A whopping $12,000 for either S-Works version with SRAM or Shimano top tier components. Pro eTap $10,500 
"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. The ride characteristics of this bike have remained some of our favorites. So what is it? Designing a race bike is essentially a big optimization problem, balancing weight, stiffness, and aerodynamics. 
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. The bottom bracket junction remains a very similar design to the previous, but with slight refinements to offer the extra clearance. Orange Seal, does it live up to it's fame. 
A full review will follow in the next few weeks. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Frame FACT 10r carbon 
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. S-Works Frameset 3,750. 2022 - Road Bike Action. "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. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Not quite. Maybe we should call the new Specialized Tarmac SL7 the Cannibal, since it seems designed to eat its own. The rear wheel is 61mm deep, while the front is 52mm deep. Specialized says that it went to its in-house wind tunnel the Win Tunnel to validate its designs. 
A complete Tarmac SL7 Pro Ultegra Di2 has a claimed weight of 7.3kg (16lb 15oz). 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. 
Groupset Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (inc Specialized power meter) Specialized's 800g weight claim (see above) relates to a painted frame in the lightest finish. The Tarmac SL7 Pro and Expert models (see below) are made from Specialized's FACT 10r carbon and have a claimed frame weight of 920g 15% heavier than the S-Works frame. Sizes: 44cm, 49cm, 52cm, 54cm (tested), 56cm, 58cm, 61cm. Theres not much else to say about the geometry, which is identical across all three models. The new S-Works Tarmac Carbon Seatpost provides an integrated location for a Shimano Di2 Junction Box. Are the non S-Works Tarmac Framesets available yet? ", Read our review of theSpecialized S-Works Venge Di2. There are a few descents around here where you can hit 80kph quite easily, and at those speeds small aero differences turn into a few kilometers per hour. Heres a full breakdown, feature-by-feature: What does the Tarmac SL7 weigh? While not as sexy as frame shapes go, perhaps the best news comes in the form of the updated bottom bracket. If you want long and low, it might be. So good job, people of the Internet, pat yourselves on the back for a job well done. Groupset Shimano 105 This doesnt mean you need to race it, but a confident rider with moderate experience will get the most out of it. Today, if asked to make that same choice, Id pick an SL7. "The Aerofly II bar is paired with the new S-Work Tarmac stem to not only reduce weight but to improve the overall integration of the cabling, allowing riders to achieve whatever fit they need, or travel without having to re-cable their bike.". In fact, if the facts and figures Specialized presents are correct, theres no longer any point in having the Venge in their road lineup. The Venge only takes electronic drivetrains, either eTap or Di2, but the SL7 solves that problem. The Specialized Tarmac SL7 is available only with hydraulic disc brakes (Shimano flat mount standard); there is no rim brake version, not even as a frameset only. He was easily in phlegm shot. If youd asked me a month ago which Specialized road bike Id pick for myself, it would be the Venge, hands down. 
Is the cockpit annoying? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. How does that work? Although the SL7 takes over the higher levels of the Tarmac range, the FACT 9r carbon version of the SL6 is still available. The brand says that it wanted the highest performing package, and that dictated an inner tube-type wheel. So, what about the new Tarmac SL7? 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. As many know, the Tarmac SL6 is one of our favorite bikes and it often serves as the base for many of our wheel and component reviews. Its a lighter Venge as much as its a more aero Tarmac. I can see the S-Works framesets in the usual retail channels, but as yet haven't seen any of the normal frames. Specialized marketing materials include this handy little graph, the accuracy of which we cant vouch for: Does the Tarmac SL7 have any compatibility or integration issues? "It's not always about increasing stiffness, it's about properly using the stiffness values where it matters the most for the rider. 
Frame FACT 12r carbon "It takes the idea that are aero advantage does not need to come at the expense of weight or ride quality. Anything else would be forcing riders to make a compromise on race day, and we just weren't okay with that anymore. The hood/top transition is nice and smooth with SRAMs AXS shifters. I like the flat tops on the bars and the slight texture added so your hands dont slip. 
