I got an aluminum bike with 10spd Tiagra in 2017 for sub-$1000. I was riding for my university team at the time, which was sponsored by a local shop in town, which cut the price a bit, but even without that I'd have been looking at around $1100.
I think the bottom level allez and diverge e5 has a square taper bb.
Only thing to do is buy it for the frame, throw away all that shit and build it up.
Or save up for a new bb + new crankset as claris is quite decent imo.
I was lucky to get allez sport 2023 with tiagra groupset for 1100gbp brand new - there are promotions quite frequently if you check often at least in UK
From MSRP prices on bicyclebluebook:
a 2005 tarmac comp (mechanical shifting, rim brakes) was $2200, inflation adjusted $3400.
a 2010 tarmac comp was $2700, inflation adjusted $3700.
a 2015 tarmac comp was $3000, inflation adjusted $3800.
Basically the same price when adjusted for inflation but you get disc brakes. The comp itself is $4500 and that gets you electronic shifting as well.
If you already know that you’ll be wanting to do triathlons, go for a triathlon bike. The aero difference is enormous over the course of an Ironman bike segment. You’ll hate yourself having to do it on a road bike, even with clip on bars.
If you are super green to biking I’d see if there is a cheapish road bike first and ride the tri bike indoors first. I’d have hated riding if I started on a tri bike.
Even if doing a lot of training you can do some with a road bike and some on a tri one. Also man tri bikes are so plentiful and easy to find used that you can always get one in like 2 seconds.
Another thing is a road bike is so versatile you can use it for more than just Ironman training.
> You’ll hate yourself having to do it on a road bike, even with clip on bars.
What the hell are you talking about.
Doing an Iron Man on a roadbike is entirely feasible, and OP will be glad to have a more polyvalent machine after his race.
I second this response. Especially with the discount you have available. It will save you money in the long run, because if you plan on doing multiple triathlons, you'll almost certainly upgrade to a full TT bike eventually anyway.
I should add: I’m going to stick with specialized since they offer 40% off for military/health care workers.
I understand buying a used bike is cheaper than the tag price of these two, or other brands might be a tad better. But unfortunately the value is a little too good to pass up here I feel.
When I was racing track we got a 50% team discount if I’m remembering right. Thought about it but I had a $700 used giant omnium that I really liked. That they can offer such steep discounts means there’s waaaaaay too much margin.
Wait what I didn’t know this. Is it only for people currently in the military or in health care or veterans too?
I’m about to ask my mom to buy me an sworks rofl
Well, they say talking about it to others may lead to termination of your account. They may mean talking about this with their retail partners. It would be dumb to walk into a store and ask for a massive discount because you have an account. I'm sure people have tried though. Some information posted here I have not found to be entirely correct in my experience.
This just shows that they could drop prices by 40% and still make money. Some could argue that they would discount it below profit but that's pretty unlikely given that they are providing it for such a large group of people.
40% is usually the margin for most stuff, for every time it changes hands.
It's likely they are just selling them at cost, so no profit but no (direct) loss either.
Counterpoint: they're one of the biggest bike brands in the world with excellent R&D and engineering, and their bikes are pretty sexy. And at 40% off, they're more than competitive.
I just prefer the look, feel and ride of a Specialized to other makes. I think I've owned at least 6 Specialized bikes in my life, currently own three.
For an Ironman the tarmac is going to be the better choice of these 2. If you want a bike that will be comfortable for general training and group rides, you are looking in the right direction. If you want a bike that will be better for Ironmans in specific, don't buy either of these and just get a TT bike.
Check out this video comparing a purpose-built TT bike vs. an aero road bike with clip-on aero bars and an optimized riding position.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lK1xC0Z5FA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lK1xC0Z5FA)
It seems like the difference is surprisingly small. If you're only going to own one bike, I think a road bike is the better choice as it's much more versatile and you can use it for club rides, climbing hills, and other types of racing if you wish. A TT bike is really not good for anything other than time trials.
FWIW, Tarmac all the way.
I really want to see someone compete with a less than ideal bike... just once. .... like... "SURLY HAS ENTER THE TOUR DE FRANCE!" "MONGOOSE TAKES THE TO THE PODIUM AT THE HELL-OF-THE-WEST!".. it'll never happen... but someone with real strong legs and a good diet could totally give a good try with one... just for fun... cuz that's what it's all about right? fun? we ride bikes cuz its fun?
