Specialized claims the frame weight is 920 grams painted, while the S-Works version is 800. "It's not always about increasing stiffness, it's about properly using the stiffness values where it matters the most for the rider. Our build uses the new 10-36 SRAM cassette with a wide rear derailleur and a 46T chainring. The hood/top transition is nice and smooth with SRAMs AXS shifters. With the SL7, the two models have fully coalesced. "Aero, stiff, light pick three," says Specialized (presumably a reference to Keith Bontrager's "Strong, light, cheap: pick two" line from back in the day). As is typical of most brands that sponsor WorldTour teams, Specialized couched the new merged design as a gift to the pro riders who would no longer have to choose between a climbing bike or an aero bike. On the other side of the coin, when Specialized launched the SL6, they did so noting the aero cues in the head tube and dropped seat stays. Wheels Roval Rapide CLX, Tarmac SL7 Pro SRAM Force eTap AXS 1x 6,500 The rear is 27mm wide external and looks much more like the current Roval lineup with 2.5mm hook beads. Expert UDi2 $5,000 If youve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as 1.99. A complete Tarmac SL7 Pro Ultegra Di2 has a claimed weight of 7.3kg (16lb 15oz). The rear wheel is 61mm deep, while the front is 52mm deep. Is the cockpit annoying? In the lab we tested many different overlaps to improve stiffness, but we went even further analysing them in FEA [finite element analysis software] which allows you to infinitely vary ply size, shape, angle, location, material, and stack. 2021 BMC Teammachine SLR01: The fourth generation revealed and reviewed, 2021 Trek Emonda review: the semi-aero, 'faster everywhere' climbing bike, Roval ditches tubeless with its new Rapide and Alpinist CLX wheels, The VengeCast: meet the design team behind the new Specialized Venge, The new 2019 Specialized Venge first-ride review: Aero is not everything, Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL6 Disc review: Goes faster, stops harder. So good and so fast that two of the brands existing road bikes, the SL6 and Venge, have reached overnight obsolescence. by FactoryMatt on Thu Sep 03, 2020 3:12 pm, by leejhayward on Fri Sep 04, 2020 12:35 pm, by LanceLegstrong on Fri Sep 04, 2020 5:10 pm, by preludervtec on Fri Sep 04, 2020 5:59 pm, by LanceLegstrong on Fri Sep 04, 2020 10:45 pm, by ome rodriguez on Sat Sep 05, 2020 3:36 am, by preludervtec on Sat Sep 05, 2020 4:15 am, by LanceLegstrong on Sat Sep 05, 2020 10:08 am. Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. The spacers all clam-shell so they can be pulled out or added easily. In other words, Specialized is saying that you can have the lot here, putting an end to the umming and ahing. Its simply the next step in the optimization of both bikes. This offers an exterior rim profile that is wider than our 26mm tires that measure 28mm. What does a 58 venge weigh again? "From there we strategically over-wrapped these frames with carbon in our composites shop to hit stiffness targets. Of course, brands have lightened their aero bikes, and aero-ed their light bikes, but you've always had to decide where your priorities lie. S-Works eTap 10,499 Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions. So currently the Venge in our line right now does not meet much of a need for that rider looking for the performance product.. As evident below, the Tarmac SL7 is not cheap. Itll fit a 32mm tire easily. Were told the SL7 has 17-percent less surface area than the current Venge while hitting the same weight as the current SL6 Tarmac. Atop the post is the popular Power saddle with Ti rails. Is the Tarmac SL7 more aero than a Venge? So, what about the new Tarmac SL7? Specialized calls this its Free Foil Library. Specialized says that it went to its in-house wind tunnel the Win Tunnel to validate its designs. Pro UDi2 $10,500 In the saddle, the SL7 is a bit stiffer than the SL6 but significantly more comfortable than the Venge. Because it really does feel like an SL6 and go like a Venge. 2022 - Road Bike Action. When you keep surfing on this site you agree with the cookie usage. It feels, in this regard, almost exactly like the SL6 I was on last. Today, if asked to make that same choice, Id pick an SL7. I like the flat tops on the bars and the slight texture added so your hands dont slip. "We're talking hundreds of layups, with thousands of ply iterations, confirming the final design had the best stiffness-to-weight ratio. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. 