Wheels DT R470 Disc, Tarmac SL6 Sport 2,500 Specialized doesnt make any claims surrounding stiffness of the SL7. Specialized will continue to sell the SL6 (effectively unchanged from before) at lower price points. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Find out all about the Roval Rapide CLX wheels here. 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. Specialized has launched a new version of its Tarmac, the SL7, which it claims is almost as aerodynamically efficient as its current Venge aero road bike while being at the UCI's minimum weight limit for racing. As evident below, the Tarmac SL7 is not cheap. The only choice you need to make is when to attack.". The Tarmac SL7 FACT 12r frameset is 3,750. I still think Specialized has put itself in a bit of a pickle. "We're talking hundreds of layups, with thousands of ply iterations, confirming the final design had the best stiffness-to-weight ratio. Were told the SL7 has 17-percent less surface area than the current Venge while hitting the same weight as the current SL6 Tarmac. Wheels Roval Rapide CLX, S-Works Tarmac SL7 Dura-Ace Di2 10,500 
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. USD: Wheels DT R470 Disc, Tarmac SL7 Expert 4,750 Its simply the next step in the optimization of both bikes. Where I could feel it is descending. 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. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. 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. No compromises, the Specialized marketing materials shout. 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. Until then, this will be my favorite Specialized road bike. All Rights Reserved. Your subscription will help us to do more. For the last few product cycles, the Tarmac and the Venge have been inching closer together. 
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. The Venge corners and sprints and descends just about as well as the SL6, but does it all a bit faster. 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. Expert UDi2 $5,000 Specialized returned to threaded bottom brackets because they were tired of everyone yelling at them. 
"We started with our doctrine of a new shape for speed," says Cam Piper. 
Asking riders to pick between two different bikes is so 2019! If you use a wireless SRAM drivetrain, a cover for the seatpost port is included with all Tarmac SL7s. "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. Tel 01225 588855. Theyre all phenomenal. 10R Frameset $3,000, AUD: S-Works eTap 10,499 Here's ourFirst Ride Review of theSpecialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 Dura-Ace Di2. Take a Specialized Venge and a Tarmac SL6 and squish them together. The Venge is still a bit faster. Thoughts with the injured spectators. The biggest changes come in the form of added emphasis on the aero refinement of the frame tubes. Pro UDi2 $10,500 Its quite Tarmac-like. An Expert will set you back $5000 with Shimano Ultegra Di2 and $7000 Will get you one of the two Pro models. 
Introduce Yourself / Gallery - Please use metric weights. There are two angles: 6, which is specced on SL7 models, and 12, which is available aftermarket. This doesnt mean they all handle exactly the same, though. 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. TOUR DE FRANCE THROWBACK TECH, 2012: HOW MANY YELLOW HELMETS ARE NEEDED?! Them's the rules, so which do you want, the aero one or the lightweight one? 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. 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. If one considers how bikes are designed these days, this starts to make sense. All of these models are designed for both men and women. What does a 58 venge weigh again? If you want to go lighter you'll have to hand in your racing licence!". 
S-Works eTap & UDi2 $12,000 For sale - Pictures are mandatory 22-3-13, https://www.incycle.com/product/special 1219-1.htm. Stack and reach are measured between the centre of the bottom bracket and the top of the head tube (they're the vertical and horizontal distances, respectively), but the SL7 has a top tube cutout and a taller than normal headset cover. 
The SL7 is certainly more aerodynamic than the SL6, though. The complete S-Works SL7 with SRAM Red AXS that arrived at CT HQ weighs 6.73kg for a size 56. 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. What the software churns out is essentially a repository of tube shapes with known aerodynamic, stiffness, and weight qualities. 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. Specialized says that the aero performance, the stiffness and the ride quality are all the same as those of the FACT 12r SL7. The S-Works SL7 frame weighs a claimed 800 grams. 
