2007 Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL Dura-Ace
Ritchey WCS carbon seatpost
Ritchey WCS 4AXIS stem
Ritchey WCS Logic road bar (kept stock S-Works SL carbon aero bar as backup, since it has a unique short reach/drop and flat style tops)

Pictured below with training wheelset. Race wheelsets include stock Mavic Ksyrium ES' and Zipp 404 tubbies.

Took it out for an easy 22 mile ride on Saturday and realized I still need to dial-in my positioning. However, initial impressions are definitely positive. :)

all i can say is...may I borrow it...for a few years =)

:mad2: :mad2:

I decided NOT to get a new frame since I already ride a Madone SSL that's still very new and go with new wheels instead along with ZG brakes and a new DA crank (currently using Bontrager but the rest is DA)

Now, you show me THIS!!!!! DAMN IT... I WANT ONE!!!!!!!!!! I was really considering the S Works Tarmac SL frame and building it up... I decided not to get a new frame.. YOU, just opened up the idea again :mad2:


Nice :)

Nice. The only thing I'd prefer on it is a stock Dura Ace crankset. What kind is it you have on there??
Awesome bike.

Thanks all. The crankset is made by (made for) Specialized. It is proprietary - similar to Cannondale's Hollowgram oversize crankset & BB. It's supposed to be both lighter AND stiffer than Dura-Ace.

Lighter and stiffer then DA.. :mad2: :mad2:

jt... you're making me want the bike!!!!!!!!! dammit you!!!!! :D:D

Thats beautiful! If I had to pick a dream bike, that would be it!

Ride it long and hard! Congrats

Such as nice frame! It really am thinking about one. Only problem is the ShimaNo stuff.

Lighter and stiffer then DA.. :mad2: :mad2:

Yes it is!!

Now lemme try the bike out will ya?? :D:D:D

You can get it w/SRAM Force, but it will cost you $1000 more MSRP. Granted, that model comes w/Roval carbon clincher wheels and the combined 'Barmac' bar/stem combo.

although mine is an 06 "SL" and red/black it is the same bike. I bought it as a frame/fork/seatpost from a Specialized dealer who made me such a smokin deal I could NOT refuse :) I ride (train) almost every day and have been on this bike for roughly two months now, each and every time I ride, I still get a grin, this is very special machine!
I built her as follows:
Full DA including crank, Ksyrium SL wheels, Easton "flat top" bars, Ritchey 4 Axis stem, Fizik Arione saddle,Speedplay pedals.

Ya' gotta post a pic of yours now! Sounds nice. How do you like those bars - are they carbon? What size is your frame? Do you know it's weight? Mine, exactly as shown (PowerTap SL rear wheel), comes in at 16.25! That includes an Ultegra 12-25 cassette and steel DT skewers.

Ya' gotta post a pic of yours now! Sounds nice. How do you like those bars - are they carbon? What size is your frame? Do you know it's weight? Mine, exactly as shown (PowerTap SL rear wheel), comes in at 16.25! That includes an Ultegra 12-25 cassette and steel DT skewers.

hope it treats you well.

I have to tell you (& this is definatly not a slam on your bike), but I have a jekyl/Hyde thing going with the Shimano 10 speed stuff.......I love the way they function....but I hate the way the hoods look......I look at your bike & I have to force myself to ignore the brake hoods....

Sigh...why is nothing perfect?

len

Len, that's how I feel about my DA hoods.. But, since I like everything bout DA save for the hoods, so yeah..

However, initial impressions are definitely positive. :)

Nice, but you'd better keep the 5200... You'll need something to hook the baby trailer to.

Hmm...yeah, I hear you. I'm not in love w/the shifters yet either. As a matter of fact, I think I like the look/feel of my 9-spd DA shiters & hoods better! Maybe I just need more time on the new ones? After all, 22 miles isn't much time! I also have to dial in the positioning of the bar a bit more - maybe the hoods will look better if the bar is rolled a bit more forward? At any rate, I'd love to try Campy someday! I just don't think this plastic race bike is the best application for it. If I had the EXTRA cash, yes. However, let's just say Campy is the plan for a 3+ year future bike. =)

Hey - it's a 5500! ;-) I know but I really don't think I can afford to keep it!!

with the Shimano 10 speed stuff is that you need to compensate for the extended reach of the hoods when selecting a bar/stem combination.

My measurements say the reach difference is 1.5 cm, but I've found for me, that if I either use a bar with a 1 cm shorter reach or shorten my stem by 1 cm (As compared to a correct setup with 9 speed) , everything is much more comfortable. I didn't factor this into the first setup I did and it was way too stretched out. I fiddled around with it until I realized what the problem was.

Len

Hmm...thanks for sharing, Len. I currently feel too streched out but first need to make sure the saddle height & fore/aft is exactly where it should be.

with the Shimano 10 speed stuff is that you need to compensate for the extended reach of the hoods when selecting a bar/stem combination.

My measurements say the reach difference is 1.5 cm, but I've found for me, that if I either use a bar with a 1 cm shorter reach or shorten my stem by 1 cm (As compared to a correct setup with 9 speed) , everything is much more comfortable. I didn't factor this into the first setup I did and it was way too stretched out. I fiddled around with it until I realized what the problem was.

Len

Doesn't campy put you at a longer reach instead vs Shimano??

Doesn't campy put you at a longer reach instead vs Shimano??

are you?

Len

Ya' gotta post a pic of yours now! Sounds nice. How do you like those bars - are they carbon? What size is your frame? Do you know it's weight? Mine, exactly as shown (PowerTap SL rear wheel), comes in at 16.25! That includes an Ultegra 12-25 cassette and steel DT skewers.
I know this sounds stupid but I was not comfortable with a carbon bar/stem so I stuck with metal:blush2: The frame is a 56 cm and I have no idea what it weighs but it is light. Just accelerating is so much fun I find myself doing intervals by accident:D , by the way we use the same cassette.

are you?

Len


Oh.. I was talking bout overall reach I guess... WHoops!!!!

I know this sounds stupid but I was not comfortable with a carbon bar/stem so I stuck with metal:blush2: .

I am the same way. I go with Deda Newton stuff. Lighter than most carbon bar/stems anyway.

All these talk bout a new bike, carbon bars/stem/post is making me want to get a new frame and building it up... That was my original plan...

Believe it or not, Specialized is making these cranks for the following company, and they have licensed the technology.

http://www.lightningbikes.com/

the new cranksets from specialized are based on the standard that cannondale originated many years ago. just this year at eurobike cannondale introduced it as an industry wide standard for bottom bracket shell dimensions. so in theory you could run a specialized frame with a cannondale hollowgram crank as long as you swap out the spindle. just to be different.
http://www.bb30standard.com/

another company has a deal with shimano wherein they get a 1 year head start on the rest of the industry on a new set of oversized press in bearings. their goal being to eliminate all metal from the frame and do this by having press fit bearings so they can eliminate the need for a threaded aluminum bb insert.

another company has a deal with shimano wherein they get a 1 year head start on the rest of the industry on a new set of oversized press in bearings. their goal being to eliminate all metal from the frame and do this by having press fit bearings so they can eliminate the need for a threaded aluminum bb insert.

The only thing new about press fit BB bearings is that the bearings are oversized. Gary Klein and his buddy Gary Fisher did this a long time ago on their bikes.