FAST BIKE FRIDAY – SPECIALIZED TARMAC SL7 EXPERT

It’s Fast Bike Friday! Today we’re taking a closer look at the Specialized Tarmac SL7 Expert road bike, a super-slick carbon aero road bike that also happens to climb like a demon. This mechanical Shimano Ultegra-equipped SL7 Expert is race-ready straight out of the box and features a pair of Specialized Roval carbon wheels too making this bike a fantastic option for someone looking for a modern, disc-brake-equipped, aerodynamic all-rounder that excels on the hills but can cut it at that pan-flat weekly crit too.

The Specialized Tarmac has been around for a long time in many different guises, however the latest SL7 model was only launched last July. 2020 was an odd year for many reasons! With the global Coronavirus pandemic impacting the bike industry and professional bike racing many brands pushed back important launch days, but not Specialized. Looking at the calendar it was clear that Specialized originally planned to launch the all-new Tarmac SL7 at the Tour De France, but with the Grand Tour being postponed until September this wasn’t possible and Specialized pushed on with the launch allowing retailers and customers alike to get their hands on the new model before the pros.

The Tarmac SL7 is a super-light climbing machine which also happens to be particularly aerodynamic…

Over the past decade we saw a trend for leading bike brands to develop an out-an-out aero road bike that typically sat alongside a super-light climbing bike aimed at dancing up mountains in record time and possibly a third option focused more around endurance and comfort all within their wide range of road bikes. Specialized were one such bike brand, with their previous Tarmac SL6 providing the most climbing efficiency, their Roubaix focused on endurance and comfort and their Venge model boasting the most aero-efficient chassis within their range.

All that changed last July with the launch of the SL7 with Specialized claiming that this new bike was almost as aerodynamically efficient at their Venge while being so light and responsive that it was their best climbing bike to date too. Specialized product manager Cam Piper said “This is one bike to rule them all, putting an end to the idea of a climbing bike and an aero bike. That idea is simply old fashioned. We have the technical ability to create a bike that’s as aero as rules allow and as light as rules allow in a single package. Anything else would be forcing riders to make a compromise on race day, and we just weren’t okay with that anymore. Asking riders to pick between two different bikes is so 2019!” Specialized went on to explain how the all-new Tarmac SL7 was so effective that it allowed Julian Alaphilippe to win with his attacking, climbing style and Peter Sagan to take victories in powerful, aero-efficient style. A year on from launch we’d have to agree, with Alaphilippe since taking multiple wins including the World Championships and Sagan winning stages and the points jersey in the Giro D’Italia onboard the versatile Tarmac SL7. Now they can add to that illustrious list with Mark Cavendish returning to form at this year’s Tour De France, taking four stage victories so far and equalling Eddy Merckx’s record of 34 Tour De France stage wins within his career (at time of writing; there may be more to come?!).

In the comeback story of the year Mark Cavendish has already piloted the Tarmac SL7 to four Tour De France sprint wins at time of writing…

Professional racers and keen amateurs alike have long recognized the Specialized dynasty of previous Tarmac models for their balanced, confidence-inspiring handling. The SL7 is no different; with endless hours of testing and feedback from men’s and women’s professional cycling teams SD Worx, Deceuninck-Quick-Step and Bora-Hansgrohe this bike has been tuned to be not only aero-efficient and super-responsive on the uphills but is renowned for its notable comfort even after long training and racing hours in the saddle. Point the Tarmac SL7 downhill and that finely-tuned frame geometry, sophisticated carbon construction and those powerful but easy to modulate disc brakes come together to give a truly confidence-inspiring ride, keeping you in control even when you’re under pressure in a mid-race move.

When you cast your eyes over the following few images of the Tarmac’s frame and forks it’s clear to see just how much effort Specialized have put into making the new-gen SL7 as aerodynamically efficient as possible. Taking everything they learned from the Venge the Specialized engineers have taken integration to the next level to create a clean, clutter-free cockpit which has also been developed to be user-friendly when it comes to working on and maintaining the bike. With improved routing it’s possible to work with any configuration – mechanical shifting, Di2 cables, traditional stems and round bars so whatever your preference you’ll be able to fine-tune your cockpit with the minimum of fuss and time in the workshop.

The Tarmac SL7 is heavily influenced by its Tarmac predecessors and is refined with feedback from the leading pro cycling teams… 

Truncated aerodynamically-profiled frame tubes make the Tarmac SL7 super-efficient at cutting through the air… 

Thin -profile, dropped seatsays are well-proven in the wind tunnel and within real world racing!

An internal seatclamp adjusted at the top tube / down tube junction helps keep the frame’s profile super-aero…

Unlike some other brands Specialized have ensured that any adjustments required to the cockpit position are as user-friendly as possible…  

Seen from the front it’s clear how aero-efficient the fully-integrated cockpit is…

The Specialized Tarmac SL7 Expert features Shimano’s mechanical Ultegra 11-speed groupset. This no-nonsense drivetrain is well-proven and ultra-reliable with a light-action feel to each and every gear shift. The 11-speed Ultegra Disc R8020 mechanical levers with hydraulic brakes are nice and ergonomic fitting comfortably in your hands when you’re riding on the hoods and are compact regardless of the fact that they are housing a hydraulic master cylinder. When it comes to gear ratios Specialized have spec’d a more race-focused 52/36T chainset up front matched with an 11/30T 11-speed rear cassette; while not as low as a 50/34T x 11/32T option you might find on some less racey bikes there’s still plenty of capacity when it comes to having the right gear choice for tough hilly climbs or flat-out high-speed flatter terrain.