A WEATHERED EVOLUTION IN ICELAND RIDING THE LAUF SEIGLA, PNW COMPONENTS RELEASES THE SATELLITE SADDLE BAG, 6 FACTS ABOUT VARICOSE VEINS FOR CYCLISTS, click here for the whole story on why they are not. Pro eTap $7,000 Of course its stiff. Roval calls these "the fastest all-around road wheels in the world but then, it would. If you like road.cc, but you dont like ads, please consider subscribing to the site to support us directly. 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. Out of the saddle, the bike responds to efforts rapidly. The wheels are held in place by 12mm thru axles. "Creating the Tarmac SL7 was an exercise in patience," says Cam Piper. " Weve noticed youre using an ad blocker. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. This also means that the Specializeds own Power Cranks that used a 30mm spindle will no longer be compatible. The 21mm internal widths are the same and should be tubeless-ready (click here for the whole story on why they are not). Pro UDi2 6,500 The SL7, like the SL6 and Venge, doesnt apologize for its race-oriented handling. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. As a bonus, there is a Quarq power meter on our model, adding value and making it more training/race-ready. Wheels Roval Rapide CLX, Tarmac SL7 Pro SRAM Force eTap AXS 1x 6,500 Its like we combined Julian Alaphilippes attacking, climbing style, and Peter Sagans aggressive power in a single rider with no weaknesses. Or maybe it hasnt been. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions. Frame FACT 10r carbon 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. Its a race bike. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This offers an exterior rim profile that is wider than our 26mm tires that measure 28mm. Forgot to include to my photo above the tarmac stem and stem faceplate computer mounts. "The Tarmac SL7 puts an end to compromise, and racing will never be the same," says Specialized. Is the Tarmac SL7 more aero than a Venge? The Tarmac SL6 is a great bike, but never felt as fast to me. With that said, it is still very much a race-oriented bike. The latest Venge, for example, is both significantly lighter and handles much better than the Venge Vias it replaced. "Climb on the lightest bike the rules allow, sprint on the fastest all with legendary Tarmac handling. When you keep surfing on this site you agree with the cookie usage. 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. S-Works Di2 $18,000 S-Works Di2 10,499 The stem on the Pro and Expert doesn't have titan bolts at least, and it doesn't say S-Works on. "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. "We worked to create the best possible package at the UCI's [6.8kg minimum] weight limit. Tech, reviews: tech [at] road.cc Universal cap for a standard stem, plus round spacers with either electronic or mechanical shifting. 10r Frameset $4,500, GBP: If youve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as 1.99. The spacers all clam-shell so they can be pulled out or added easily. The added benefit to fit 32mm tires with room to spare makes it even more versatile. Fantasy Cycling: game [at] road.cc 
Tour de France Legacy,1940: The Tour That Wasnt, Mid-Week Report: The Latest News, Products and Events. In the meantime, let's look at what Specialized has to say about the ride. The biggest change is the adaptation of completely hidden, internally routed cables and hoses. The Venge was released only two years ago, and the Tarmac and Venge have co-existed peacefully within the companys line for years. If you dont want to subscribe, please turn your ad blocker off. Claimed weight is 6.7kg for the Di2 model. Atop the post is the popular Power saddle with Ti rails. It almost begs to. As a subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free, from as little as 1.99. Its also, on its own merits, an exceptionally good bike. As mentioned before, the aero bars are the same as what has been supplied on the Venge. Interestingly, these wheels aren't tubeless ready, even though Roval says that it is committed to tubeless technology. Its 100% identical to both the SL6 and Venge. It feels, in this regard, almost exactly like the SL6 I was on last. Though the SL7 technically replaces the previous Tarmac, in reality it appears aimed squarely at replacing Specializeds own aero bike, the Venge. These cookies do not store any personal information. The choice to be aero- or mountain-optimized is simplified. The complete S-Works Tarmac SL7 Di2 model is a claimed 6.7kg (14lb 12oz) in the carbon/colour run silver green finish. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 
Frame FACT 9r carbon Both the 12r and 10r SL7 versions are compatible with electronic and mechanical shift systems. We sat down with the engineers and product managers behind the new Tarmac to dig into the bikes development. Seems like the value call to me, 120g and an inperceptable difference in stiffness looks a good deal. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 
Why break up the power couple?
