briscoelab

Alrighty, the time is quickly approaching that I need to order my race frame for the 07 season. I've narrowed it down to two frames, based on team sponsor deals. I can get either a 2006 Specialized S-works Tarmac E5 or for a little bit more money, a 2007 Tarmac Pro frameset.

My current bike (2006 Tarmac Elite frameset, size 58) is fine in the reach department, but the head tube is too tall at 180mm. I've had to resort to using a 130mm -17* stem, with no spacers. I have a long torso in comparison with my overall height... so fit is a little challenging at times. The fit is finally about right, but I would still like my bars to be a little lower.

So, I need a bike with a shorter head tube and roughly the same length top tube.

The 2006 Tarmac E5 has a 57cm top tube and a 160mm head tube. So, only 1cm shorter in the TT and 2cm shorter in the head tube. That sounds about perfect for the fit. But, even with the team deal I'd be spending a decent amount of money on an older frame technology and a frame that isn't any lighter than my current bike (but, it would be much stiffer).

The 2007 Tarmac Pro frame is made out of their 8r carbon with the Az1 layup design. 8r is what the full carbon 06 S-works Tarmac is made with. The frame is supposed to be as stiff as the Tarmac E5 in the bottom bracket and is over 200 grams lighter. It would cost me marginally more than the S-works Tarmac E5... but not enough to worry about The compromise would be a little in the geometry. I would have to get a 56 in this particular bike. That comes with a 565mm top tube and a 170mm head tube. This is slightly aggravating, since it has an even shorter TT, but not as short head tube of the E5 Tarmac. For some reason, Specialized increased the head tube lengths for all of the non S-works Tarmacs. (For example, a size 58 now has a 195mm head tube!!! where mine has a 180mm) However, the head tube would still be 1cm shorter... and since I am very close to where I want to be now.... that would likely be enough.


Pics of Both Frames:

07 Pro:


06 S-works E5 Tarmac:



What do you guys think?? Right now, I'm leaning towards the 07 Pro.... but I am a little concerned that the head tube might still be a little tall at 170mm.

Grasschopper

Hmm near half a pound huh? Hard to ignor that fact...but the fit is th ekey isn't it?

So I have to ask the hard question....what other bikes does your sponsor sell?

briscoelab

Well, the team is sponsored by Specialized. So, if I want a good deal... that's what I have to go with. That's alright with me, since I like most of their bikes.

The weight savings of the Pro is nice. The Specialized rep told me 2.5 lbs for the frame. So, about 1135 grams.... I'll be it comes in a little closer to 1200grams, but that's still close. The E5 Tarmac is about 1400 grams. Both frames come with forks which are lighter than my current one. Of course, my current Tarmac weighs 16.1 lbs with training wheels and right at 15 with my Zipps. So weight is already pretty low.... but lower never can hurt

As for the fit, there is where I am a little worried. But, given the fact I am nearly where I want to be with a 180mm head tube, I think the 170mm would work. I would like to get away from running a -17* stem though. So, I need to do some math and see what position a 170mm head tube would put me in compared to my current 180mm, when you swap stem angles around a bit.

Cypress

Get the one you think is 1337.

briscoelab

The real solution woudl be to get an 07 Sworks Tarmac SL.... size 56. It has a 155mm head tube and a 56.5cm TT. Too bad I can't afford that, even with a discount

briscoelab

Sweet yo

Cypress

When I looked at frames I looked at Spec, Dale, Trek (lol), Orbea, ect...

Then I decided that I was going about it all wrong. I was looking at stuff I could afford.

Look into the expensive stuff and you'll find a way to make it happen if you really want it. (I got REALLY lucky with my LOOK)

briscoelab

So I ran some numbers....

If I got the Pro frameset in 56, and used a 140mm -10* stem. My bars would actually be about 4mm higher than my current setup of a 130mm -17* stem. That isn't really good, since I wanted my bars lower. There is little in the way of -17* 140mm stems sadly. Which seems would be my only choice to get the bars lower. There is a chance I could use a 130mm -17* stem on this bike as well. But, that would reduce my overall reach by 1.5cm compared to my current bike. I'm not sure I would be happy with that.... Although, the primary reason I went to such a long stem was to move the bars even lower.... not so much for reach.

If I got the E5 Tarmac in size 57, used a 140mm -10* stem, the bars would be roughly 5mm lower than what I currently have. I could also get away with a 130mm -17* stem to lower them substantially if the need arose.... since the TT on that bike is 57cm, compared to the 56.5 of the Pro.

Ugh.... why in the world did Specialized increase their top tubes for the 07 year!!!! This is making my brain hurt

If only someone make a -13* 140mm stem

Grasschopper

How about custom (the stem)

https://www.sycip.com/Pages/custom.html#Anchor-61008
https://www.moots.com/ticomp-openroad.php
Rodriguez will do it as well I believe.

voltman

Why don't you just ride your current bike?

Cypress

Now THAT is a silly question.

Ih8lucky13

I would find a new team

briscoelab

I'm glad you understand Cypress!


The motivation to get a new bike is because I want to improve my fit a little bit..... and get a new toy

briscoelab

You are a lifesaver I will look at those after work today. (I've goofed off enough calculating bar heights for various stem angles and head tube heights already )

DocRay

You just don't get it.

Using femtosecond pulsed lasers, scientists can now measure extremely small increments in time, like in chemical reactions, or the time between buying a new frame, and looking for one to replace it.
(one colnagosecond).

I like the 07 Pro, the Tarmac's faired seattube never looked kosher.

for the head tube height, there are stems with lower stack heights, and headsets that are lower.

Cypress

+1 on the seat tube. They should have a matching seatpost that doesn't clash with the shape.

briscoelab

Ugh.... Moots won't do custom ones with an oversized bar clamp....

I think there is a guy on WW who will build custom carbon ones. I might check into that.

Grasschopper

Huh? It says right on that page that they will.

briscoelab

That is only for their stock models. I just called and talked to them....

voltman

Can't you use the Specialized stem with the angle shims?

briscoelab

Biggest they make is a 130mm.

voltman

S-Works Tarmac SL it is!

Grasschopper

Err but it is listed right there under the custom step option...sure it says above that the stock is both but they sure make it look like the custom is for both as well.

briscoelab

Yea... it's pretty deceiving. Not to mention it takes 10 weeks to get one. (and they cost nearly $400! I might as well get a S-works SL )


From Moots site:

**********************
Open Road Ti, Reversible 1 1/8" only* $325 + $375 Custom
spacer.gif - 43 Bytes
90 x ± 6, 100 x ± 6, 110 x ± 6, 120 x ± 6
90 x 0, 100 x 0, 110 x 0, 120 x 0, 130 x 10, 130 x 0

Custom Open Road Ti Stem (50% Deposit Required)

* Open Road available in 26.0 + 31.8

* Shim available for 1"steerer tube
***********************

Although the "*Open Road available in 26.0 + 31.8" is listed right below the Custom heading... it is really just referring to the "*" they have on the first line.


I wish! But, that would run me about $600 more.... and I still have to pay for the Honeymoon that's coming up.

briscoelab

Ugh.... I just got an email back from them saying that they will do the 31.8 clamp that they were mistaken on the phone.... Still It costs $400 and takes over 2 months to get. I think I'll look into some other options