I'm seeing a distinct dichotomy on social media.
Professional publications lauding the SL7 as a Personal Records killer, citing it is fast but also balanced and all seems to be quoting the same stuff.
But general enthusiasts criticising it as a Public Relations killer, citing excessive hyperbole that it does not live up to.
Certainly an interesting direction to merge there Tarmac and Venge into one - makes sense to me but maybe some people liked their Specialized' to be specialised or something.
Also interesting for the 'halo' models I don't understand why anybody would get the AXS one when it weighs 250g more, is less reliable, and is less efficient (slower) in high gears due to wraparound, than the Dura Ace version which is exactly the same price?
The PR is interesting in that, if memory serves, it's still slower than a Venge and heavier than an SL6.
Disc brake only. Sounds like the death of rim brakes. No doubt they will only be on a few niche manufacturers bikes soon.
Disc brake only. Sounds like the death of rim brakes. No doubt they will only be on a few niche manufacturers bikes soon.
You never know, just need somebody to lose their finger an a professional race and the UCI could end up banning disc brakes again. 😛
I read a couple of reviews, out of general interest.
Both said it's faster but less comfy than the previous version, and - as you say - that it makes the Venge redundant.
One review suggested that by moving the Tarmac to a race/aero crossover position, Specialized have left themselves a gap in the race/comfort crossover area - which I'd agree with as that's where I look for road bikes.
New Emonda has been getting mixed reviews too. I’ve got a previous shape one and it is lovely and light too. New one is heavier, but aero. Seems to be the way of things now, selling us heavier bikes for more money.
So the lightweight road model is now as aero as the aero model. They are not as comfy as they were though, even with 30mm tyres, so the new endurance model is a race geometry with really big tyres to give comfort back and aero (but not as aero as the race one). This leaves a gap for a taller endurance bike a little later on. At some point someone will decide these are all too heavy and the tyres are too wide to be properly aero, and we go back to a lightweight bike again. Bonus points if you can use a different BB standard in each.
Disc brake only. Sounds like the death of rim brakes
Specialized have been disc only for a couple of years now after bribing Sagan et al to relinquish their rim brake bikes which Specialized were having to manufacture specially.
To give them credit, at least they're making what the pro racers actually want - even if it results in something that might be a bit firm for us punters.
Opens the door for a non-uci Venge maybe
Yep, lost it for me. I like classic stage racing style, fast handling bikes that focus on ride quality and comfort for long rides over a range of terrain. No interest in aero as am not racing, not much interest in disk brakes, not much into the dentist level pricing either.
I thought this video was very good and independent as he's not on the payroll
I thought this video was very good and independent as he’s not on the payroll
20 minutes of secondhand opinions? I know the new Youtube advertising is making it harder for smaller channels but that's just..............
At least the glossy opinion of someone who's been on an all-expenses paid trip to somewhere sunny has actually ridden it rather than just a compilation of forum moaning and meaningless comparisons to entry-level motorbikes.
Have they really killed the Venge off? Long term? Not overly sure myself. Give it a year or two of development and a new lighter aero bike will return.
I’m sceptical about how aero it is, same as the new Emonda.
They do appear to have turned their lightweight race bike into a heavy bike. It’ll be good, but can’t see it being as good an all rounder as something like the Canyon Ultimate CFR or the new Aeroad when that comes out. Also comparatively speaking the TCR appears to be the bike to purchase in the £4 to £6.5k price range. (I’m in the market for a new road bike next spring and considering the new Ultimate, possibly new Aeroad when it comes out and also TCR so been watching closely)
Holy thread resurrection but...and I'll quote myself:
Yep, lost it for me. I like classic stage racing style, fast handling bikes that focus on ride quality and comfort for long rides over a range of terrain. No interest in aero as am not racing, not much interest in disk brakes, not much into the dentist level pricing either.
Apologies if the new model has been done already- but seeing as they were obviously listening and made me this new Aethos thing, a classic skinny tubed aesthetically pleasing bike with a frame weight of 585g! - I have a further thought.
I can live with the disc only bit and elecy groupset only bit - but I can't help but think that I don't really need a frame that weighs just as much as a large water bottle. And in fact they could release a second tier pro level frame with a 10/11R fibre, with the same design then even if its 300g heavier it would still be super light. If that could still have the same ride quality then that would be utter perfection and not carry the dentist level price tag...any hints of that coming down the line in the future?
And it has a threaded BB, Specialized you are my heroes, thanks for listening.
Yeah the Aethos has Bindung: https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/what-do-you-think-of-the-ethos-behind-the-aethos/#post-11421255
the new Aeroad
There is now some stuff out on this.
Canyon are touting this as a one bike for all, which seems sensible to me. More aero than before, almost as light as the ultimate. Why choose? Personally I never understood why 'casual' riders were forced to choose between lightweight and aero when buying a nice road bike. Most people surely want the Goldilocks option?
I presume this is just evolution of carbon aero frame technology meaning they can be made lighter. closing the gap to the non-aero climbing-only bikes, so at some point it makes no sense to go for a non-aero option. Although that's apparently what Spesh have done with the Aethos, so what do I know?
Some people just want a really nice bike and not the lightest / fastest / most aero etc. E.g. Colnago C64 frames, at £4k a pop, are lovely but neither the lightest nor the fastest. They still seem popular (amongst the middle aged roadie segment whose kids have left home and have cash to burn).
Oh, I see now it's bindunn. I totally get this bikes philosophy, and my irony meter is off the charts as take away the disc brakes and it looks a lot like a desirable bike from over a decade ago something like a Parlee/ Crumpton/ older Colnago.
Makes so much sense to focus on ride quality to me...unless you're an aspiring or competitive racer, or your ego necessitates that you must win your sportive, then aero gains are not so worthwhile- whereas a beautifully riding bike one feels all the time.
Not even 200g weight difference makes much difference to being fast...training your socks off to be fast for 20+ hours every week is what makes you fast. Anything less and may as well just chill and enjoy it more. Yeah.
Canyon are touting this as a one bike for all, which seems sensible to me. More aero than before, almost as light as the ultimate.
Genius - if only Specialized had thought of something like that! They could call it something like, I dunno, tarmac (because you ride it on tarmac), maybe SL, because it's superlight, and then a number.
Coming from the MTB world it's really noticeable how similar high end road bikes are - the Spesh Tarmac, Scott Addict RC, Orbea OMX, Willier whatsit, Cannondale SpeedSix: get them all in matt black, debadge them and see whether you could tell them apart.
Coming from the MTB world it’s really noticeable how similar high end road bikes are
Looks like a Session...