Specialized have spec’d an 11-speed Ultegra groupset and gone for more race-focused gear ratios compared to other road bikes available…

The 11-speed Shimano Ultegra rear derailleur provides crisp, precise gear shifts…

The Ultegra front derailleur provides immediate gear changes which are secure even when you’re changing gears out of the saddle…

The Ultegra chainset is super-stiff and light, featuring 52/36T chainrings…

The profile of the 11-speed Ultegra Disc R8020 levers feel good in your hands… 

It’s pretty amazing how quickly disc brake technology on road bikes has been developed and refined, with hydraulic disc brakes on mid to high-end road bikes now being the norm. We’ve quickly moved from obsessing about them and how they affect the bike in terms of weight and performance to simply expecting them on road bikes like the SL7 Expert; this is testament to just how much work component manufacturers such as Shimano and bike brands such as Specialized have put into making disc brakes really perform on road bikes. A few years back road bikes with disc brakes meant some sort of compromise on the overall weight of the bike, this is no longer a concern thanks to some clever engineering in the manufacture of the disc-specific carbon frames, refinement of hydraulic brake technology and further developments in disc-brake-specific wheel technology. The Tarmac SL7 features Shimano’s neat Ultegra flat-mount disc brake calipers with finned brake pads to help cool them on long descents; levers, calipers and rotors work in unison to provide powerful, consistent, easy-to-modulate braking in all conditions and on wet or dry roads.

Shimano’s Ultegra flat-mount disc brake calipers are compact, neat and powerful…

Specialized have spec’d a pair of super-light, stiff and fast-rolling Roval C 38 disc carbon, tubeless-ready wheels with a versatile rim depth of 38mm providing an aero advantage on fast, flat stretches of road but still light and spritely enough to perform really well on the climbs. With a modern 21mm rim width these wheels comfortably accommodate tyres that are 25-28mm wide helping to create a tyre profile with a greater surface area for enhanced grip on any road surface. Setting up the Roval C 38 wheels tubeless is worth the effort too, decreasing rolling resistance and providing dependable puncture protection.

The versatile Roval C 38 carbon tubeless-ready wheels add areo-advantage on fast, flat roads and feel spritely on the climbs…

The Roval C 38 wheels feature dependable DT Swiss sealed-bearing hubs…

Thru-axle DT Swiss hubs provide a secure interface with the Tarmac SL7 frame and provide perfect alignment with the disc brake rotors…

Specialized spec their own-brand finishing kit with the integrated bar and stem being aero and adjustable to suit individual preferences…

Specialized’s Body Geometry Power Expert saddle features titanium rails and a modern, short profile that will suit most riders…

With a large cut out and a short, stubby profile Specialized’s Body Geometry principles provide a super-comfy saddle…

The Specialized Tarmac SL7 Expert really is the complete package when it comes to pulling a bike out of the box, ready to race. Featuring a versatile frameset that’s both aerodynamically efficient and spritely on the climbs the Tarmac SL7 really benefits from its rich racing heritage and the development work that Specialized have done over the past few decades with some of the best professional cyclists in the world. Factor in an ultra-reliable Shimano Ultegra 11-speed mechanical groupset, powerful hydraulic disc brakes and those classy, performance-enhancing Roval C 38 carbon wheels and the SL7 Expert is just waiting to be ridden hard at your local crit series, chain gang or simply for the ‘win’ on the road-sign-sprint during your next social group ride.

The Specialized Tarmac SL7 Expert is a truly versatile machine with a rich racing heritage…

The Specialized Tarmac SL7 Expert is available in-store and online now…

Full Specification:

• Frame: Tarmac SL7 FACT 10r Carbon, Rider First Engineered™, Win Tunnel Engineered, Clean Routing, Threaded BB, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc
• Fork: FACT Carbon, 12x100mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc
• Shifters: Shimano Ultegra Disc R8020 11-speed
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra R8000, braze-on
• Front Derailleur : Shimano Ultegra R8000, Shadow Design, 11-speed
• Cassette : Shimano Ultegra R8000, 11-speed, 11-30t
• Chainset: Shimano Ultegra R8000, HollowTech 2
• Brakes: Shimano Ultegra, Hydraulic disc
• Wheelset: Front – Roval C 38 Disc, carbon, tubeless-ready, 38mm depth, 24h
• Wheelset: Rear – Roval C 38 Disc, carbon, tubeless-ready, 38mm depth, 24h
• Front Tyre: S-Works Turbo, 120 TPI, folding bead, BlackBelt protection, 700x26mm
• Rear Tyre: S-Works Turbo, 120 TPI, folding bead, BlackBelt protection, 700x26mm
• Stem: Tarmac integrated stem, 6-degree
• Handlebar: Specialized Expert Shallow Drop, alloy, 125mm drop x 75mm reach
• Seat Post: S-Works Tarmac Carbon seat post, FACT Carbon, 20mm offset
• Saddle: Body Geometry Power Expert, titanium rails
• Tape: Supacaz Super Sticky Kush

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

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