So after saying that there is no point differentiating between the Venge and Tarmac; Specialized have now come out with the 6kg Aethos. However, they're differentiating it by saying this one is just for fun, not for racing. Interesting approach, I guess people who are not racing won't care that much about losing seconds per km on a non aero bike.
First road bike I've found interesting for quite some time... I richer version of me would have hit that order button on day one.
£10k bike bargain,I'll take ten!
First road bike I’ve found interesting for quite some time… I richer version of me would have hit that order button on day one.
Definitely.
I'd probably eventually upgrade to a bar with a bit more integration in it but yeah, it looks smart.
The whole aero approach to everything has really got into people's heads though, it's annoying. By the time an average rider has loaded their bike up with saddlebag, top-tube feed bag, lights, water bottle and then sat their slightly portly body upon it, wearing a flappy jacket and some entry level slightly bendy road shoes, any aero gains are cancelled out.
Only available as an SWORKS just now so mega money. I reckon it would be great for racing. Specialized say it’s not for racing as they can get the Tarmac to 6.8kg. UCI weight limits don’t get checked in domestic racing so would make sense for a hilly domestic race. The aero benefit of the Tarmac would only come into play if you were on a solo breakaway or a descent anyway. Sitting in a bunch it’s not helping much.
The interesting thing for me is we are now getting lightweight road disc bike offerings. They will all start to get lighter now over the next year or so. Good to get the best of both worlds lightweight and great braking.
Yeh for a bike that you aren't supposed to race on that it a pretty hefty price tag for a Sunday morning coffee ride. Looks really nice though - I got the email this morning and my interest was piqued - then I saw the price tag!
It doesn't quite make sense unless it is for very well off people to willy wave!
Yeh for a bike that you aren’t supposed to race on that it a pretty hefty price tag for a Sunday morning coffee ride.
Makes sense, you’ll see far more frames getting snapped at races than the coffee ride
These will turn up at races anyway - coz some folk are dicks
£10k bike bargain,I’ll take ten!
The top one is £13k, friend has one on demo for The Times...
and to be fair, £10k is pretty standard for top of the range model of any decent road bike now...
Yeh for a bike that you aren’t supposed to race on that it a pretty hefty price tag for a Sunday morning coffee ride.
Most top end bikes are around that price now, £10k is a fairly "normal" price point, certainly for road bikes and a lot of MTBs aren't that far off it either.
Given a choice between another generic aero road bike or "the lightest production road bike in the world", it's a smart move by Specialized.
For most real-world people, aero is negligible, if it does make a difference they can't "feel" it. But light weight can be felt and something that's going to be at least 1kg lighter than anything else on the road is very noticeable.
It's a bonkers price tag but weenies will be weenies and absolutes sell.
It's a lovely-looking bike, but I always did like round tubes and balanced proportions vs excessive shaping or styling.
I wonder if some of the positive ride reports come from it (perhaps/probably) being less stiff than most race bikes. A bit of that steel/ti flex in a far lighter package would have appeal.
I like it. But it's a bonkers price.
It's also a barely disguised two fingers towards the UCI.
Stunning bikes.
A mate noticed the difference betwee the 10 and 13k is the integrated bar/stem and ceramic speed jockey wheels. For only 3k, bargain!!
I think it looks great, fingers crossed a lower price point model comes out... Would love to have a go on one.
I think it looks great, fingers crossed a lower price point model comes out… Would love to have a go on one.
Yeah but then it won't be under the UCI weight limit, it'll just be another generic carbon bike. By the time you've put lower price components and an Ultegra / 105 groupset on it, what's the point?
You might get quite a lot of people buying the frame only and then building from that with more reasonably priced parts perhaps with an idea of upgrading to lighter ones later but there's not much point in selling a bike at £6000 that weighs 7kg and has a bunch of Ultegra and some decent-but-not-special Mavic wheels.
Not really interested in the specifics of the bike, but I do like the notion of marketing (and perhaps designing?) bikes that are fun to ride rather than 'fast'.
