let’s go back to the scene of the eMTB race. On the serious end of business, Christoph Sauser won the race. Yes, the former world cross country champ Sauser from Switzerland riding a brand new Specialized Turbo Levo FSR. Gorgeous looking bike.
A new Specialized Turbo Levo FSR on course. Photo: Stephen Lam/Element.ly
The best part of the race, though, were the characters involved: The guy riding an e-downhill bike in what is essentially a cross-country criterium; another rider with motocross-inspired hand guards; racers in full spandex/racers in jeans and t-shirts; Yuri Hauswald racing the industry challenge in a furry Yeti suit; and a shoutout to Carl Decker (Giant Factory Off-Road Racing Team) who was competing on a regular bike.
And it was a blast for the over 100 registered racers and the handful of spectators (some offering beer handups to the riders). Sure, there were a bunch of mechanicals ranging from a busted chain, flats, and someone complaining about not being able to turn on his bike’s turbo assist mode. But the vibe was just like cyclocross in the early days: minimal rules and a whole lot of fun.
That, my friend, is a whole new racing category in its infancy. Similar to enduro, whether or not you agree with the concept of eBikes (or eBike racing), it’s a matter of time that your local race will have a dedicated eBike category.
Which brings the question of why all the hate and pushback? If we can accept full suspension, new axle standards every other month and embrace enduro/gravel so quickly then why can’t we accept eBike into the family?
eBike is not going to take over the world. And just like commuter bikes, they’re not for everyone. Road/trail access will get sorted out and someone will always be unhappy, but such is life.
