Specialized Tarmac Comp 2014

a.palmer

Long time away from the forum, but thought I will drop back in. After over 4 years riding my Trek 1.2 I have finally managed to get the funds together for an upgrade, which I got at the weekend with this Specialized Tarmac Comp. Have only had chance for a quick blast so far but first impressions are that it is a lovely ride compared to my trusty Trek. Very different looks wise too from the Trek, going from white and red to matte black, but I like it. Completely standard from stock as it stands, but I'm sure that wont last forever!

MTB'erRoadie

Nice, this has made me rather excited.... I pick up the exact same model on Friday.

steel42

very stealthy, love it

a.palmer

Thanks, I was originally looking at the 2014 Sport or Elite models in the shop because I thought a matte frame might be a pain to keep looking good, but the decision was made for me because nether the shop or specialized has either of those left in a 58cm frame. Forced my hand into spending a bit more for the Comp, but I'm kind of glad in the end as the looks are growing on me and the 11 speed ultegra is very nice.

a.palmer

Anyone have any thoughts on how some red detailing such as cable outers will look on the bike? I can't make up my mind at all

bernithebiker

A.Palmer wrote:

Anyone have any thoughts on how some red detailing such as cable outers will look on the bike? I can't make up my mind at all

My vote would be NO! Don't do it. Too garish.

antsmithmk

Nice little aero disk cover behind the casette...

MountainMonster

I saw one of these in a local store today, in the same colour scheme. They look beautiful in the flesh!

a.palmer

antsmithmk wrote:

Nice little aero disk cover behind the casette...

Cheers mate

turbotommy

Lovely looking bike, congrats

komuter

really like the new stealth colour scheme!

Mr Stamp

Just about to ride one tomorrow with a view to buying? Was going to upgrade the wheels, what do you think? anything negative you have noticed that you intend to look at changing?

Looks beautiful btw.

a.palmer

Cheers guys. Mr Stamp, from my ill-informed perspective the bike is lovely to ride. I have come from a Trek 1.2 so it's a great step up and I'm not noticing anything I feel like I need to change at the moment, but someone more used to higher end bikes might. The only thing I'm considering is swapping the crankset for 105 or ultegra, but that is purely for the aesthetics.
I feel like I want to add some subtle colour to her, but I don't know how to go about it without ruining it. If it were a plain black frame it'd be easier, but I think the black/grey frame may not lend itself to jazzing up!

Mr Stamp

Not ridden yet but I'm smitten on getting one with a real decent set of wheels, hoping to sort out a test ride this weekend, anything advice would be appreciated.

IrishMac

I'd avoid anything but black cable outers on it IMO.

MOWA and Hope do nice anodised accessories in a lot of different colours, they complement all of my bikes nicely.
Dust caps, spacers, seat clamp etc.

I'd just avoid gold though, looks a bit 'pimpy' IMHO.

Mr Stamp

Finally purchased one with Ultegra wheelset, pedals, specialised cages and cat eye cordless computer. Just waiting for dry day and time to ride. I'll post a pic when I get a moment and work out how to.

How's you tarmac A Palmer?

andy46

Lovely bike, I'd leave the cable's black. If I was going to try coloured outers I'd just try the 2 brake cable's. I'd go fluro though 8)

RideOnTime

Smasher...

specialized_nick

Very nice and top of my list at the mo, what sort of weight is it, 8.5ish?

Mr Stamp

Mine with pedals, cages, computer it weighs in at 8.2kg

60 miles in, drop seat post a cm and lovin it, rides like a dream for me.

a.palmer

Sorry for the delay, Mr Stamp - I am loving it, great ride and seems well suited to my kind of riding which is generally 10-15 miles blasts rather than long rides. I've yet to try it on anything over 20 miles so I don't know what that will be like. Since I first got it I've just added bottle cages and changed the bar tape for something squishier, oh and rip off the plastic disc on the cassette. I feel like I want to change the crankset, but that is purely based on looks, and new wheels would be nice but again not sure if I would personally notice a performance increase. Just given it a good wash and nervous wipe down using muc-off protect and shine, which seems to have worked nicely on the matte finish, wasn't sure how that was going to go!

ayjaycee

A Palmer - That is one nice looking machine. Colour is a very personal thing but I reckon a subtle splash here and there, probably from anodised alloy fittings, would look good. Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about the OEM wheels. From what I have read, they are not too shoddy and are a definite step up from the Axis wheels that came with my Allez (as they should be on a bike costing £2K). I am not as experienced with road bikes as a lot on this site but take the view that I am a mere mortal and who doesn't race or do mega distances and so would probably not notice any major differences between my current Fulcrum Racing 5 LGs and something more exotic (ie. a lot more expensive).

Have you weighed it yet? I ask because I was surprised at the weight quoted by, I think, Mr Stamp for his bike. My 56cm Allez with Fulcrum wheels, Tiagra groupset, pedals, 2 cages and computer comes in at 8.8Kg and I thought that Tarmac would be a lot less than that - I didn't consider the 0.6Kg difference to be that great but I am probably being naive in my expectations. To some it's a lot of weight to shed but to me it's just a full bidon.

Mr Stamp - Please don't think I am being critical because I don't mean to be - just showing my inexperience in such things.

a.palmer

In doing a rough weigh in by me holding it on bathroom scales it seems to be 8.7kg.

I agree with you on the wheels, although I think a nice pair of deeper rims on it would look fantastic.

Here she is after a clean and wipe over with Muc-Off protect and shine. I have also turned the shim round in the stem clamp to give more of a drop.

IMAG0382 by Adam Palmer, on Flickr

ayjaycee

Still looking good - as I said before, don't be afraid of the odd splash of colour. My Allez has already got plenty of it as it came in what the Spesh marketing men call Satin Charcoal, Cyan and Hyper Green which I think looks a lot better than it sounds. There is a picture of it here somewhere but I must get around to posting another on as I have since taken of the surplus plastic and changed the wheels and pedals. I will have to sort it out next week as I won't get a chance to ride again until then.

As an aside from cycling, I had a look at your Flickr pages and was impressed by the photos. Can I ask what kit you use, particularly the main telephoto lens? I have been into photography for most of my life but have to admit that as get older I also get lazier. I have got a good digital SLR and decent lenses out to 300mm (equvalent to 450 in 35mm speak) but, more and more, seem to rely on a compact or bridge camera nowadays. They might not deliver quite the same quality but are a hell of a lot easier to lug around.

a.palmer

My telephoto is a Tamron 70-300mm VC USD, I am hoping to get their new 150-600mm at some point when funds allow.

ayjaycee

They look very good for such a relatively compact lens and a lot better than the shots from a cheapo Nikon 70-300mm that I used to own (and gave up on!). I've actually got a Nikon AF 300mm f2.8 which I have not even touched for a couple of years because I just find it too cumbersome nowadays (as I said, I get lazier as I get older). If I do use my SLR, I tend to stick with an 18 - 200mm zoom but sometimes want something just a little bit longer. The 300mm will probably find it's way to ebay at some point soon.
Again, cheers for the info.