TrekmanDan

Hey guys, I just picked up a new Specialized Tarmac today. Nothing fancy, just the mid-comp with Sora components, but I love it. As mentioned in another post, I test rode a Roubaix, as well as a BMC road racer SL01 and a BMC Gran Fondo, but after the Tarmac, I was hooked.

Sadly, I had to part with my 2011 Trek 1.2 ... we had some good rides... Tour de Cure, Tour de Donut, just to name a few, but I'm sure it's going to a good home.

Here are some pix:

Old Ride:


New Ride:

Berta

Beautiful bike! I'm sure you'll get every bit of riding out of it and then some that you got from your trusty Trek

phulin

Matte black is always infinitely sexy...

gecho

Any particular reason you switched bikes? They look pretty comparable aside from the new Sora brifter without the thumb downshift button.

TrekmanDan

I wanted a full carbon fiber bike that I could "grow" into. Aside from weight, I didn't realize the other benefits until I actually rode one... It's noticeably smoother! So, after doing a lot of research and comparisons, I learned that the entry level carbon bike that I have shares the same frame as their more expensive Tarmac Comp Mid-Compact model. The only difference is the components. Plus, that model weighs in at 17lbs 9ozs. So, I figured later down the road, I could start buying some parts off ebay and perhaps some new wheels at neuvationcycling.com or bicyclewheelwarehouse.com and eventually get it in the high 16's... For now, I am really enjoying the ride... as well as a 1.5lb weight reduction compared to my Trek.

buffalowings

1.5lbs in weight reduction sounds about right, with the lighter crankset, carbon frame, and the full carbon fork. Congrats on the purchase.

gecho

I didn't realize it was carbon, its so hard to tell these days the way they are able to shape aluminum.

TrekmanDan

Thanks! I was hoping it was gonna be lighter. With my luggage scale, my trek weighed in at 21lbs. The tarmac is 19.5. Somebody on another forum broke out the weight, and the wheels are about 2000g. So, I could drop close to 1.5lbs with one of these:

https://www.neuvationcycling.com/prod...l-set-1489.htm

https://bicyclewheelwarehouse.com/Roa...t-Race-13.html


Not too concerned about the weight right now... but it's nice to know that I could get it a few pounds lighter if I wanted to...

buffalowings

The easiest way to tell is the lack of welds (as far as I know,only cannondale files/smooths the welds). Another good alternative for a future wheelset would be the Vuelta Corsa lites, I have about 500 miles on mine now, and they are still true even after I ran over some rather large bumps along the way.

TrekmanDan

Thanks for the suggestion on the wheelset! Those would match my bike perfectly.... WHen the time comes, where would be a good place to buy those?

Bikeforumuser0017

I hope you know this isn't the actual tarmac frameset being raced by the pros. The pros ride the SL4 version which looks identical to your frame except it has "SL4" on the seat tube and the carbon used has a higher weight to stiffness ratio. Amazes me though that the SL4 frameset is hundreds of dollars more than your complete tarmac with Sora.

TrekmanDan

No way! Are you serious? And here I thought they just inadvertent left out the S-Works from the frame... I knew it was too good to be true. =P

As mentioned in post #5, the highest level Tarmac model that shares the same frame is the Tarmac Comp Mid-Compact. All the models higher than that use the SL4 FACT IS 10r carbon with the exception of the S-Works which uses SL4 FACT IS 11r carbon. Prior to purchasing the bike, i must've hopped onto their site dozens of times to compare all their models. I even did a spreadsheet to compare the geometry of my old bike, tarmac, roubaix, fuji altamira, and a few others... So yes, I did know. But thanks for looking out...