Specialized unveils 2013 road line - Part 2
New 'budget' Shiv, plus Roubaix, Amira & COBL.GOBL-R seatpost
This article originally published on BikeRadar
Following previous looks at the new S-Works Roubaix SL4 and Allez, and the revamped S-Works shoes, we take a look at the best of the rest on show at Specialized's 2013 road launch in Snowbird, Utah.
Specialized Shiv Comp
While the superb Shiv has made waves as a halo product and internationally been a hugely successful time trial and triathlon machine, it’s always been priced at a level not many of us can afford. That's all set to change with the carbon Shiv Comp. This £2,500 model is built with a SRAM Rival drivetrain, paired with a BB30 FSA Gossamer chainset, DT Swiss wheels and a smattering of Specialized’s own finishing kit. An entry level aluminum framed Shiv will also be available for £1,200.
Specialized Secteur Sport Disc
At the Cycle to Work price point, the new Secteur disc looks like a winner. With a frame that has clearances for huge tyres (it comes with already big volume 28in tyres) and still plenty of room for guards - plus braze-ons for a rack too - the Secteur could be a great commuter choice.
Specialized Roubaix Expert Disc
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Sitting below the Ultegra Di2-equipped, standard braked Expert is this innovative and serious epic sportive machine. Using a 135mm rear spacing which looks set to become road's disc brake standard, the Expert comes with Roval disc wheels, Ultegra mechs and shifters, an FSA SL-K BB30 chainset and mechanical discs from Avid. The Expert Disc comes at a retail price of £3,300.
Specialized Roubaix Expert Di2
The £4,000 Ultegra Di2 Roubaix has a wholly different frame to the Disc version, though it shares much the same equipment.
Amira Sport
Specialized is one of the few companies that take women’s bikes seriously, with three models - the Amira (think Women’s Tarmac), Ruby (women’s Roubaix) and Dolce (women’s secteur) - all having strong line-ups. We like the look of this £1,500 carbon Amira, and with a Shimano 105 drivetrain, DT Swiss 2.0 wheels, carbon seatpost and all-carbon fork it looks to be great value, too.
Allez Elite
The massively successful Allez gets a price drop for 2013 and while it still has Tiagra 10-speed, the £100 price drop has seen a couple of cuts elsewhere.
S-Works Venge EPS
A real halo bike if ever there was one. It comes complete with Campagnolo's flagship Super Record EPS, Zipp Firecrest 404’s and top flight kit, so while its retail price of £8,500 is a huge amount, no punches have been pulled with the hefty spec. The real story for UK riders is an imminently available ‘more affordable’ Venge; we’ll have more details as soon as we get them.
Ruby Elite
The women’s version of the classic Roubaix features the same size-specific tubing and carbon lay-up characteristics. This £4,000 version comes with a full Ultegra Di2 groupset, Specialized finishing kit and DT Swiss wheels in a sportive ready race machine.
Dolce Elite
The aluminum women’s bike with a full complement of Zertz vibration damping is a cost effective alternative to the Ruby. The Dolce Elite has a highly competitive spec and with its £,1050 price tag looks like a winner for 2013.
Quarq Power Meter
The S-Works crankset now has a cost effective upgrade to power measurement thanks to this Quarq Power Meter. Available in both standard and compact BCD’s, the ANT+ ready connectivity offers pro-level power measurement at a fraction of the cost of a standard system.
Expert computer
Specialized’s all-new Expert computer offers all the features you’d expect from a bike computer with the added bonus of ANT+ compatibility, allowing additional display info for compatible power meters, heart rate monitors and more.
COBL.GOBL-R seatpost
The all new S-Works COBL.GOBL-R seatpost, designed for the SL4 Roubaix, is also available as a standalone product. This lightweight carbon post with 18mm of carbon leaf spring movement is said to add comfort over rough terrain.
S-Works Chicane
Specialized's impressive range of saddles now includes the Chicane, originally designed for Omega Pharma - Quickstep star Tom Boonen. With Its carbon rails and a carbon reinforced hull combined with BG Fit designs, it looks similar in profile and dimensions to the classic Fizik Aliante.
Echelon
Specialized’s impressive mid-range Echelon lid gets a great new hi-viz colourway