- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
news
Chris Froome Pinarello © London Cycle ExchangeTimes newspaper reader wins Chris Froome's 2012 TdF Pinarello, promptly puts it up for sale
He was runner up to Bradley Wiggins in the 2012 Tour de France, and now his bike is runner up on the second hand bike market after being an unwanted prize in a competition.
Chris Froome’s 2012 Pinarello Dogma 2 was won in a competition on The Times’ website, but is now listed on the London Cycle Exchange for offers in excess of £8,000.
The bike is equipped with Shimano Dura Ace Di2, Osymetric chain ring and Shimano Dura Ace C35 Prototype wheels, among other things – and comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by Dave Brailsford.
Bradley Wiggins’ similar model was recently sold on the same website when Chris Green, who won it in a Sky competition, realised financial realities mean he had to sell the Italian dream machine.
According to BBC Sport, Green “absent-mindedly ticked a couple of boxes on a letter about his internet service from Sky.”
To his surprise, two months late a box arrived containing a Pinarello Dogma 2, a signed Team Sky jersey, and a certificate of authenticity signed by team principal, Sir Dave Brailsford.
Green, aged 37, had recently bought himself a fairly decent bike, but decided to jump on the Pinarello for a quick blast on the roads near his home in Surrey.
"It was like going from an Escort to a Ferrari," he said. "It felt so light that when I got out of the saddle it was like there was nothing beneath me."
On reflection, it was a bit too much bike for him to handle, and his suggestion to his wife that it might look good on the wall was met with the response: "It's very nice, darling, but it's not going in the living room."
“I'd love to keep hold of it,” says Green. “But we're a single-income family with two kids. It's a no-brainer, really.”
London Cycle Exchange takes a commission of between 0 and 20 per cent per bike sold, which includes safety checks and dealing with the logistics of a sale.
When we wrote about the Wiggins bike sale, opinion was polarised, with some commentators saying they would do the same, while other felt a true cycling fan would keep the prize as a piece of history.
Some Fella wrote: “Good luck to the fella. I personally hope he gets more than 8 grand. Anyone who criticises him for selling it needs to have a word with themselves - he sounds like a decent bloke doing the best for his family. And its worth remembering ultimately Rupert Murdoch paid for this bike so no moral dilemma there eh?”
Gkam84 responded saying “This was a fan competition, some "fan" he his, gets the bike and then sells it. Sky already kicked up a fuss about another prize bike they gave away being punted on eBay for £10,400 and now this. It'll make up their mind not to give away prizes like that anymore.”
But Some Fella replied: “He and his family get the cash, some rich person gets a bit of history, Sky get their marketing opportunity. Everyone is a winner.”
Latest Comments
- daccordimark 1 sec ago
I've had one of these since November and agree it's good value for money. For me, the ride is a bit harsh and I can't really detect any comfort...
- chrisonabike 12 min 24 sec ago
Does that Live And Let Die quote apply? "Just reach inside his mouth and pull out all his teeth!"
- mark1a 30 min 42 sec ago
I tried something similar with some timber and a pair of Delta hitches, with (unlike yourself) limited success, and so for people like myself with...
- chrisonabike 9 hours 55 min ago
If you haven't been it's recommended! An epicentre of beer diversity - there's probably nothing they haven't tried in the beer from spices to...
- David9694 10 hours 35 min ago
You and a friend have won first prize, a day out at Diddly Squat Farm.
- matthewn5 10 hours 42 min ago
Does not compute! If you ride a lot you're going to be boiling your chain every week or every fortnight.
- AidanR 10 hours 44 min ago
Let's hope it's another 4 years until she tweets again
- Andrewbanshee 11 hours 11 min ago
Tbf where I live 2 way roads look exactly like the one pictured.
- Rendel Harris 11 hours 10 min ago
Unless your formative cycling years were in the '80s and you grew up copying the hand either side of the stem position of greats like Lemond and...
Add new comment
24 comments
I was saying to some friends today - that if my bike got nicked - i'd struggle to replace; not everyones got the cash to replace 'some bloke' hits that nail exactly!