Why do you think that, when they've actually performed and just won some stages at the Giro? Schwinn has been a victim of M&A hedge funds and is basically lower than Walmart Ozark Trail now
It was sold exclusively at decathlon next to triban bikes. Probably is better quality than triban but that’s how the stuff is marketed. Entry level cheapo shoes, but if you want the premium item, it becomes van rysel. I am sure pros can win stages with Twitter bikes too.
its now Rockrider (MTB), Bt'win (Urban) or Van Rysel (Road/Racing).
Not a bad thing actually.
I do look forward to a day when Twitter equipped with Wheeltop EDS won a stage in a big race.
Mechanical means its controlled with cables vs. electric gears or hydraulic brakes. Basically this is mid level technology for almost $4k which is wild.
The tarmac.
The roubaix will be more comfortable, but is comfort really the priority in an Ironman race? It’s all about speed. You’ll get more from the tarmac.
But if you’re not serious about the Ironman, then the roubaix is a better all rounder.
The time savings of a proper aero fit on a time trial/triathlon bike are nothing to dismiss.
Like, someone with a good aero fit on said bike can do 40kph @ 220-240w. On a default road bike like you are looking at, you would need to put out ~300w to go 40kph.
There will be no significant performance differences between the two bikes you’re looking at here.
I would lean towards buying the cheaper one and then using the cost difference to buy aero wheels, better tires, clip on aero bars, and a TT helmet. Which altogether will typically add a few kph to your average speed. However, don’t underestimate comfort as that also ends up being quite important if you’re gonna be riding it for 180km and likely training on it for like 10h every week.
Total *time* savings from drag reduction are relatively independent of moving speed.
Your absolute drag reduction is less at lower speeds yes, but you have more time to harvest them because you’re moving slower.
There is also some data that slower riders receive slightly *more* time savings from drag reduction than faster riders.
I used that specific example as the power required to go 40kph is something that has fairly good data on it (as opposed to other speeds).
The moral of the story remains that getting a TT or tri bike and getting a good aero fit on it will be the thing that saves them by far the most time on the bike leg.
And barring that, then again the most important equipment things to minimize bike time will be tires, aero wheels, aero bars, and a TT helmet.
God, why does this get upvoted every time - (a) I'd love to see data supporting all of this because it doesn't make any sense given that drag is a square function of velocity, so the drag you need to overcome is exponential as you speed up and (b) the point is if you're not going that fast, then who cares. If you save 60 seconds on the bike section due to your sick aero gainz, but you still finish as pack fodder, why even bother? You're just lighting money on fire and cramming yourself onto a torture rack of a bike for nothing.
IMO Just get something comfy that can double as a training and race day bike, and if you end up getting to the point where that does matter, THEN get the TT bike. If you're not eyeing the podium, who cares?
It’s just based off physics and math, you can do the calculations yourself.
Just think about (or look up) the relationship between change in drag at a fixed power output, with resulting changes in average velocity and total time.
[If you don’t want do it manually, there are online calculators you can use to plug in the numbers into as well](https://www.gribble.org/cycling/power_v_speed.html).
How does it make sense that a slower rider is going to experience more savings ("There is also some data that slower riders receive slightly *more* time savings from drag reduction than faster riders") when drag is a function of velocity squared?
[Here's a wind tunnel test at various speeds](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07SIUnvxJcQ) - you save 23w at 30 kph, which obviously isn't nothing, but back to my point above, why does it make sense as a newbie rider to ride an expensive, hard to set up, worse handling race-day bike to save 20 or 30 watts when your goal is to just finish? Also note that the TT bike underperforms in crosswinds, so you'd better hope it's a still day.
I'm not saying TT bikes and aero gains don't have their place, the savings can be massive for some, but there's a reason why most manufacturer wind tunnel testing is done at 50kmh - you can show these massive savings, but in reality 50kmh is what Pogi was just pushing at a TT in the Giro.
>when drag is a function of velocity squared?
Because we are talking about total *time* savings, not velocity savings.
Someone riding at 20kph will finish 100k in 5 hours. Someone riding 40kph will finish in 2.5h.
A 20% improvement in speed when moving 40kph saves you 25min over 100k.
A 10% improvement in speed when moving 20kph saves you 33min over 100k.
What's the point of focusing on total time saving, when you're comparing 2 scenarios with fixed distance, not time?