Going fast on a bike *is* really fun but it's not the only good thing about bike riding.
Someone likes it...all the 'founder's editions' are out of stock on teh spec website!
$15,000
Pocket change..
DrP
it’ll just be another generic carbon bike
> looks again <
What's "generic" about it?
For only 3k, bargain!!
You're paying 3k to get the version no one else you ride with will have. Makes no sense to you and me... but it's a no brainer purchase for those with huge disposable incomes. Like that extra 3 grand they pay to get a private villa for their holiday, or to travel kept apart from the rest of us in baggage class. Or paying for a "special" number plate...
I guess people who are not racing won’t care that much about losing seconds per km on a non aero bike.
This. There was a thread here a while ago about 6.8kg bikes, I kept arguing in favour of lightweight vs. aero because frankly, a few extra seconds speed is meaningless to me, but a bike which *feels* faster is more important, I can certainly feel the difference between my 8kg 'good' bike and my 9.5kg winter plodder. Even if the good bike isn't really any faster it's much more fun to ride.
Ergo, if you're not racing, buy the super lightweight bike you wouldn't be allowed to race anyway 🙂
Now if they'll only bring out one with rim brakes, lighter still! Who's going to take a bike like this out in the rain anyway...
I'll start saving.
I don't 'get' Specialized's product positioning with this one..
They bill it as a bike "created not to be first over a finish line but instead focusing on creating a purer riding experience" and "designed for the rider, not the racer".
Yet it has the same geometry as a Tarmac SL7 - their top of the line World Tour race bike, they're pushing the weight weenine lightweight angle, and it costs over £10,000 (!)
How is that delivering a 'purer riding experience aimed at the rider not the racer'???
It's easier to notice a bike is lighter than notice it's 3% more aerodynamic, think that's what they mean.
Awesome looking bike, but if I was handing over £10 to £13k I would insist on a fully integrated cable solution
Interested in the focus on integration from some. Why is integration so important whereby you can’t easily change any of the components? I’m not arguing against it, I’m just interest if people have thought about it and have a conclusion.
The whole aero approach to everything has really got into people’s heads though, it’s annoying. By the time an average rider has loaded their bike up with saddlebag, top-tube feed bag, lights, water bottle and then sat their slightly portly body upon it, wearing a flappy jacket and some entry level slightly bendy road shoes, any aero gains are cancelled out.
Well yes, but if you are going to stick a saddle bag, top tube bag and lights on an aero bike, then wear non aero clothes, that's hardly the manufacturer's fault is it.
Used as it's meant to, an aero bike is faster for even the average rider. The more important question is whether the average rider needs to be any faster. The answer to that imo is probably not.
Nice elegant looking bike - UCI complete bike weight rule is a nonsense, assuming it's about safety?This is UCI certified but would have to made up to the weight limit with components to race which contribute nothing to structural integrity. Having said that I'm not sure how much I'd trust my 95kg on a ~500g odd frame down a broken tarmac UK descent.
For most real-world people, aero is negligible, if it does make a difference they can’t “feel” it. But light weight can be felt and something that’s going to be at least 1kg lighter than anything else on the road is very noticeable.
That is the wrong way around. Aero makes a measurable difference, a bike being 1kg lighter makes a negligible difference. Yes you can feel the 1kg lighter more than the 3% more aero but the more aero bike is the quickest one.
Saying that, I would pick the lighter bike because of the fact I can feel it as I am not very fast and definitely not going to be racing.
Presumably its light enough to fit a dropper post and still hit the 6.8kg minimum weight, therefore we see pros using them to get more aero on big mountain descents?
It doesn’t quite make sense unless it is for very well off people to willy wave!
Like almost every large car on the road? Like people wearing branded clothing? Wear a big watch when there is absolutely no need? It's not uncommon to willy-wave, and it's not uncommon for companies to exploit it. Even buying into the brand itself - Specialized - is a form of willy-waving because you can get equal or better bikes from many other companies for the same price, but they don't have the required badge on the head tube.
