Specilaized SL3 Gets a Review by Ironman Athlete and MD of RaceNewForest Richard Iles

Specialized Tarmac S-Works SL3:- Review

Richard Iles MD www.racenewforest.co.uk

A couple of months ago I was offered the chance by Alex at Primera to test ride his 2011 Specialized S-Works Tarmac. At the time we were in the middle of our busy race schedule and I hadn’t done much riding at all so I put it off until we had had a... bit of R & R and the chance to put in at least a few miles!!!

So now, just back from a trip to catch a couple of Tour stages, where Joanne and I managed a few rides in the Vosges followed by a couple of “epics” in the Pyrenees and an immediate opportunity to spend a couple of hours testing the 2011 incarnation of Specialized’s S-Works Tarmac:- the very bike I’d just watched Contador and Schleck hammer up the Tourmalet.

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Not only a brand new “state of the art” frame to test but one equipped with a SRAM Red groupset (Dura-Ace man, me!) and incorporating the Q-Ring oval chain rings, much in evidence in this year’s TDF peleton and ridden to great success by 70.3 and XTerra World Champ Julie Dibens over the past couple of years.

The plan, whizz over to Primera in Bournemouth to collect the bike, then a test ride over one of my favourite New Forest loops; 48 miles of typical RaceNewForest terrain:- mostly rolling, occasionally bumpy and with the odd sharper dig thrown in for fun!!

The first thing to say about the bike is that it is fast, very fast and pretty well demands to be ridden flat out. It is crazily light and my abiding memory of the ride will be that of arriving sooner than expected at the crest of every rise, wondering who had flattened out my race courses while I’d been away!

The bike seemed to ignore hills, holding speed better than any road bike I’ve ever ridden. Stiff and light it is clearly built for speed:- I guess the Roubaix is a better option if you value comfort over sheer thrills – the whole ride was way closer to time - trialling than touring!! On the “proper” climbs I could feel more benefit whilst seated rather than standing on the pedals in comparison with my regular “steeds”. That said, the bike was so responsive that I really only felt the urge to get out of the saddle over the top of Frogham Hill and Bolderwood Ornamental Drive and even then the small chain ring was in little danger of being called into action. Across the bumpy old airfield at Stoney Cross the stiff front end made itself particularly noticeable and I was bounced around a fair bit but not to the extent of either being uncomfortable or slowing down. Mainly evidenced via numb / tingly fingers.

The SRAM groupset behaved impeccably:- any problems being operator instigated although there was nothing “special” about the double tap system to make me want to rush out and abandon my Dura Ace set-up:- horses for courses I guess.

The Q-Rings, however, were noticeable from the outset and I was immediately aware that my peddling technique was different with muscles being stressed in “new” ways. The system did seem to assist acceleration and hills were climbed smoothly. As the ride progressed the change in technique and the different muscle stresses resulted in a little cramp but doubtless it wouldn’t take long for even my aged body to adjust over a couple of rides.

So, what’s the verdict? Well the “grin factor” was exceptional and it always felt as if I had unlimited acceleration on tap. On rolling sections I was left feeling as if I had cheated in some way, always finding myself towards the top of any rise sooner than expected. Handling was sharp but the route was not really technical so no real test there. Bottom line, I was home quicker than I normally manage the route on my TT bike! Bike? Cranks? Rider??? We can discount the latter, so it’s reasonable to conclude that this latest version of Specialized’s flagship race bike is a true flying machine. Far more F1 than touring class but still comfy enough for those long rides…….although they probably won’t take as long as they normally do anyway!!

Final word:- this frame is priced at around a thousand pounds less than equivalent “works” models from other top manufacturers. Clearly, not having ridden all these other top frames I can’t make a direct comparison…(hint hint!!)….but I struggle to imagine another grand’s worth of added value! Big thanks, as ever, to Primera, the best bike shop, bar none: to Bill for all his support and Alex for loaning me this fantastic weapon.

Shame to give it back but it was a bit big for me after all. Definitely tempted to splash out on the next size down, though.