Specialized

Words/Images: James Startt

From issue 1 • December 2010

We know why TotalEnergies and Specialized are working together, but how's it going so far? We went along to a team camp to find out.

Which do you value more: ease of adjustment, or light weight and the look of laces?

The same lace-up quirks as usual, but with an updated fit and racier feel (and, unfortunately, more weight, too).

The UCI-approved colors are splashed on the Specialized bikes ridden by Demi Vollering, Marlen Reusser, Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, and others.

Roval, Shimano, and Tacx continue as partners of the Belgian-backed ‘Wolfpack.’

This may be old technology by Specialized's standards, but it just offers more proof that road bikes have already been very good for a very long time.

Our editor-in-chief is the latest to share his favourite things from the year that's been.

Just like a regular Power saddle, but softer.

The flat bars are polarizing, but the dedicated geometry makes the most of it.

These are the greatest bikes of the last 30 years, according to me

Opinion: Needing a recall isn’t good, but there are positives to such things.

Tarmac SL7 owners asked to stop riding amidst fears of steerer tube failure.

Here's the news making headlines for Monday, October 11.

Alchemy’s new US-made carbon gravel bike, Specialized’s new bargain-priced MTB helmet, Enduro’s indestructible bottom bracket and headset bearings, and more.

It’s basically a fat-tired Aethos — and I mean that in the best way possible.

This sub-16-pound dirt race rig is exceptional for going up fast, but don't look for bells, whistles, or storage here.

The new gravel bike is also, wait for it, a cyclocross bike.

Here's the news making headlines for Thursday, October 7.

We sent clinchers, tubeless tires, and tubulars to Wheel Energy for rolling-resistance tests at range of air pressures. The results surprised us.

We kept things close to home this time around, with four testers thrashing a smattering of road and gravel bikes — and even some flat-bar gravel bikes — on our home turf of Boulder, Colorado, to see what works and what doesn’t.

Fresh from the finish line, the bike has tubes in its tyres, is caked in Flemish dirt, and is covered in sweat and tears.

Nineteen years after Mario Cipollini was crowned world champion in Zolder, Belgium, we managed to get hold of not just his custom-painted world champion's bike but also the bike that took him to victory.

Specialized’s second 3D-printed saddle has a more traditional shape and even more cushioning than the S-Works Power Mirror.

Some 22,000 separate ‘struts’ are used to fine-tune pressure distribution in the new saddle.

Even an extra 100 g and heavy parts can’t dull this frame's luster.

Cavendish's chain has shot off his chainring following two sprints at this year's Tour. Why?

Laces are back for Specialized with the high-end, technicolour S-Works Recon Lace gravel/MTB shoe.

We take a look at Mark Cavendish's Tour de France stage-winning bike.

A closer look at a new 3D-printed saddle from Specialized

These things should come with shoe covers and a warning.

Here's the news making the headlines on Wednesday, June 23.

Built for cross country mountain bike or gravel racing, Specialized claim this is the lightest and most comfortable off-road shoe they've ever produced. And in many ways they're right.

Alison Tetrick and Ian Boswell are in Kansas with two Diverges designed to evoke the RockCombo, Specialized's first gravel bike

Cannondale, Liv Cycling, Specialized, SRAM and Trek join TCA as 'Podium Partners'.

It mightn't be long until even seasoned pro mechanics can barely remember the smell of tubular glue.

Traditionally shaped, full-length model would join the ultra-comfy S-Works Power Mirror.

Speculation about Peter Sagan's future suggests he could join classics super-team Deceuninck-Quick-Step, but would it work? It's complicated.

Media reports suggest Peter Sagan could join Deceuninck-Quick-Step in high-profile transfer.

What's making tech headlines on Monday, April 5.

Here's what's making tech headlines on Thursday, April 1.

A look at the bike of the now two-time Paris-Nice winner.

James and Dave chatted with key members of the Deceuninck-QuickStep team as well as Jeff Meyer, engineering manager at Roval, to discuss the team's transition to clinchers and inner tubes.

Unless you really feel the need to save those ten grams, this is the S-Works helmet to get

Same fit and tech-heavy function; now with more airflow thanks to Aramid replacing foam.

Welcome to the second in the Brew Review series. In this episode I delve in to a saddle I've been lucky enough to use for the past 6 months: The S-Works 3D printed Power Mirror saddle.

Could this be the big feature for the next Specialized Roubaix and Diverge?

How much will racing be affected by position bans? Two leading aerodynamicists share their data.

London offices destroyed by mystery blaze over weekend.

Check out Abby Mickey's author page.

A novel strap layout yields an ironclad hold and surprising comfort

Two massive straps lay over a stretchy sock for a new type of road cycling fit.

The latest S-Woks shoe is a definite departure, and I love just about everything about it.

Long-standing relationships with manager Patrick Lefevere and bike partner Specialized helped open door for the Manxman to return to former team.

2020 was my first year of consistent cycling as a dad. Thus, the gear I used most helped me manage short training sessions at odd hours and family rides to the playground.

The Specialized Prime Series Thermal Gloves feel almost like thin, full finger summer-weight gloves.

Personal, prototypes, and custom bikes were taken from the company's headquarters during a daytime break-in and robbery.

Check out Iain Treloar's author page.

Check out Iain Treloar's author page.

Check out Caley Fretz's author page.

Check out Ronan Mc Laughlin's author page.

Check out Dave Rome's author page.

Check out James Huang's author page.

Check out Iain Treloar's author page.

Check out James Huang's author page.

An e-MTB with an 80-mile range that gives you twice your power — at nearly the same weight — as a traditional trail bike.

Check out Dave Everett's author page.