Tarmac Pro 2010

jonehall

I own a 2009 Specialized Roubaix Comp (52cm), upgraded with Campy Chorus 11 speed, Rolf Prima Elan wheels, FSA Kwing carbon bar, Pro3Race tyres. I absolutely love the Roubaix, but 90% of my weekend rides are around 55-65 miles and my week rides are 20mile fast group rides.

I’m itching to try a new frame with a little more bite. The Specialized Tarmac Pro is the frame I want (Tarmac SL2/SL3 is my dream frame), but before I drop the $, I need some advice on sizing, pls:

I got a professional fitting and in order to get comfy on the 52cm Roubaix:

- I use short reach bars and 70mm stem – pretty much the minimum reach you can achieve on this bike
- I have dropped my bars all but one spacer (the Roubaix has a tall head tube – and I like a nice drop from saddle to bars, probably 3 inches right now)
- My seat is slightly forward of center, but not loads, I’m nicely over the pedal axis
- When I got fitting, the guy said I could maybe take a smaller frame

I don’t want to buy a new 52cm Tarmac Pro 2010 frame and have to bang a 70mm stem on there. Seems to be an indicator that the frame is a little off for me. I am 5ft7.5 and 72kgs. I have normal proportions, but a littlee longer legs and shorter arms. I don’t know how to properly measure reach, but feels like I need a top tube length of 525mm (49 tarmac = 518 and 52 tarmac = 537). I also saw the 49cm Tarmac in my LBS and it looks like a child’s bike and the 700 wheels seem giant. (Although Paulo Bettini rode a 49cm SL2 for two seasons!).

Any advice on getting the 49cm or 52cm Tarmac Pro? Or another awesome frame such as LOOK?

redddraggon

5'7.5, 52cm roubaix with 70mm :shock: you must have really really really long legs then.

Why do you want a new frame? You can make the roubaix way racier than you have it now by fitting a longer stem and dropping the spacers.

Perhaps work on your flexibility? I run a 55cm TT with a 12cm stem and I'm shorter than you

jonehall

That's good advice - I'll try a 90mm stem and drop the bars too. And I agree that i need to work on my flexibility too. I was kinda hoping a racier Tarmac frame would make me a little faster!?

gkerr4

re. making you faster - I don't think it will make much odds to be honest - red has a good idea to drop the bars and longer stem for a more aero position.

I have to say you already have a pretty small frame - I'm the exact same height and weight as you - I have a size 54 S-works roubaix (with a 100mm stem although I am thinking of trying a 110) which I love - it was between the roubaix and the tarmac that I chose between too and went for the roubaix as I felt it 'added' more comfort than it took away racy-ness. That said I am down to the 20mm cone spacer only on my headtube so it would easily be possible to have a tarmac with a higher front end.

I could probably fit a 52 but the 49 would just be unthinkable.

you can actually replace the 20mm cone spacer with a flat one too - look for the campagnolo record headset and the non TTC model (with means tall top cap - the other is flat)

Speed_King

I was able to drop the stem to one spacer on my tarmac elite despite the fact i use the barmac wedge bars and not conventional ones, the stems length is betwen 90 and 100 and therefore i have loads of reach and the seatpost is about 4 mill above the limit mark so i have a nice almost vertical drop to the bars making it great for utilising the power my legs generate to the pedals also it does help with the areo dynamics! ( and btw im 15 st and 5 ft 10"