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.
This story is from the July 30, 2020 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 30, 2020 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Is pro racing getting more dangerous?
There are many factors that contribute to the perceived greater risks. One that does not get any attention is the greater importance of UCI points and the need to constantly collect them to avoid relegation.
A Saturday in Hell
It's the most brutal race of the year - 29.2km of the worst cobbles northern France has to offer, over 17 agonising sectors, starting in Denain and finishing in the iconic Roubaix velodrome. For the men, it's referred to as a Sunday in Hell, but for us, hell comes a day early.
Gitane - Tour de l'Avenir
Classic French brand's homage to a revered amateur race
6 WAYS TO THINK YOURSELF FASTER
However flawless your physical preparation, the mind has a tendency to throw a spanner in the works come the big day. James Witts offers six ways to keep the brain onside with the body
MAURICE BURTON'S - SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS
9 life lessons from Britain's first Black cycling champion
PEAKS PRACTICE
The Peak District is home turf for Manchester-based British pro riders and has been the formative terrain of top domestic riders for decades. Adam Becket finds out why it's so effective
Zeb Kyffin: stepping out of the fish bowl
TDT-Unibet's British rider tasted the team's first World-Tour event at the Amstel Gold Race. Adam Becket finds out how the day went
Thomas to go for 'very top step' at Giro
Welshman and Ineos ready for duel with Tadej Pogačar, reports Adam Becket
Brown and Niewiadoma beat Vollering
SD Worx-Protime are far from unbeatable in 2024, as team misses out in Ardennes Classics
Pogačar lays down marker for Giro d'Italia
Liège win signals Slovenian's readiness for clash with Geraint Thomas, reports Adam Becket