The whole aero approach to everything has really got into people’s heads though, it’s annoying. By the time an average rider has loaded their bike up with saddlebag, top-tube feed bag, lights, water bottle and then sat their slightly portly body upon it, wearing a flappy jacket and some entry level slightly bendy road shoes, any aero gains are cancelled out.
Yeah but most people who buy a fast aero bike won't do that. Fast bikes are fast, speed is fun. So if you get personal satisfaction for blasting round a route as fast as possible, then go for it. If you don't, then don't. Sure there'll be numpties who want to buy the shiniest thing regardless of how useless they are at biking or how much crap they want to put on it - but ignore them, they just subsidise the rest of us 🙂
Interested in the focus on integration from some. Why is integration so important whereby you can’t easily change any of the components?
Yep, I'll take the 0.5W aero disadvantage for the sake of standard bar and stem and functional cable routes (granted not an issue with electronic shifting and hydraulic brakes...)
According to the Specialized website the rims were developed in a ‘win tunnel’, so that’s got to be worth a few quid.
Even buying into the brand itself – Specialized – is a form of willy-waving because you can get equal or better bikes from many other companies for the same price
Does anyone think that? Perhaps I'm out of the loop but whilst I can see how that could be a factor for E.g. Colnago / Bianchi / Cervelo et al I don't think Spesh have the same cachet do they??
I'm sure Spesh make decent bikes but they're hardly boutique.
I’m sure Spesh make decent bikes but they’re hardly boutique.
No but they're reliable, they've got good backup, huge amounts of R&D funding at their disposal and they're probably still going to be around in 10 years time - potentially unlike some boutique individual frame builder working out of a shed in Seattle.
I’m sure Spesh make decent bikes but they’re hardly boutique.
I'm in no way an expert on such things, but my understanding was that 'S-Works' was for people who want to pay the extra money for perceived status. It's maybe a different kind of status to say, the italian brands that trade on history, passion etc but folk will certainly want to buy into what Specialized are offering.
So it's an extra light, comfy, non-competitive rider (sportive/club/bimbler?) focussed bike.
OK, I can get along with that as an idea, but why doesn't that equate to including some Aeroness for £10k+? I mean I'd quite like to save those Aero watts when bimbling just so I can bimble slightly further and faster for the same amount of pies effort...
I mean at what price point can/will SBC flog you a bike with ALL the magic features? regardless of the punters competitive aspirations (or lack thereof)...
Not that it really matters for the price of one Aethos you could buy all my bikes, my kids and wife's bikes and my car and have plenty of change. But it is good to know just how far behind the acquisitive curve I am...
I’m sure Spesh make decent bikes but they’re hardly boutique.
And the models I have seen so far are so subtly branded it would be difficult to see what make of bike it was anyway.
I can get along with that as an idea, but why doesn’t that equate to including some Aeroness for £10k+?
Building in aero means adding weight and, quite often, the complexities of integration. Front end, hiding hoses and Di2 wires is very problematic for later adjustment of the bars / stem, it's a pain for packing the bike up for travelling and upgrades are often proprietary, it ties you into forever using one type of bar from that one brand. Makes it difficult selling the bike on as well.
For a pro, this stuff doesn't matter, they have teams of mechanics to deal with all that crap.
For an amateur, maybe flying abroad a couple of times a year, it's a total pain. Makes getting spares very difficult, packing/rebuilding the bike is made more difficult.
Something like this, with a USP of being ultralight while also using normal components (bar and stem are standard) is easy all round.
...and it looks better 😉
The whole aero approach to everything has really got into people’s heads though, it’s annoying. By the time an average rider has loaded their bike up with saddlebag, top-tube feed bag, lights, water bottle and then sat their slightly portly body upon it, wearing a flappy jacket and some entry level slightly bendy road shoes, any aero gains are cancelled out.