2008present unless otherwise stated. THROWBACK THURSDAY, 2020: WAS THOMAS DE GENDT CHEATING ON ZWIFT? The slight changes are to the head-tube length, which is 1cm shorter on paper for our size 54 at 13.3cm (same as the current Venge.) Wheels Roval Rapide CL, Tarmac SL7 Expert Ultegra Di2 4,750 2000 to 2400 is a 20% increase, pretty big I'd say. looks a tad staged to me but still funny. Terms and conditions of use. It took years of dedication from our engineers, starting even before the release of the SL6, to push every feature to the limit. "By targeting the tubes that truly impact the aero performance of the frame, whether it's the seat tube, the seatstays, the head tube or the fork blades, all with shapes from our FreeFoil Shape Library [the collection of airfoil shapes that Specialized has developed], and then mating them with the fastest components that we have at our disposal and integrating the cabling, we created a package that is 45secs faster over 40km than the Tarmac SL6," says Cam Piper. The new S-Works Tarmac Carbon Seatpost provides an integrated location for a Shimano Di2 Junction Box. Specialized has found a race bike formula it likes and is sticking with it. Integrated Tarmac Stem with mechanical shifting According to Specialized, the SL7 will save you 45 seconds over 40km compared to the SL6. US brand says you no longer need to choose between light weight and top-level aerodynamics this bike is sub-6.8kg with as little drag as the Venge, Best Cycling Website, BikeBiz Awards 2018, 2021 Specialized S-WorksTarmac SL7 -DI2-FLORED-TARBLK-WHT_HERO.jpg, in: Shimano Ultegra R8170 Di2 Disc Groupset, in: Police officer borrows bike to chase after fleeing suspect, in: Hoy: Safety screens could have prevented Matt Wallscrash, in: NMotD 807: Maniacal laugh after driver pulls out, in: 2 dead, 3 injured after driver crashes into charity cyclists, in: Commonwealth Games apologises to England tandem team, Cyclists call for resignation of hit-and-run councillor (includes video), Update: Olympic champion Matt Walls out of hospital after horrific crash into crowd during Commonwealth Games scratch race, Commonwealth Games organisers apologise to England tandem team fined by UCI for bronze medal protest, Google Maps makes major update to cycling navigation, Naked tandem couple hit by driver in Scotland make it to Lands End, Teenage cyclist to stand trial after pedestrian seriously injured, Near Miss of the Day 807: Driver comes out with maniacal laugh after pulling out on cyclist, Cardiff cul-de-sac residents lose battle to stop house being demolished to make way for cycle path. Expert UDi2 4,750 Wheels Roval C 38 Disc. When it comes to launching new race bikes, the folks at Specialized are fairly predictable. Pro eTap 6,750 Anything's a sex toy if you're pervy or brave enough, Edit - nothing to see here -- Mistakes were made and now i am corrected. And, its not that we dont think its a viable road option, just more difficult to validate in our local SoCal terrain that favors a fairly large range between the steep and sustained climbs with matching extended descending. Its a race bike. The design is very similar to the Venge, but with a few tweaks. Like this site? Specialized says that the aero performance, the stiffness and the ride quality are all the same as those of the FACT 12r SL7. All of these big claims for the Tarmac SL7 leave Specialized's Venge aero road bike looking surplus to requirements. Specialized has accounted for this. Fucks sakes. "The first samples out of the mould were extremely aggressive and basically experimental: the bare minimum material required to make a frame we knew theyd fail lab tests, we knew theyd miss stiffness targets, but they were almost 20% under the weight target," says Specialized. Is it stiff? There are six Specialized Tarmac SL7 complete bikes: S-Works Tarmac SL7 Red eTap AXS 10,500 Frame FACT 9r carbon Groupset Shimano Ultegra Thoughts with the injured spectators. This is what you get. Designing a race bike is essentially a big optimization problem, balancing weight, stiffness, and aerodynamics. The revenue from adverts helps to fund our site. The goal, it appears, was to mimic the feel of the SL6 while improving aerodynamics. "Separating the SL7 into two separate platforms would be arbitrary and outdated so we used all our resources to develop the perfect bike for any rider, regardless of their gender. The Venge Vias is roughly 8 seconds slower than the new Venge over 40km, according to Specialized. Though the SL7 technically replaces the previous Tarmac, in reality it appears aimed squarely at replacing Specializeds own aero bike, the Venge. A Tarmac SL7 is the ultimate expression of what that is. All Tarmac SL7 models have a 68mm threaded bottom bracket. Thats heavier than the 733 grams (claimed) of an SL6, but lighter than the 960 gram Venge. Frame FACT 10r carbon So part of that gain is certainly from the wheelset. Pro eTap $7,000 Brake hoses and gear cables are now fully hidden both to improve the appearance and reduce drag. We're using cookies in case to provide best-possible user experience. So good job, people of the Internet, pat yourselves on the back for a job well done. We have the technical ability to