"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. The ride characteristics of this bike have remained some of our favorites. So what is it? Designing a race bike is essentially a big optimization problem, balancing weight, stiffness, and aerodynamics. 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. The bottom bracket junction remains a very similar design to the previous, but with slight refinements to offer the extra clearance. Orange Seal, does it live up to it's fame. A full review will follow in the next few weeks. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Frame FACT 10r carbon 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. S-Works Frameset 3,750. 2022 - Road Bike Action. "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. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Not quite. Maybe we should call the new Specialized Tarmac SL7 the Cannibal, since it seems designed to eat its own. The rear wheel is 61mm deep, while the front is 52mm deep. Specialized says that it went to its in-house wind tunnel the Win Tunnel to validate its designs. A complete Tarmac SL7 Pro Ultegra Di2 has a claimed weight of 7.3kg (16lb 15oz). 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. Is the cockpit annoying? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. How does that work? Although the SL7 takes over the higher levels of the Tarmac range, the FACT 9r carbon version of the SL6 is still available. The brand says that it wanted the highest performing package, and that dictated an inner tube-type wheel. So, what about the new Tarmac SL7? 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. As many know, the Tarmac SL6 is one of our favorite bikes and it often serves as the base for many of our wheel and component reviews. Its a lighter Venge as much as its a more aero Tarmac. I can see the S-Works framesets in the usual retail channels, but as yet haven't seen any of the normal frames. Specialized marketing materials include this handy little graph, the accuracy of which we cant vouch for: Does the Tarmac SL7 have any compatibility or integration issues? "It's not always about increasing stiffness, it's about properly using the stiffness values where it matters the most for the rider. Frame FACT 12r carbon "It takes the idea that are aero advantage does not need to come at the expense of weight or ride quality. Anything else would be forcing riders to make a compromise on race day, and we just weren't okay with that anymore. The hood/top transition is nice and smooth with SRAMs AXS shifters. I like the flat tops on the bars and the slight texture added so your hands dont slip. Wheels DT R470 Disc, Tarmac SL6 Sport 2,500 Specialized doesnt make any claims surrounding stiffness of the SL7. Specialized will continue to sell the SL6 (effectively unchanged from before) at lower price points. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Find out all about the Roval Rapide CLX wheels here. 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. Specialized has launched a new version of its Tarmac, the SL7, which it claims is almost as aerodynamically efficient as its current Venge aero road bike while being at the UCI's minimum weight limit for racing. As evident below, the Tarmac SL7 is not cheap. The only choice you need to make is when to attack.". The Tarmac SL7 FACT 12r frameset is 3,750. I still think Specialized has put itself in a bit of a pickle. "We're talking hundreds of layups, with thousands of ply iterations, confirming the final design had the best stiffness-to-weight ratio. Were told the SL7 has 17-percent less surface area than the current Venge while hitting the same weight as the current SL6 Tarmac. Wheels Roval Rapide CLX, S-Works Tarmac SL7 Dura-Ace Di2 10,500 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. USD: Wheels DT R470 Disc, Tarmac SL7 Expert 4,750 Its simply the next step in the optimization of both bikes. Where I could feel it is descending. 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. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. 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. No compromises, the Specialized marketing materials shout. 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. Until then, this will be my favorite Specialized road bike. All Rights Reserved. Your subscription will help us to do more. For the last few product cycles, the Tarmac and the Venge have been inching closer together. 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. The Venge corners and sprints and descends just about as well as the SL6, but does it all a bit faster. 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. Expert UDi2 $5,000 Specialized returned to threaded bottom brackets because they were tired of everyone yelling at them. "We started with our doctrine of a new shape for speed," says Cam Piper. Asking riders to pick between two different bikes is so 2019! If you use a wireless SRAM drivetrain, a cover for the seatpost port is included with all Tarmac SL7s. "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. Tel 01225 588855. Theyre all phenomenal. 