Tour Bikes You Can Own: Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL3

BONUS POINTS

• The Body Geometry Toupe saddle. It is now high on our list of favorite saddles

• Looks. With the Roval Rapide SL45 wheels and the Saxo paint job, the SL3 is a looker.

THE STATS
Price: $7700
Weight: 15.1 pounds (size 58)
Sizes: 49, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 61 centimeters
Info: www.specialized.com

The cobbles of Flanders were not a problem for the Tarmac SL3 or Fabian Cancellara.
(photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Even with the monumental success of the SL2 under Saxo Bank and Quick Step, Specialized improved on a proven winner for 2010 with the SL3. The SL3 begins as four main sections: a front triangle, seat tube, seat stays and a bottom bracket/chainstay section. The bottom bracket shell is full carbon (no metal bearing cups for weight savings). The chainstays are dramatically different than on the SL2 and feature a progressive carbon layup and a more elliptical shape. Those who meet the SL3 without looking at it as a design progression from the SL on up will first see a minimalist and race-focused design with a remarkably light and stiff frame (875grams for a 56-centimeter frame). The SL3 is designed, tested and built for the fastest racers in the world. And, it looks it.

The Toupe saddle and Pave post are a great combination.

THE PARTS

The RBA test bike is a Saxo Bank team replica, Dura-Ace equipped race machine. This bike is available to the masses at your local dealer and features a Body Geometry Toupe saddle with a carbon reinforced shell and titanium rails on a Pave seat post with Zertz inserts. Specialized S-Works carbon crankset, an S-Works SL classic bend bar and the new Roval Rapide SL45 wheelset complete the package.

THE RIDE
This bike was put through the insane, bike-jarring, bone-shaking Tour of Flanders course in possibly the worst conditions (perfect, actually,if you are a fan of the Classics). Rain, mud, more mud and 15 cobbled climbs that required super human and super-bike skills to conquer. Luckily, we had also spent plenty of time on the SL3 on regular commutes or lunch rides so we could try the bike out in more realistic conditions. It is stiff and built for racing. The SL3 is a sure handling bike and remarkably stable on the descents.

The S-Works cranks are now available from Specialized as an aftermarket product.

There is a noticeable power transfer when you get out of the saddle as well. All your efforts seem to move through the bottom bracket and turn into power gracefully. After six hours on the S-Works SL3 on a cold, rainy and muddy day, we came away truly impressed. The Flanders course is really not made for road bikes (more like tractors), and although this is a stiff and nimble race bike, we were pleased by the bike’s ability to not only speed up when the opportunity arose, but also to get over the seemingly endless flat sections of cobbles in the Flanders countryside. The weight of the frame was also a nice attribute when you are climbing up 20-percent sections of cobbles. This bike has been hyped up quite a bit. Alberto Contador rides one. It’s won Flanders three years in a row. Andy and Frank Schleck ride one. And if you are looking for a bike to race this year and in the years to come, we assure you, the S-Works Tarmac SL3 is a great choice and will keep you going fast for a long time.

Road Bike Action