SPECIALIZED SEQUOIA ELITE
£1850 › The Sequond coming?
Ariveted metal plate at the top of the seattube contains the Sequoia’s name, and the statement, ‘A thousand decisions properly made’. It’s hard to argue with the design team’s work, mating a high-quality steel frame with a carbon fork and loads of adventurous features. It’s a worthy nod to the original Sequoia, Specialized’s first ever bike.
Predominantly round and subtly ovalised, the Premium Cr-Mo steel tubes range from slim seatstays to burly chainstays and a tapered headtube. The welds are small and neat, there are mounts for three cages, mudguards and a rack, and both cables and the brake hose are routed externally. A comparitively large full carbon fork blends into the headtube, and can carry luggage or a bottle on each leg, plus a mudguard.
It’s fitted with a pick and mix groupset of 105 mechs, RS505 hydraulic levers and brake callipers, FSA double chainset and Sunrace cassette, which all co-exist seamlessly together, and the rest of the kit is all Specialized’s own. The Specialized Adventure Gear (SAG) alloy stem and 27.2mm seatpost are good quality, but the Hover bar is of more interest, its elevated tops and flared drops covered in grippy denim-effect tape. The Anza saddle’s covering matches the bar, and makes for an effective sliplimiting surface.
The SAG Hayfield wheelset has 30mm-wide box section rims and barrel-like hubs, fitted with Specialized’s Sawtooth 42mm tyres, that measure 45mm. Their lateral zig-zag pattern has cuts to grip in loose stuff, with an almost smooth central band for straight line speed.
When hoisting the Sequoia’s 11.85kg mass, speed may not be the first sensation that springs to mind, but running the tyres at 50psi minimum pressure, we efficiently rolled up to a respectable road speed
It’s hard to argue with the design team’s work, mating a steel frame with a carbon fork
and found maintaining it to be no tougher than its immediate competition. Gravity and increasing gradient aren’t always the Sequoia’s friends, but that extra 2kg or so matters far less than you’d think.
Positionally, the Sequoia offered the closest fit to a conventional road bike of any here, with more reach than most, a flippable stem and similar angles, with its 73.5-degree seat and 71.5-degree head angles. Long chainstays and 1053mm wheelbase mean it has the stability to remain unfazed by rough surfaces, and cope with luggage. It reminded us most of a classical touring bike, with that sense of unstoppable force they impart by just keeping on rolling. Or maybe it’s a fat road bike. However you term it, the Sequoia has a supple, smooth ride feel on tarmac.
On dirt and gravel it’s fun, and small vibrations are well-absorbed, but its weight means it can crash a bit in potholes and rain run-off gullies, or over bigger stones. The wheels and tyres are 2Bliss Ready in Specialized speak, and converting them would improve ride feel.
Long climbs mean twiddling the 32 ring, and the 11-34 cassette allows scope to pedal just about anywhere. With a 48x11 top gear, spinning out on descents is less likely too.
The Sequoia’s steel frame sucks up a chunk of the budget, leaving its part-105 component spec looking a bit light at this price. But the slightly eclectic build delivers an holistic ride experience, that’s better on road, but is capable of exploring far from it.
The Sequoia manages to make every journey feel more relaxing, but is quicker than you expect