10R Frameset $3,000, AUD: S-Works eTap 10,499 Here's ourFirst Ride Review of theSpecialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 Dura-Ace Di2. Take a Specialized Venge and a Tarmac SL6 and squish them together. The Venge is still a bit faster. Thoughts with the injured spectators. The biggest changes come in the form of added emphasis on the aero refinement of the frame tubes. Pro UDi2 $10,500 Its quite Tarmac-like. An Expert will set you back $5000 with Shimano Ultegra Di2 and $7000 Will get you one of the two Pro models. Introduce Yourself / Gallery - Please use metric weights. There are two angles: 6, which is specced on SL7 models, and 12, which is available aftermarket. This doesnt mean they all handle exactly the same, though. 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. TOUR DE FRANCE THROWBACK TECH, 2012: HOW MANY YELLOW HELMETS ARE NEEDED?! Them's the rules, so which do you want, the aero one or the lightweight one? 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. 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. If one considers how bikes are designed these days, this starts to make sense. All of these models are designed for both men and women. What does a 58 venge weigh again? If you want to go lighter you'll have to hand in your racing licence!". S-Works eTap & UDi2 $12,000 For sale - Pictures are mandatory 22-3-13, https://www.incycle.com/product/special 1219-1.htm. Stack and reach are measured between the centre of the bottom bracket and the top of the head tube (they're the vertical and horizontal distances, respectively), but the SL7 has a top tube cutout and a taller than normal headset cover. The SL7 is certainly more aerodynamic than the SL6, though. The complete S-Works SL7 with SRAM Red AXS that arrived at CT HQ weighs 6.73kg for a size 56. 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. What the software churns out is essentially a repository of tube shapes with known aerodynamic, stiffness, and weight qualities. 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. Specialized says that the aero performance, the stiffness and the ride quality are all the same as those of the FACT 12r SL7. The S-Works SL7 frame weighs a claimed 800 grams. A WEATHERED EVOLUTION IN ICELAND RIDING THE LAUF SEIGLA, PNW COMPONENTS RELEASES THE SATELLITE SADDLE BAG, 6 FACTS ABOUT VARICOSE VEINS FOR CYCLISTS, click here for the whole story on why they are not. Pro eTap $7,000 Of course its stiff. Roval calls these "the fastest all-around road wheels in the world but then, it would. If you like road.cc, but you dont like ads, please consider subscribing to the site to support us directly. 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. Out of the saddle, the bike responds to efforts rapidly. The wheels are held in place by 12mm thru axles. "Creating the Tarmac SL7 was an exercise in patience," says Cam Piper. " Weve noticed youre using an ad blocker. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. This also means that the Specializeds own Power Cranks that used a 30mm spindle will no longer be compatible. The 21mm internal widths are the same and should be tubeless-ready (click here for the whole story on why they are not). Pro UDi2 6,500 The SL7, like the SL6 and Venge, doesnt apologize for its race-oriented handling. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. As a bonus, there is a Quarq power meter on our model, adding value and making it more training/race-ready. Wheels Roval Rapide CLX, Tarmac SL7 Pro SRAM Force eTap AXS 1x 6,500 Its like we combined Julian Alaphilippes attacking, climbing style, and Peter Sagans aggressive power in a single rider with no weaknesses. Or maybe it hasnt been. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions. Frame FACT 10r carbon 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. Its a race bike. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This offers an exterior rim profile that is wider than our 26mm tires that measure 28mm. Forgot to include to my photo above the tarmac stem and stem faceplate computer mounts. "The Tarmac SL7 puts an end to compromise, and racing will never be the same," says Specialized. Is the Tarmac SL7 more aero than a Venge? The Tarmac SL6 is a great bike, but never felt as fast to me. With that said, it is still very much a race-oriented bike. The latest Venge, for example, is both significantly lighter and handles much better than the Venge Vias it replaced. "Climb on the lightest bike the rules allow, sprint on the fastest all with legendary Tarmac handling. When you keep surfing on this site you agree with the cookie usage. 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. S-Works Di2 $18,000 S-Works Di2 10,499 The stem on the Pro and Expert doesn't have titan bolts at least, and it doesn't say S-Works on. "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. "We worked to create the best possible package at the UCI's [6.8kg minimum] weight limit. Tech, reviews: tech [at] road.cc Universal cap for a standard stem, plus round spacers with either electronic or mechanical shifting. 10r Frameset $4,500, GBP: If youve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as 1.99. The spacers all clam-shell so they can be pulled out or added easily. The added benefit to fit 32mm tires with room to spare makes it even more versatile. Fantasy Cycling: game [at] road.cc Why break up the power couple?