You obviously carry a lot. I normally take phone, a spare tube and tyre levers, one cereal bar and my house keys all in jersey pockets. I don't bother with a water bottle if its under 60k.
Even buying into the brand itself – Specialized – is a form of willy-waving because you can get equal or better bikes from many other companies for the same price
You can get different bikes, but I very much doubt better.....
You obviously carry a lot. I normally take phone, a spare tube and tyre levers, one cereal bar and my house keys all in jersey pockets. I don’t bother with a water bottle if its under 60k.
I watched riders on the CarTen 100 pass me a year or two ago. They had BIG saddle packs, top tube packs, back packs, bulging pockets, etc. In those 100 miles between Cardiff and Tenby there are plenty of places to stop for food or water but this bunch needed extra stuff with them. And lots of them were on very expensive, very light or aero bikes. I'm not judging*.
*I am really! 😀
If I won the lottery I'd be down my local concept store the next day. It looks great.
It doesn’t quite make sense unless it is for very well off people to willy wave!
Salt and vinegar on that sir ?
Not that it really matters for the price of one Aethos you could buy all my bikes, my kids and wife’s bikes and my car and have plenty of change. But it is good to know just how far behind the acquisitive curve I am…
🤣🤣
I find the good thing about this price range of bikes is it makes it easier to justify to the wife why my £6k bike is very reasonably priced.
Mrs W knows I’m looking at a new road bike for the spring, I’ll send her the link to this and the Madone, showing how bikes have shots up in price.....but for only £6k I could get this bargain of a bike!
AnywAy back on topic, I’d love one but it’s over budget. I had a rim braked Emonda SLR back when they first came out, light wheels and full dura ace it was 6.2kgs, felt great to ride. Made no material speed difference on climbs, but just something very nice about a good light bike.
I’m not sure how much I’d trust my 95kg on a ~500g odd frame down a broken tarmac UK descent.
Their main market is the most litigious country in the world. I think they will have thought about this.
If I had tonnes of cash I’d buy one. I’d also be interested in a less extravagant Ultegra Di2 model, but then it’d be competing with a Cervelo Caledonia 5.
I’m not sure how much I’d trust my 95kg on a ~500g odd frame down a broken tarmac UK descent.
It is also rated for 120kg so you can have a few more pies yet.
I’m sure I’ll see plenty of these down here in Surrey. In a recent group of six ride, in another group of six, five were riding S-works road bikes. Nice but really I don’t see the advantage (slightly over weight “fun” rider here) over a bike half the price except to be riding the “best” of a brand.
Building in aero means adding weight and, quite often, the complexities of integration. Front end, hiding hoses and Di2 wires is very problematic for later adjustment of the bars / stem, it’s a pain for packing the bike up for travelling and upgrades are often proprietary, it ties you into forever using one type of bar from that one brand. Makes it difficult selling the bike on as well.
For a pro, this stuff doesn’t matter, they have teams of mechanics to deal with all that crap.
For an amateur, maybe flying abroad a couple of times a year, it’s a total pain. Makes getting spares very difficult, packing/rebuilding the bike is made more difficult.
Something like this, with a USP of being ultralight while also using normal components (bar and stem are standard) is easy all round.
Except, and maybe I'm stereotyping here, do the sort of highrollers in this price bracket not just pay a shop mechanic to service their bikes, ease of maintenance doesn't really matter, as for flying abroad, I'm sure they can remove wheels and cram an aerobike into their fancy bike box without too much effort, nobody on a ten grand whip should be dealing with Bowden cables anymore should they?
This video sort of explained it to me, "the best bike from 2012, manufactured in 2020".
But I really don't believe it's really aimed at people who spanner their own bikes, especially as the £13k version comes with more fancy (complex) integrated bars...
Out with one this morning, didn't actually feel that much lighter than my Orca...
Headtube badge is pretty cool, you can see it glinting in the sun from several hundred metres away.