Sky dont lose either way - if Sky Cycling are soo bothered, do they not realise the financial reality of the country right now compared the cash that theire staff are earning or even the top pro's who're on SERIOUS cash. I done a ride today and it was FREEZING'c - I earn NMW: would a pro ride 3hours for national minimum wage = i don't f@g think so !
Again, amazement i may herald riders who spend 2k + on carbon wheels for their bikes but I can still stay with 'them', and sometimes better them, on my steel bike.
All the best to the bloke who's selling Froomes bike - if i had children it'd all goto them also
I just find it interesting that people actually win these contests... I've entered hundreds, but have never even seen a result of who the contest winner was...
I'd melt it in a microwave and make some 'interesting art installation'...then punt it on ebay for 8k...oh wait a minute some bloke just did that with a PS4....bugger....
I'd sell it too. As Lance used to say, it was only ridden by the First Loser.
Only because they didn't promote anyone to winner when his tours were striped. Tell Óscar Pereiro and Andy Schleck they were first losers. This makes Lance the Zeroth Loser, the Omega Loser, Loser in Chief, a complete dick.
This one again. Can we have a debate about compulsory helmet use too?
He won the bike. If he needs the money. It's his choice to sell it.
End of,as they say.
Just to update and answer my own question, the wheels are prototype in that they were pre-production.
Pro team used as the test bed, etc.
It's a lovely looking bike but for eight grand I'd be expecting Chris Froome to come around every Sunday morning and ride it for me as well
if the Wiggo and Froome bikes are part of cycling history, and I think they are, why can't Sky donate them to a (cycling related?) charity auction and raise some serious money. Surely the team have enough non-TdF winning Pinarellos to donate to any competition they fancy?
I have no issue whatsoever with selling a competition prize, I just wish Sky would have some more respect and not plonk these bikes into any competition the marketing dept comes up with.
I agree. That's cooler than having people, or one person, make money from it. It's almost like a mini-lottery with people using them to make money. I like your perpscetive and your idea because that way the charity makes the money and not a sole individual who gets to pocket it.
In the end a true seeker of memorabilia will still own it, but I like your approach more.
I'd have sold it too. Then I'd have gone out and bought A Colnago C59 with SR.
As usual, the winner was someone who didn't actually want it to keep - flogging it instead for some xmas dosh. how many times have I seen this ....
Does the eight grand price tag also include a scathing Michelle Cound tweet sent to a work colleagues wife of your choice?
Bravo, sir, bravo
If you'd asked me before the weekend whether I'd be interested in buying it - assuming I had £8k to spare, which I don't BTW - I'd have said yes; having experienced the second half of my cold and windy ride on Sunday, I'd have to say no as I could not currently do it justice!
London Cycle Exchange takes a commission of between 0 and 20 per cent per bike sold, which includes safety checks and dealing with the logistics of a sale.
^ just have to comment on this. At least they put the bars properly and air in the tyres (along with spelling them correctly) this time!
On a more serious note.
To the guys at road.cc - what is prototype about the C35?
Were they just for Wiggo / Froome or did the full 2012 squad for the TdF get them?
Here we go again!
Is this going to kick off again? Surely not, but I'll keep an eye on the thread just in case...
i wouldnt sell it, id bloody ride it!!!
I'd keep the signed jersey...
Being a cycling fan isn't about amassing memorabilia. I love the sport and was glued to every minute of Wiggins' victory, however I would sell it in a heartbeat.
£8k could go on some new wheels, some clothing and maybe a trip to see the latter stages of the tour next year (already going to Yorkshire) or maybe Paris Roubaix in April. The rest would go into my business.
I agree with Some Fella
I do, too
However, maybe there are things these people giving away these bikes should do if they want ensure a bike enthusiast gets and keeps the bike, like having them write an essay, or provide a photo with their current ride or have their wife provide an affidavit of aceptance of the prize at the home or have them sign a contract confirming they will keep the prize or that if they give it away that they will give it away for free to a close relative or friend that loves bikes, or make a commitment that if it's sold that a certain % of the sale goes to a particular charity or something
I don't know...
but, regardless, I have no idea whether they really care what happens to the bike. I kind of think they'd prefer it go to someone to whom it means more than a way to make money, but, what the hell, if the winner wants to sell it, what's wrong with that, per se?