Want one!

oblongomaculatus

The new Specialized S Works McLaren Tarmac.

http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/sworksmclaren/

I don't care that £16,000 is a stupid amount of money for a bike. Or that only 10 of 250 will be available in the UK. Or that it's probably overpriced. Or that I'm not a good enough rider to do it justice. I still want one. Why? Because it looks beautiful.

Luckily (or looked at another way, unluckily) I don't have that sort of money, so I don't have the dilemma of whether to indulge myself or not. Frankly, I's settle for being passed by one out on the road one day.

ElectronShepherd

I like the way it comes with:

"Pedals: Nylon flat test ride, loose-ball, w/ reflectors"

I reckon that's a major chunk of the £16K right there - those plastic pedals (with reflectors) ain't cheap, you know...

lawrences

What a scam. Since you get shoes why not throw some orange speedplays on the thing.

Was looking like great value for money up until that point.

dilatory

Not hugely keen on it as a whole but those brakes look absolutely lovely.

sirmol

Love the colour scheme! Especially those shoes.

dennisn

oblongomaculatus wrote:

The new Specialized S Works McLaren Tarmac.

http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/sworksmclaren/

I don't care that £16,000 is a stupid amount of money for a bike. Or that only 10 of 250 will be available in the UK. Or that it's probably overpriced. ....

"....probably overpriced..."? I think that's a given.

ElectronShepherd

I would imagine that the sort of person who buys a bike like this doesn't buy it to ride it - they buy it to possess it (and probably show off that they have it to others).

It's a bit like buying a £25,000 Rolex - someone who does that doesn't do it because they need something to tell the time with.

Dippydog2

madasahattersley wrote:

I don't get it TBH. You've got £16k to spend on a bike. You could have any number of super exotic mega bespoke and unique bikes from brilliant manufacturers like Parlee, Moots, Seven, IndyFab, Baum etc etc. For that money you could build up any one of those frames with whatever components and wheels you want, and have them all custom painted to your own taste.

Instead you buy a specialized. It will not be a custom frame, it will be almost identical to the model below it, you will not hand pick the components for it, you will see every other man and his dog riding a specialized, and it will be black and orange. I just don't get it

I will explain it to you.

The people who will actually buy this bike have never heard of the manufacturers you mention. They will know very little if not nothing about cycling, bike fitting, suitability of a bike to a type of terrain or virtually anything road bike related.

They will buy it because they want to own it and will enjoy the conversation it generates with like minded individuals.

It's the sort of thing a formula one driver will use to recce a track.

I am willing to bet that not a single forum member will buy one. They have far too much sense.

I think it's a jolly good idea. The excess profits that Spesh make from it can be used to keep the prices down for us mere mortals.

oblongomaculatus

Dippydog2 wrote:

madasahattersley wrote:

I don't get it TBH. You've got £16k to spend on a bike. You could have any number of super exotic mega bespoke and unique bikes from brilliant manufacturers like Parlee, Moots, Seven, IndyFab, Baum etc etc. For that money you could build up any one of those frames with whatever components and wheels you want, and have them all custom painted to your own taste.

Instead you buy a specialized. It will not be a custom frame, it will be almost identical to the model below it, you will not hand pick the components for it, you will see every other man and his dog riding a specialized, and it will be black and orange. I just don't get it

I will explain it to you.

The people who will actually buy this bike have never heard of the manufacturers you mention. They will know very little if not nothing about cycling, bike fitting, suitability of a bike to a type of terrain or virtually anything road bike related.

They will buy it because they want to own it and will enjoy the conversation it generates with like minded individuals.

It's the sort of thing a formula one driver will use to recce a track.

I am willing to bet that not a single forum member will buy one. They have far too much sense.

I think it's a jolly good idea. The excess profits that Spesh make from it can be used to keep the prices down for us mere mortals.

That's a little harsh I think, but basically correct. I admit I don't know enough about components, wheels or what I might need in terms of a custom frame to make an informed choice. Nor have I heard of most of those manufacturers (but I might start looking into them now). My reaction, summed up by the less than serious title, was based purely on the fact I do think it looks beautiful. However, if I had the money I wouldn't be acting on that reaction. I would spend a lot of time attempting to acquire the knowledge I lack so I could make a sensible choice about the very best bike in that price range for me... and then not buy it, because £16,000 is way too much to spend on a bike.

I don't agree though that because this bike is from a big name maker - "you will see every other man and his dog riding a specialized" - it is devalued in some way. Just because they're common that doesn't mean they're not good bikes, any more than a custom built frame from a little known manufacturer, built up with carefully chosen components must by definition be a great bike.

And by the way, I wouldn't have my name painted on any bike at any price. That's like having your Mum sew name tags in your PE kit, isn't it?

chippyk

This may be an exercise in what could we do with no real budget, or what new ideas or materials can we use? In a few years the same technology may well be on more affordable bikes.

Mccaria

It's a really boring way to spend a lot of money on a bike. Half the fun is speccing out the frame with components of your choice.

oblongomaculatus

I'm sure you're right, but as I said for those of us whose knowledge of components is less than encyclopaedic, the "off the peg" approach does have a certain appeal. After all, there are many bikes out there, and choosing between bike x, bike y and bike z can be hard enough, without having to decide for instance whether to have these wheels or those, or whether a groupset from one manufacturer has the edge over its equivalent from another...

Colinthecop

Dippydog2 wrote:

I am willing to bet that not a single forum member will buy one. They have far too much sense.

Even that Vbloke....? :shock:

arran77

Colinthecop wrote:

Dippydog2 wrote:

I am willing to bet that not a single forum member will buy one. They have far too much sense.

Even that Vbloke....? :shock:

Even him. I don't ever recall him going on about the great bikes he has unless I missed something?

Colinthecop

He's missed a trick then... 8)

MountainMonster

I would have one for sure.

As much as Specialised polarises people when it comes to looks and availability, the truth is, they make damn good bikes. My father in law bought a Venge last summer, and by god is that bike amazing! If I had that kind of cash knocking around I would buy one.