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[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50444822417_5c658d4c3d.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50444822417_5c658d4c3d.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2jRCUex ]Specialized Aethos[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50444642216_a92809e97f.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50444642216_a92809e97f.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2jRBYEC ]Specialized Aethos[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
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[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50444642346_374496cc30.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50444642346_374496cc30.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2jRBYGS ]Luke on his Specialized Aethos[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
Big question Ben, if it was your money would you buy it? Money no object......looks amazing. It does look like 2012 called and asked for its bike back, but I still like it.
I’d agree that most folks who buy this bike won’t be doing their own spannering. When it needs to go to the lbs for a repair I’d imagine the winter dogma would be used! (Reminder to buy a lucky dip for tonight’s lottery!!)
Gutted about the price to be honest, its just at the price point where Mrs W would be chopping my bits of if I bought it. Agreed budget is £6.5, I’d probably get to £8k at a push with enough wining and dining. Over 10k and its John bobbit time.
if it was your money would you buy it?
I'd probably get a top end Tarmac myself, I like going fast and lovely though it is, probably not very aero. Be good for hilly places eg if I lived in the Lakes / Dales....
You can read Lukes review of it: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bike-review-specialized-s-works-aethos-what-s-it-like-to-ride-a-13-000-pair-of-wheels-wdnhjn0vw
The eagle eyed will spot that he reviewed the £13k version but was actually riding the £10.75k (paupers) edition.
One of the bikes I’m tempted by is the new Tarmac, but only the Pro with AXS. S Works is again out of budget.
Previous bike was an Aeroad, also tempted by another as I’m similar to you in the like riding fast.
That head tube length definitely looks like the cake run is being targeted
Also just seen that the rims are officially tubeless compatible and they haven’t been able to stop themselves from using a proprietary brake adapter - so not even bang up to date spec-wise and Spec being Spec with proprietary parts
I'll never spend that much on a road bike but, if I did, I wouldn't care in the slightest how good a race bike it is- it's totally irrelevant to me. Even if I did some races,having a perfect race bike might just raise me up a few places from The Middle to The Middle, at the cost of being worse all the rest of the time. Plain stupid.
Just like with mountain bikes, there's no reason your daily bike shouldn't be race-bike quality, as long as it's not-race-bike usable
Or so says I, anyway.
I think it's less ugly than some of the other road bikes on sale at the moment !
Completely out of my price range but fair play if it makes you happy riding bikes. I'd have a Sarto or something proper custom if I was in the market.
Ease of maintenance is either what the developers like or about appealing outside of the current norms I'd say.
It's different and will appeal to those wanting the next new/best thing IMO
Poor man's versions just announced...
https://road.cc/content/tech-news/specialized-aethos-pro-and-expert-announced-278159
Affordable options seem perfect to me, with that weight and ride quality they could better many manufacturers top tier frames...would happily replace an older Sworks Tarmac with pro/expert level and be confident it'd be an upgrade- and threaded BB still being a major selling point, yay.
You mean the making a wad of money ethos?
Talking to someone from work the other day - he pointed out that the real reason for buying these is to get the salary sacrifice and drop your tax band.
So when people say "but a Chinese open mould equivalent would be a quarter the price and just as good" they are missing the point completely.
Affordable options
I think the more accurate description would be "less extortionate", meh, potato/potAto and all that...
and threaded BB still being a major selling point, yay.
Well I suppose it's a positive, I mean almost a decade to come back to the original solution that everyone else already knew worked better? Do they really deserve congratulations for that?
Kinda makes you wonder, if the same engineering department that's just turned out a sub 600g frame, took several years to work out that BSA BBs were better than PF all along... How much do you really trust their "leaving out the wasted carbon" claims?
Feel a bit gutted for my friend with the Aethos on demo for three weeks, his son got CV-19, so they've all had to isolate at home for the last two weeks and he hasn't ridden it since our last outing....
Can you get the Aethos Pro as a frameset only?
Not in the UK.
