2018 Specialized S-Works Men's Tarmac Ultralight

Overview

About this bike

Specialized promises that the S-Works Tarmac Ultralight is without a doubt, the fastest race bike you've ever ridden. To get the weight below 800 grams for the latest iteration, Specialized utilized advanced aerospace composite optimization software to revolutionize the construction and layup of their new FACT 12r carbon. The material optimization has allowed them to shed nearly 200 grams. In their search to save every last gram, the S-Works Tarmac Ultralight also uses a newly developed paint finish that further reduces weight. In combination with their improved preparation process, it achieves a paint job that has the same weight as nine gummy bears, or 10 grams. And while stiffness aids in the aforementioned, compliance must also be utilized for an optimal ride quality. That's why they designed a seatpost that builds compliance into the upper 120mm where clamping doesn't happen, dropped the seatstays, and altered the seat tube shape. They also added tire clearance up to 30mm, which translates to a 28mm Turbo Cotton on a Roval CLX 50 wheel. This allows lower pressures for decreased rolling resistance, increased traction, and more comfort. Altogether, these additions still have the Tarmac riding like a true race-machine, but just takes a bit of the sting out of those road imperfections. Specialized knows that aerodynamics are the most important thing they can do to make you faster. Both Bora-Hansgrohe and Team Quick Step Floors Pro Tour riders, after all, are demanding aero improvements on every bike. With this, the aero goal was to discover where they could essentially "add aero for free," by not taking anything away from the hallmarks of the Tarmac design. During the six-month iterative process, three areas were discovered where they could do this—a new fork shape, dropped seatstays with aero tubes, and a d-shaped seatpost and seat tube. The result? A bike that's approximately 45 seconds faster over 40km compared to other lightweight bikes in the same category. A speed savings that you'll feel when you're attacking off the front of the peloton. This featherweight Tarmac comes spec'd with the ultimate lightweight package—Shimano's Dura-Ace 9150 Di2 groupset, eecycleworks eebrake Dual Mount direct mount brakes, and featherweight Roval CLX 32s with 26mm Turbo Cotton tires. - Featuring Rider-First Engineered design that ensures every frame size has the same legendary climbing responsiveness and descending prowess you'd expect from a Tarmac. The S-Works FACT 12r frameset is their highest quality carbon frame, offering the ideal blend of light overall weight and targeted stiffness. - S-Works full FACT carbon fork with a tapered construction provides incredible front end stiffness and steering response for instantaneous accelerations and high-speed descents. - A 52/36T S-Works carbon fiber crankset delivers the ultimate in power delivery, with a chainring grouping that's equally suited to big alpine climbs as it is to throwing down the gauntlet on the flats.

Specifications

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