I ran across a post on Reddit the other day where someone claimed that they were told that using chamois cream with the saddle might destroy it. That seemed really strange to me, because the Venn diagram of people who buy expensive 3D printed saddles who’s entire reason for existence is to enhance comfort, and people who use chamois cream is probably a circle.…
Specialized
Comprehensive Carbon Wheelset Warranty Breakdown
I like to think about the the cost differential between a “premium branded” carbon wheelset and lesser known brands (also referred to as “Chinese wheels”, although I’m not a fan of that term) as breaking down into two categories: extra insurance and signalling.…
Specialized BG Dual Gel MTB/Gravel Cycling Gloves
Good gloves can be the difference between a comfortable ride and the opposite. Big fan of these Specialized MTB/Gravel gloves.…
Specialized Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss Gravel Tire
In the vast collection of all-rounder gravel tires, I think the Specialized Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss stands out. It’s not the lightest, or the fastest, or even the most puncture resistant. It’s strength is in the balance of these factors, while delivering a comfortable ride. …
Specialized Goes Direct
It’s really hard for me to see Specialized’s move into direct-to-consumer sales as anything but a way to take margin away from dealers. Which, yeah, fine, it’s their sandbox – at least on the surface. Digging a little deeper, it’s important to understand that this is pretty bad for their customers too. I’m not going to get into how the relationship works with their dealer network (this is covered in the CyclingTips…
Specialized Praxis Works Chainrings Are a Scam
It’s no secret that Specialized resells Praxis Works chainrings, but I was surprised by what I discovered when looking into what they are actually selling.…
If it doesn’t have fender mounts, it’s not a real gravel bike
Sorry BIKERUMOR!, now matter how many times you say “gravel bike” when talking about the new Crux, it’s not a gravel bike. That’s not to say that it’s not a cool CX bike, in a time when gravel is the new black. Just that we need to be honest about what it is. Why pretend otherwise? As long as we’re being honest, maybe prioritizing the lightest “gravel” bike isn’t the smarted choice.…
Yeah, OK, Mike’s Bikes; Pon Group is technically a “family-owned company”
First off, just to be clear, I think it sucks. Really sucks. That Specialized canceled the pre-orders of everyone who bought one of their bikes from Mike’s Bikes. While they almost certainly were within the bounds of their contract with Mike’s Bikes, it’s not great for the 400+ people screwed over by this act, and perhaps more importantly, will cost Specialized goodwill to a much wider audience. FOR SHAME! But, what I…
Remove Specialized S-Works Carbon Crankset
I got stuck the first time I tried to remove my Specialized S-Works Power Cranks, so I thought it would be useful to document how to do it. The process should be exactly the same whether you have a standard S-Works Carbon Crank or the Power Cranks.…
Specialized S-Works Evade II with ANGi MIPS Aero Helmet
Aero? Maybe, but definitely quieter, and great looking. This helmet nails the ergonomics, well, with one exception.…