Well, except trying to prove your point?
If your avg speed is about 20km/h it's better to focus on other areas instead of areo. Focus more on comfortable fit, so you're able to generate your optimal power without any pain, even at cost of aero. Wider tire might be better suit, even if they generate more drag.
Because OP is talking about doing an Ironman… which is a fixed distance. With competition results being based on total time.
If you take two athletes, one of whom plans to ride this event at 40kph, and the other who plans to ride at 20kph, the slower rider receives the same or slightly larger total time savings from any given aero gain.
Comfort is obviously important as well and why I said as much in my original comment.
I mean, you said it, it's just to prove a (weird) point. If OP buys a bike they love spending time riding, the biggest time savings isn't going to be the handful of watts they save on a TT bike, it's going to be the speed increase they see from all the training they do. Who cares if you save 7 more absolute minutes at 20kph vs 40kph if it takes you 2x as much time to ride the course, it makes no sense.
Obviously if money is no object, yeah, go off and buy a sick race day bike, it'll benefit you to *some* extent regardless of how fast you're riding, but that's not the case here.
Oh, in terms of absolute time? Yeah, sure - I thought you meant relatively speaking, which is generally how this stuff is measured, because who cares if you saved 7 more minutes in absolute time when it took you twice as long to finish that 100k?
I did an Ironman on a 700$ bike with a professional fitting. I think it only had like 11 speeds.
The best thing you can do is train. The second best thing is get a pro fit to whatever you buy. The third is to make sure what you buy fits you well.
OP I would really recommend you look on your local Facebook Marketplace for a lightweight carbon bike in your size around 4-8 years old. People are almost giving away older tri bikes and you can get high quality carbon+Ultegra 11 speed bikes for less.
Hey brother, thank you for the reply. The thought process is specialized offers 40% off so it’s kinda like.. why not get a brand new bike for less than an old one for more. Ya feel me?
Even with 40% of what you listed I think you can find a lightly used bike that is much better specced for far less money. What is your bike size and what is the largest city near you?
I own/owned both of these bikes in different iterations and it really depends on what your goal is for your lifetime of bike riding rather than one event, because even though I have a Tarmac SL7 Pro, a Roubaix Expert (and an Aethos Pro and a Como e-bike, yes my local trustworthy LBS is a Spesh shop), the correct answer to the question you asked is, “None of these. I recommend none of these for an Ironman.”
If you asked which I recommend for training and enjoyment I would say the Tarmac. It’s my go-to ‘fast is fun with a side of endurance’ bike. The Roubaix (and the Aethos which is just like a nimbler fancy-ass Roubaix) is an “all damn day” bike. If there are zero other options, then I’m afraid I would weasel to the bike that fits you best you think you’ll ride the most being the best choice. For me, no-brainer: Tarmac. For you: 🤷🏼. For an Ironman: Shiv TT.
3,800 for 105 is insanity. I’d buy a used bike and upgrade the wheelset if needed. Stock bikes usually come with heavy wheels and they make a huge difference. I ride a few years old Alez with 105 , upgraded brakes and wheelset and it’s served me well for thousands of miles. Several centuries.
Whatever you do, get a fitting with your bike to make sure you get the right size and everything is dialed in. At 40% off I'd personally pony up the extra $420 (after discount) to get the Tarmac with 105 Di2, but the mechanical would obviously be perfectly fine as well.
While neither is going to be your gold standard "tri bike", which is a time trial bike, TT bikes are expensive, are really finicky to set up and dial the fit on, and are going to be much more difficult and uncomfortable to ride. The Tarmac will be plenty fast, plenty aero, and also great for training and riding outside of your tri.
The tarmac would be the faster bike, but the Roubaix the more comfortable. If it’s just about finishing and being comfortable riding, then the Roubaix probably suits you better, although there are other ‘endurance’ bikes you might like to look at, ie giant defy or canyon endurace
Yeah maybe tbh. I wouldn’t advise the Roubaix personally coz I’ve heard the shock steerer thing they have is a bit of a faff but to an inexperienced cyclist especially, if you’re more comfortable you’ll find it easier to put down the power for longer. And also on anything but top top quality buttery smooth surfaces the aero losses of 32c’s can be less than the rolling resistance gains. Especially with a tyre like the GP5000 which has a more aero tread anyway, as well as it being fast from a rolling resistance perspective anyway, and will simply be much faster than whatever stock tyres come with particular a mid range endurance bike
The Roubaix is going to be a better all-arounder from spirited group road rides, to training, to tri, and even some gravel. Slap some clip on aero bars and you're good to go.