create a bike that's as aero as rules allow and as light as rules allow in a single package. The Venge was released only two years ago, and the Tarmac and Venge have co-existed peacefully within the companys line for years. Frame FACT 10r carbon But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. With no seatstay bridge, the new SL7 will be disc brake only. Additionally, the fork was also not as laterally stiff as we hoped and would cause a bit of brake rub as the pads would shift under heavy braking. A whopping $12,000 for either S-Works version with SRAM or Shimano top tier components. Weve noticed youre using an ad blocker. Groupset Shimano Ultegra Di2 The SRAM Force wireless group is a great option, and it can be upgraded to a 2x system with a few parts. The SL7 has that same sharpness and combines it with a bit more raw speed. The new seatpost also takes inspiration from both the Venge and SL6. I can see the S-Works framesets in the usual retail channels, but as yet haven't seen any of the normal frames. "As fast and as light as the new frame is, we couldn't have achieved all our goals without the fastest components in the world," says Cam Piper. Anything else would be forcing riders to make a compromise on race day, and we just weren't okay with that anymore. This is a bit misleading, because with the necessary headset cap, the lowest stem position is identical. Tour de France Legacy,1940: The Tour That Wasnt, Mid-Week Report: The Latest News, Products and Events. I know how fast I usually go, and an extra few kph is obvious. Weve had one for a few weeks, have ridden it extensively, taken it apart and put it back together, and have formed some initial opinions of the thing. "It takes the idea that are aero advantage does not need to come at the expense of weight or ride quality. Roval says that the extra rim width helps to boost stability, while the claimed weights are 649g (front) and 751g (rear). TheFACT(Functional Advanced Composite Technology) 12r carbon fibre used forthe top-level S-Works TarmacSL7was also used forthe S-Works Tarmac SL6. Youll see that even with our WorldTour athletes, theyre all in agreement and really have validated the performance of the new bike, and will be racing that going forward, Piper said. The only choice you need to make is when to attack.". The stem on the Pro and Expert doesn't have titan bolts at least, and it doesn't say S-Works on. The top-level Tarmac SL7s are fitted with new Roval Rapide CLX wheels 51mm deep with a 35mm external width at the front, 60mm deep with a 30mm external width at the rear. Not really, at least as far as integrated cockpits go. Groupset Shimano 105 If you want long and low, it might be. You can listen to that episode here, or subscribe on your favorite podcast app: Ill be honest, over the last few years the quality of these top-end race-oriented road bikes has converged to the point where differentiating between them feels like splitting hairs that have already been split six different ways. Groupset Shimano Ultegra Di2 In other good news, the SL7 sticks with a standard threaded bottom bracket. With Specialized it's the Venge and the Tarmac, with Trek it's the Madone and the Emonda, with Giant it's the Propel and the TCR, and so on. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. 10r Frameset $4,500, GBP: This may sound odd, but what got us most excited about the new SL7 is simply the fact that it has a threaded bottom bracket. The truncated aero post most resembles the SL6 but with a bit more depth. In fact, if the facts and figures Specialized presents are correct, theres no longer any point in having the Venge in their road lineup. Once again, Gaviria finds himself in a race with absolutely no flat ground whatsoever! With that said, it is still very much a race-oriented bike. Like Trek, they seem to follow the same pre-Tour de France formula on timing, and even when faced with this years less-than-ideal conditions, that timing was only slightly modified. Frame FACT 10r carbon Compared to an SL6, Id say no. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The new Tarmac integrated stem used on all the SL7 models is said to save 45g over the previous version. "We're taking a lot of what was great about the Tarmac SL6 when it comes to compliance and the ride balance to ensure that the overall feel is at the perfect spot for the best possible handling," says Cam Piper. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Its quite Tarmac-like. It is this optimization that leads to the conclusion that this new bike, the SL7, is as much the next Venge as it is the next Tarmac. All material FarrellyAtkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA11JB. The complete S-Works Tarmac SL7 Di2 model is a claimed 6.7kg (14lb 12oz) in the carbon/colour run silver green finish. As we step back and analyze the new SL7, its clear to us that Venge owners will get a fairly significant overall gain if they make the switch. Also new are the Rapide CL Roval wheels that feature different (front and rear) external widths and shapes. The bar comes in 380mm, 400mm, 420mm and 440mm widths. Yes they are,and it hasa better parcours than Poland. Confidence is good for bike racers. Di2 integration is excellent, placing the junction box in the back of the seatpost like the Venge. For anyone that has been shopping for a new bike, the Tarmac SL7, or as we have been calling it, the Tarvenge, offers a very balanced road race style with aero optimization. The 21mm internal widths are the same and should be tubeless-ready (click here for the whole story on why they are not). Theyre all phenomenal. Frame FACT 9r carbon The bottom bracket junction remains a very similar design to the previous, but with slight refinements to offer the extra clearance. To try to solve this optimization problem, Specialized once again leaned on modeling software developed by Ingmar Jungnickel, which runs CFD (computational fluid dynamics) and FEA (finite element analysis) for each shape and keeps working until it finds a shape that is drag optimized for particular weight and stiffness targets. The SL6 has a sharpness to it that is incredibly enjoyable. A full review will follow in the next few weeks. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. You can feel the road underneath you, feel the bike move on it. If one considers how bikes are designed these days, this starts to make sense. Your subscription will help us to do more. You must TAKE THE SHOT! Specialized believes that there is no longer a need to have both an aero road bike and a lightweight road bike in its range because the Tarmac SL7 is both. 10R Frameset $3,000, AUD: Over the past few years quite a lot of years, actually major bike brands have had an aero race bike and a lightweight race bike in their range. Groupset Shimano Ultegra (mechanical) Two Tarmac SL6 complete bikes are available in the UK: Tarmac SL6 Comp 3,200 (above) This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Or maybe it hasnt been. Is the Tarmac SL7 stiffer? But they do ride slightly differently despite using the same numbers. The biggest change is the adaptation of completely hidden, internally routed cables and hoses. Frame FACT 12r carbon Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Find out all about the Roval Rapide CLX wheels here. "Creating the Tarmac SL7 was an exercise in patience," says Cam Piper. " For the last few product cycles, the Tarmac and the Venge have been inching closer together. Specialized says that the quest for aerodynamic efficiency has been the driving force in the development of the Tarmac SL7. The Tarmac SL7 bike we received is the Pro level, so it is constructed of Fact 10r carbon instead of the higher-end Fact 12r that comes on the S-Works models. Claimed weight is 6.7kg for the Di2 model. Sure, marketing companies have pounded BB30 or PF30 into our brains for years, including Specialized, but the truth is, 30mm Press-Fit bottom brackets have been the single-most problematic aspect of any bike weve tested. To best achieve this, you lose the tight gear gaps that you want on a race bike. This makes pace-matching difficult in fast-paced group rides or races. The brake lines are run under the stem, not through it, making stem swaps easy. Asking riders to pick between two different bikes is so 2019! USD: THROWBACK THURSDAY, 2012: TOUR DE FRANCE TIME-TRIAL TECH, SPECIALIZED S-WORKS TORCH ROAD SHOES REVIEW, SPECIALIZED LIED TO EVERYONE ABOUT TUBELESS, FLASHBACK FRIDAY, 2018: PARLEE CHEBACCO LE PROJECT BIKE, 2022 CALIFORNIA COAST CLASSIC BICYCLE TOUR, $8000 vs $4000 vs $1000 ROAD BIKE WHEELS: WHATS THE. The Tarmacs wheelbase remains the same at 97.8cm, with a reach of 38.7cm and a stack of 53.4cm. "As there is likely more difference between two male cyclists than there are between a male and a female, gender alone doesn't provide nearly enough data to specialise," says Cam Piper. When the design team looked at what it wanted to achieve in terms of aerodynamics, weight, stability and ride quality, going tubeless wasn't possible. The latest Venge, for example, is both significantly lighter and handles much better than the Venge Vias it replaced. I still think Specialized has put itself in a bit of a pickle. Them's the rules, so which do you want, the aero one or the lightweight one? 1000ish right? Based on the performance targets and where we landed, the Tarmac SL7 really is the complete package, and knowing that there are no compromises for the rider it is hard for us to tell anyone to go out and buy a Venge once this bike launches, Specialized product manager Cam Piper told us on this weeks special CyclingTips Podcast. Simply moving the cables and brake lines internal is a big improvement there (cylinders, like a brake line, are bad for drag figures). An