Cafe

Guaranteed, Lance would of won 7 TDF titles on a walmart bike. Book it.

Campag4life

fify

svtmike

20% off of retail is the crash replacement policy.

I didn't expect a free frame from them -- that'll eventually come from the guy who hit me.

Campag4life

Thanks for explaining the Spesh crash replacement policy.
Glad you are OK to ride another day. Post her up when you get her done.

svtmike

Thanks. It covered the frame, bar, and the helmet... but oddly enough not the saddle, and up to five years old.

Certainly not as generous as the legendary Trek policy, but hey... it says S-Works on the downtube!

BB30 geek note: the SL4 module ships with aluminum Shimano crankset adapters fitted into the BB30 bearings... which are not loctited into the aluminum sleeve. I'm guessing there's probably a creak in my future (I fitted my existing S-Works crankset, with the spider swapped to a 130BCD and Praxis Classic chainrings).

You wouldn't believe what 5 months off the bike will do to your fitness.

Chi_Z

i don't know if you can actually buy the pro version of the sl4 like you see in the video. It has a custom geometry much closer to a tarmac. The consumer sl4 has a mucher taller headtube (less sexy)

Long Tom

I don't have enough experience to make any kind of declarations of relative quality. But I can report that my 2014 SL4 Roubaix w/ CG/R seatpost is a great ride in a 61cm size. Handles great, and has a tangible sense of urgency when you step on it.

Campag4life

That S-works on the downtube is a very good thing.
There isn't a creak in your future with due care honestly. Spesh eliminating their narrow PF30 for S-works for 2015 is one of the best things they have done in a while. BB30 can be much more easily tamed because only one interface to deal with versus two including softer Delrin bushing material.
If you Loctite the bearings and run your 30mm S-works crank you will be good provided you space it properly to correctly preload the wave washer if you have the earlier wave washer S-works crank. Should be rock solid and won't creak. Also, the BB30 is easily converted with Praxis to either DA or Campy crank depending on your groupset preference...and can ebay your S-works crank. I like the S-works crank but am not a fan of removable spiders which both the DA and Campy crank do NOT have...and this is by design intent they don't.

Five months off the bike is quite a while and I presume you did that because of injury so glad you are able to ride again.

svtmike

Ripped up knee and crushed vertebrae.

Campag4life

Wow! Care to share how it happened? Avoidable or unavoidable? Lessons learned?

svtmike

I was hit making a left turn (I was at the head of a 12-man group) on a rural 2-lane road by a guy who claims to have made it to 24 without knowing that 12 outstretched left arms means "we're turning left" -- he took it as "pass us, fast!". As he hit the gas and swung out to pass, I'd already started the turn and he swerved onto the road I was turning onto and sideswiped me at (I'm estimating) about 40 mph. The side mirror caught my knee, throwing me. I think my other knee got torn up as the bike twisted away and separated from my cleat. The crushed vertebrae were from landing on my butt.

The guys I ride with say there was nothing I could have done. We all knew there was a car approaching from behind; that's nothing new. The only thing that would have stopped it would have been to abort the turn due to the presence of a vehicle behind, and that's not predictable riding nor always possible, so it's not really a reasonable option.

Campag4life

Unbelievable Mike and really proves how much we are the mercy of the elements when out on our bikes. Our lives can change in a moments notice.
If the guy who tried to pass your paceline had even a remote clue, it wouldn't have happened and of course the unthinkable flipside is you could have been crippled for life.
No doubt you have considered everything along your path to recovery.

I hope you get back to your former self. When I asked the question about being unavoidable, I believe what happened to you would have happened to anyone of us in your situation. Unavoidable. Moron's like that should not be allowed to drive. Of course that would remove about 50% of the drivers on the road.

svtmike

Thanks Campag. It would have been much worse if he hadn't swerved; probably would have mowed down several of us. I took one for the team.

I'm looking forward to finding out how the SL4 differs next year. Until then, it's stationary trainer time on the Roubaix and my Secteur on the road in early spring.

Campag4life

Its exciting to build a new bike...especially one as pedigreed at the S-works Roubaix.
Good luck with your recovery and new bike!

Flatbroke

I got a bad itch that I fear only a Sl4 Sworks can scratch. Some day soon hopefully