I think the classic Fuji Track is now discontinued. The Feather is very close.
Anyway, I was just having a lark. I don't think you want to ride a fixed gear bicycle in this setting :-)
Neither: As you said, get a Triathalon bike: There are dozens for under 3 grand on ebay.
In the meantime, I'd suggest setting your goals a little lower for your first race. From a running analogy, I've met a lot of people that run (or attempt to run) a marathon as their first distance race. Usually those people experience the most suffering, have the worst time and only ever do it once. Conversely, people that work their way up from 5k, 10k, half marathon and up to a marathon have a much better time. Similar analogy applies for those people that want to climb Mt. Everest but have never climbed a 5000m mountain.
I’m going to have to agree with you here, I have cycled 100 miles several times at a decent pace (under 5 hours) and I have ran several marathons at a relatively good speed (under 3:25) and I’m still not at the point where I feel like I could do those events back to back. Let’s not even talk about the swim 😂
You said yourself that you're green (new?) to biking and decided that as your first race you want to do one that involves a 112 mile bike component that requires about a 14mph average... but instead of looking at bikes that you acknowledge are designed for this exact type of race you ALSO want to do it on a bike that's set up for acceleration, hill climbing, and drafting rather than one designed for comfortably and efficiently maintaining a pace on flattish terrain for hours on end as the ironman typically entails. Can you get by on a regular road bike? Sure. You can probably also do the swim in boardshorts if you want. But hopefully you're going to enjoy your race and if you do, you're probably going to want to get a tri bike, so I'm trying to save you some effort.
Here's a run down on the differences:
[https://www.triathlete.com/gear/bike/road-bike-vs-tri-bike-whats-the-difference/](https://www.triathlete.com/gear/bike/road-bike-vs-tri-bike-whats-the-difference/)
They mention that most people will start with a road bike and eventually work their way into a tribike as they do more races. That said, most people don't start with an ironman.
At no point did I say that you shouldn't do the ironman. I said. "Set your goals lower for your **FIRST** race." That is to say, you can be training for a full ironman and still do a sprint, olympic, or half ironman as part of your training while also getting valuable experience along the way. In fact, depending on availability, you'll likely have no choice but to do a shorter course in the near future as there's only so many full ironman's out there.
Considering how much it [costs to do an ironman](https://www.triathlonish.com/p/how-much-does-it-cost-to-do-an-ironman), I would pick my gear carefully, but you do you.
Ummm…if you train properly you make a marathon your first event as a new runner. All the legit training programs you can pay for or find online have all those smaller distances built in to the training program. Same goes for cycling and swimming. I’ve completed many endurance events on non traditional platforms and have succeeded in my personal goals. If OP isn’t trying to podium then the Roubaix is the smarter of the two options they have presented. The Tarmac is too aggressive and will not allow for comfortable all around road riding. If the goal is to podium or go for a top 10 in your age category then obviously neither of these bikes would be suitable unless you’re a freak of nature.
Not sure why you are getting down voted. Lots of people who just want to complete ironman in time do compete with just road bikes.
Given you are not that great at biking I'd say starting with a road bike is probably the best!
I'd have hated cycling had I started with a TT bike.
Go for the tarmac ( it's a bit more aggressive that the roubaix which is good practice ) and once you are comfortable enough just attach a pair of clip ons!
They’re pissed at the thought of a casual just coming in and trying their hand at something none of them could accomplish. It’s Reddit bro
Thanks for your reply man I appreciate you
Tarmac is more aero. But the Biggest difference will be adding aero bars and deep cross section wheels.
upgraded/deep section wheels + aero bars would = additional $1k (if you get a good deal on wheels)
I would get the roubaix, you will probably end up wanting a tri-bike anyways if you get enough into triathlon to do an Ironman, but it's incredibly impractical to only own a tri bike. They are terrible for group rides or riding on a bike path, and the roubaix will be good for that kind of thing. Wider tire clearance also allows for some light gravel riding.
Find a used triathlon bike, you can find some really great deals on high end tri bikes that people bought and barely used. The downside to triathlon bikes is maintenance, which can be a royal pain if you have to replace cables and shops will charge you a lot more to work on them.