Expert will set you back $5000 with Shimano Ultegra Di2 and $7000 Will get you one of the two Pro models. Im not going to tell you I could feel the 45 seconds over 40km aero difference when just riding around anyone who says that is lying to you. Complete Tarmac SL7s are shipped with 700 x 26mm tyres, but Specialized says there's enough clearance to fit 32mm-wide tyres on 21mm rims with 4mm of clearance all around. A bit more treble to the Venges bass, perhaps. There might be a slight uptick in performance, but we think it would be hard to quantify. The SL7 is, they say, the best of both worlds. "The Tarmac SL7 puts an end to compromise, and racing will never be the same," says Specialized. The SL7 is certainly more aerodynamic than the SL6, though. Although the SL7 takes over the higher levels of the Tarmac range, the FACT 9r carbon version of the SL6 is still available. "This is one bike to rule them all, putting an end to the idea of a climbing bike and an aero bike," says Cam Piper, the product manager behind the Specialized Tarmac SL7. If you ride with your bars up near the same plane as your saddle, this probably isnt the bike for you. So, when the SL7 was dropped off at our doorstep, we had a few mixed feelings. Heres a full breakdown, feature-by-feature: What does the Tarmac SL7 weigh? These cookies do not store any personal information. The complete S-Works SL7 with SRAM Red AXS that arrived at CT HQ weighs 6.73kg for a size 56. Wheels DT R470 Disc, Tarmac SL7 Expert 4,750 I love the Venge, and dont want to see it killed by its own sibling. Its not uncomfortable, but there are no flexy bits or handlebar shocks to take the edge off. Sizes: 44cm, 49cm, 52cm, 54cm (tested), 56cm, 58cm, 61cm. A cover for the cable routing hole and the two bolt holes is included with the bike. This doesnt mean they all handle exactly the same, though. Its also, on its own merits, an exceptionally good bike. The bike has 41cm chainstays with more tire clearance, up to 32mm with room o spare. A Specialized Tarmac SL7 review bike was delivered to road.cc a couple of weeks ago, and Stu has had the chance to write a First Ride, so make sure you check that out. Cornering is predictable and responsive, offering lots of confidence even when pushing the limits. S-Works Frameset $5,000 If you use a wireless SRAM drivetrain, a cover for the seatpost port is included with all Tarmac SL7s. Wheels Roval Rapide CLX, S-Works Tarmac SL7 Dura-Ace Di2 10,500 Specialized said it themselves. The underside of the stem clamps the brake hoses and directs them into the gated and internally routed steerer spacers. The brand says that it wanted the highest performing package, and that dictated an inner tube-type wheel. The 56cm frame I rode has a 55mm trail figure, quite steep by most modern road standards. There is a new stem design that very closely resembles the one found on the current Venge, but its been slimmed down, with the 100mm version weighing 45 grams lighter. Maybe the Tarmac is now the race bike for pros, and the next Venge will chuck UCI regulations out the window and come back faster than ever. The overall geometry is nearly identical to the previous version, and it is obvious that Specialized has found a general set of numbers they are happy with, because nearly all of their road bikes share the same geometry. Because the internal dimensions are identical, tire sizes remain constant front to rear, even though the external width profile is 8mm different. Yet another knee-jerk reaction. "Climb on the lightest bike the rules allow, sprint on the fastest all with legendary Tarmac handling. Frame FACT 12r carbon There are two angles: 6, which is specced on SL7 models, and 12, which is available aftermarket. Its a very fast race bike. Discuss light weight issues concerning road bikes & parts. Compared to a Venge, maybe a tiny bit. The stem can be swapped and moved up and down on the steerer without having to re-run brake lines or Di2 cables, assuming line and wire lengths are adequate. Their marquee aero bike, by their own admission, is no longer the bike their own pros will be riding. It got slightly more Venge-like. That said, external routing is obviously way less annoying. It wants to corner. Its a difficult sensation to describe. We have worked with our teams [Specialized is the bike supplier to Deceuninck-Quick-Step and Bora-Hansgrohe pro teams] to make sure that the stiffness is optimal for racing, based on their feedback. S-Works eTap & UDi2 $12,000 Theres a reason why a lot of Specialized pros raced the SL6 most of the time, even though the Venge was, in theory, faster: its because the SL6 is a supremely confidence-inspiring bike when its chucked into corners or slotted through gaps or stood on to accelerate. As mentioned before, the aero bars are the same as what has been supplied on the Venge.
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