i’ve been riding the SW aethos for around a year and 6k miles. i wanted one for quite a while but wasn’t really sold on the s-works version until 12 speed dura ace came out, at which point i thought it made sense (as much as such a thing ever does!) to go all in. didn’t really like the SRAM groups, wanted electronic shifting, less wires, something close to 1:1 climbing gear, so the 12 speed DA option (11-34 rear cassette, not avail easily on prior DA) was what i got.

today i would consider the expert, at $6k less (prices seem to have gone up again) but i don’t love the C38 wheels and certainly prefer the frame with no “specialized” written on the side. i changed out my cockpit for a one piece, changed the saddle, so in the end the differences would be frame, wheels, and group.

i have ridden lots of other road bikes, but few long enough to really know if the very satisfying combination of ingredients of the aethos is common. it’s very light, to the point that when you’re really in the zone, it feels like the bike isn’t there. all your energy seems to go into moving yourself forward, or sideways, and the inertia of the bike itself seems to disappear. it’s stiff enough for me (6’2, 185) that i have never felt anything other than confident about hammering it, but it’s very, very comfortable. my last bike had a head shock and bigger tires, but the aethos is just as good for me over 5+ hour rides. and, finally, i do like the very discreet branding and combination of traditional overall form with ultra-modern details and construction. so, super light, stiff, comfortable, looks good. on the downsides, expensive, not quite as aero as a tarmac or similar.

is the extra $2k for the s works frame worth it? objectively, no. my estimation from the test rides i took is that the regular one is 9/10 of the way there. is the extra $1k for dura ace worth it? again, objectively not. between those two things, you’re talking about a pound or two. if i was building one from scratch and time was no object, i’d probably get the base frame, 12 speed ultegra, any really good carbon climbing wheels, and have 95% of the bike for 75% of the cost. but that’s splitting hairs - i seriously love the bike, always look forward to riding it, and it gets me out there more.