Specialized Tarmac eclipses the Venge

The Tarmac SL7 squares the circle between light weight and aero, says Michelle Arthurs-Brennan

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Trickle-down technology is all well and good, until it makes the initial product obsolete. Arguably, that’s what’s happened to the Specialized Venge.

Every Specialized release of the last few years has taken notes from the aero road bike’s design. Now, in its latest guise, the lightweight all-rounder Tarmac is considered aero enough by the brand that it’s all but put the Venge out of a job.

The Venge will still exist as a frameset, but with this new Tarmac SL7(affectionately called the Varmac by Cycling Weekly testers), we wave goodbye to it as a built bike. The Tarmac SL6 will continue to be available at Sport and Comp level, for those who prefer the old bike’s ride quality. And make no doubt about it: the ride quality of the new Tarmac is different.

“The SL7 is stiffer and more aero”

A lot of the justification for the new, aero Tarmac SL7 comes from feedback from the pro ranks. They wanted the Tarmac to be stiffer, more stable and aero like the Venge, but to maintain the lively feel and climbing prowess of the Tarmac.

I had a lot of affection for the outgoing Tarmac SL6, so when I rode the Tarmac SL7 for the first time (ahead of any presentation or press literature), and messaged the brand manager to ask “have you made the bike stiffer?” – I wasn’t immediately bowled over. However, after over 300 kilometres on the new SL7, any reticence has ebbed away: I can confidently say that the Tarmac still holds a very firm place in my list of ‘favourite rides of all time’.

Aero treatment

The aero influence on this Tarmac is obvious, but it’s not touched all areas.