After testing a slew of comparable bikes, as well as some pricier options such as the Orbea Orca and '07 Trek Madone 5.2 and SSL, I decided to purchase the Tarmac Pro. In short, the bike is a steal for the price. While not the lightest (due to the wheels - the frame is the same as the 06 S-works), this is a very stiff bike, and it shows through with it's outsanding performance on hills. I found myself shaving significant time off of my regular climbs, and feel much more comfortable giving hard efforts in races, as I know the bike will respond. If you lose a sprint, or can't keep up on a climb, you can't blame the bike.
Below is a list of new and used Specialized Tarmac Pro For Sale.
The handling is much different than I originally expected, after hearing claims that the tarmac could be "twitchy" or "unstable." Not accurate by a long shot... And I question the riding ability of those who describe it in such a way. It is certainly more nimble than any other bike that I've ridden, but it is exactly what you want if you race frequently. It won't "skip around" or wobble as long as you don't. Keep your head in the game, and this bike will do whatever you want - quicker than you can imagine. Literally, you think it, and without hesitation, the tarmac will do it.
Remarkably well balanced, track stands are a breeze! (great for stoplights)
Something to consider before buying if you currently ride a standard geo bike: The top tube will be much lower, so if you are accustomed to "pinching" the top tube with your knees during fast descents, it will be in a different position than you are used to. That said, the bike descends like a dream - I feel like I'm floating on clouds or flying a fighter jet, not white-knuckling a tricky mountainside.
Corners are a blast, as the bike will lay into them and snap out of them without any difficulty. It seems to be able to corner tighter than most other bikes I tested, with the exception being the Orca, likely due to the compact geo, and shorter wheelbase. I've noticed that this seems to give you a bit more of a "snap" when you come out of a corner. It's great if you ride crits, as you feel a true acceleration out of corners.
Make sure you get the front wheel's skewer tightened properly, as the s-works fork on mine creaked a bit initially - upon further inspection it was clearly due to the quick release being cranked down far too much.
A note on the mixed components... Why the Ultegra front derailleur and not DA? Not a real problem... just a curiosity.
Ultegra brakes are new to me, I've had DA before, and these actually feel stronger... more solid in a few ways. I might even consider sticking to Ultegra brakes in the future.
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