SPECIALIZED S-WORKS TARMAC DA £5500

› A pro-spec superbike from the big, red ‘S’

It’s easy to find reasons to dislike Specialized. It’s the Ford of the bicycle world with its utter ubiquity. Nonetheless, the brand has a history of producing mouthwatering fare for serious riders, and alongside the aero Venge, the top of the line S-Works Tarmac is a bike few roadies wouldn’t give a second glance. In a pro-worthy Dura-Ace and carbon clincher spec, with a stunning red, white and black paintjob, this is one eye-catching bike. It also has legitimate racing pedigree, as three WorldTour teams have the Tarmac in their arsenal, and it’s the bike of choice for Spanish climber and multiple Grand Tour-winner Alberto Contador.

The Tarmac’s frame is a wonderful blend of glorious excess and some stylish, organic design, with lines that bulge and blend beautifully. The down-tube is gigantic, and its muscularity extends through a bottom bracket area that deserves the clichéd description of being ‘beefy’ (ideal for Contador then..). The sense of super-sizing doesn’t end there. While it’s a given that a bike like this will have a tapered fork, the Tarmac goes bigger than most with a steerer that requires a huge 1

Finishing kit

S-Works stem, bar and seatpost, Toupé saddle, 24mm Specialized Turbo Cotton tyres lower bearing, all in aid of frontend stiffness, while the aero carbon bar’s massively wide tops are a bit of an acquired taste. There are some lovely details – a hidden seat clamp means ultra-clean lines where the post enters the frame, and as it’s accessed from the side, it’s no less convenient than a standard one.

Shimano Dura-Ace continues to impress with its light yet precise shifting. Shimano’s lower groupsets are very nearly as good, but DuraAce has an expensive, metallic edge to its shift action that sets it apart. You get a full groupset, apart from the in-house cranks. We’re still not convinced the shifting they offer