Product news: With the brand new Specialized Tarmac SL7, the US manufacturer wants to set new standards in the racing bike sector. An uncompromising structure therefore ensures the best aerodynamics, first-class handling and a just as permissible lightweight. With the Aerofly II handlebars of the Venge and the new in-house Roval Rapide CLX wheels, an appealing overall concept is presented.
45 years of work and development have gone into the new Specialized Tarmac SL7. Because it's been so long since you started working on the first Tarmac. Several hours of development work also went into the new Tarmac, with the aim of designing an uncompromising overall package that enables drivers to never have to choose between two wheels again.
To do this, each feature has been pushed to the limit to ensure optimum aerodynamics, weight and rigidity without neglecting any other feature. So the first samples of the Specialized Tarmac SL7 were extremely aggressive and essentially experimental. Because it consisted of only a bare minimum of material required to make a frame. Of course the developers were aware that they would fail the lab tests and miss the stiffness targets, but the prototypes were almost 20% below the weight target. The next step was to cover the frames with carbon and thus achieve the rigidity goals.
The lab tested not only different overlaps to improve stiffness, but also ply size, shape, angle, position, material and stack resulting in hundreds of layups with thousands of ply possibilities. This made it possible for the new Tarmac SL7, with a frame weight of only 800 grams, to reach the necessary 6,8 kilos in the complete assembly, which is just at the weight limit of the UCI. But since weight is not everything, the SL7 naturally placed just as much emphasis on ride quality and aerodynamics.
“No matter how fast the Venge was or how good the handling of the SL6, choosing between the two always meant making a compromise on race day. We weren't happy with that. This is how the new SL7 came about. Because we just weren't willing to compromise anymore." – Cameron Piper, Product Manager
The Tarmac SL7 is the ultimate proof that aerodynamic advantage doesn't have to come at the expense of weight or ride quality. The endless refinements of frame shapes from the Free Foil database make it possible to build such a balanced bike. The first-class aero properties of the Specialized Tarmac SL7 are the result of the fact that the frame tubes, which have a significant influence on the aerodynamics - i.e. the seat tube, seat stays, head tube and fork - have been refined in the wind tunnel and made even faster. Added to this is the Aerofly II handlebar, which with integrated cable guides not only ensures a clean look, but also decisive seconds. Rounded off with the new Roval Rapide CLX wheels, the SL7 is 40 seconds faster over 45 km than the Tarmac SL6. All with the same weight and handling advantages as known from the SL6.
"This is the kind of project we both love and hate in equal measure: hate because all priorities seem to be opposites, love because it's challenges like these that allow us to push ourselves to the limit - and that's exactly what we have at new tarmac done.” – Nadia Carroll, developer
And that brings us to the next topic, namely handling. Thanks to the Rider First Engineering already known from Specialized, an optimal balance between stiffness, weight and ride quality is guaranteed in all frame sizes, so that every rider experiences the same legendary Tarmac Feeling. This is made possible by extensive data collection. Drawing on a vast real-world telemetry database, prototype framesets were developed that combine Venge-level stiffness targets with Tarmac SL6 compliance and responsiveness. The feedback from BORA-Hansgrohe and Deceuninck - Quick-Step athletes was then used to validate the changes. The Specialized Tarmac SL7 also offers responsive and agile handling.
Specialized Tarmac SL7 – The models at a glance
A real highlight in the new SL7 lineup is the model from the Sagan Collection. An exclusive 300 pieces will be available in an attractive gold design by world champion Peter Sagan from Taam Bora-hansgrohe.