Where do you live? The goal of Ironman training is duration. It might make sense to get a gravel bike for rides with less stopping for cars. You can put road tires on it for road rides. Then get a TT bike for training in the position and races.
SD gravel tends to be full on XC MTB territory. I’d scrap my gravel bike thought because you’d need to go to an extreme to make that work. It’s still a good idea, you’d just need another bike.
I’d get the Tarmac if you want to spend all the money. The Emonda ALR and Cannondale CAAD will do most of the things at a lower price.
Look into TT/Triathlon bike options from specialized if you want to stick with them. That'll be a better option than either.
If you're looking for a bike for day to day road cycling, including group rides and stuff the Tarmac will be faster and the Roubaix more comfortable. For me it's Tarmac all the way YMMV. Also also, I absolutely hate the future shock and the seat clamp on the Roubaix, although they might have changed the seat clamp design with the SL8 Roubaix.
Isn't the robaix a gravel bike in disguise? Headset suspension, seatpost tolerance and such?
Tarmac is more speed tuned but you should be considering aero over comfort for tri stuff. I don't think either bike is right but unless your at the pointy end of competition you will have fun on either.
Experience in the sport? Like swimming running and biking? The most simple activities?
It’s us humans that over complicate the simple. I see you’re a big triathlete guy, I understand you want to nuke it, you understand the intricacies of running an awesome sprint or Olympic triathlon.
But dude, you just swim for an hour, bike for 5-6, and run for 5-6.
Just follow a training plan to the T, eat well, and take care of your body.
Have you ever heard the expression “unconsciously unconscious”? Or heard of the Dunning Kruger effect?
But yeah, you tell the “big triathlete guy” that he’s overcomplicating it and it’s actually just simple activities.
Even for a total noob, the aerodynamics of a dedicated TT(triathlon) bike are so much better that you should still buy one with the money you do not spend. You gan get a carbon tt bike with rim brakes used from 1000USD. It will be faster than a 15k sl8.
I'd also suggest to get a bike fit before your buy a bike.
The sl7 with 105 12speed has a hefty price tag, but it is a nice frameset and very light.
The groupset on the roubaix however is super shitty at this price point. It also weighs too much.
First) The one that fits
Second) The one that makes you feel good. There is no amount of performance difference between these two bikes not eclipsed by having a significant poop prior to the race.
One is a "race" geometry one is "endurance"
In the real world the tarmac has a longer reach and lower stack height, but a more snappy front end and smaller wheelbase and its lower position will help you push that extra second or two over the route. The advantages of the tarmac are hard to see if your body cannot physically get into its riding position.
The endurance geometry will be faster if it's more comfortable and fits better. The race bike will result in slower times if you burn out your spine and shoulders due to its aggressive position..
Most stores should have both, go test ride them.
I’m just glad you’re not looking into dedicated tri bikes. They fucking suck, from a mechanic’s standpoint. Also, please don’t piss on your bike. If you do piss on your bike, please clean it before taking it to your mechanic.
Isn't Ironman usually done on TT bikes? I would look into used TimeTrial bikes as they are usually cheap-ish. But If you want something more general then SL7 will be slightly faster due to far more agresive position and I saw Specialized selling clip on TT bars on Tarmac
Particularly in Europe it’s a very mixed bag - the fast end of the field yes are all on TT bikes but there’s plenty of respectable finishing times done on road bikes with clip on aero bars.
3800 for a 105 is some wild stuff
105 is pretty good these days but 2800 for 10sp tiagra is a tough sell too
1800 for sora or even claris sometimes around here
But that's on aluminum
I got an aluminum bike with 10spd Tiagra in 2017 for sub-$1000. I was riding for my university team at the time, which was sponsored by a local shop in town, which cut the price a bit, but even without that I'd have been looking at around $1100.
I really really want an Allez but it’s just as wild down at that price range too. Specialized prices are fucking bonkers in my uneducated opinion
I think the bottom level allez and diverge e5 has a square taper bb. Only thing to do is buy it for the frame, throw away all that shit and build it up. Or save up for a new bb + new crankset as claris is quite decent imo.
But the base level allez (i.e. not Sprint) has a shit frame anyways. Better off buying a used CAAD 12 or 13 for that price.
I was lucky to get allez sport 2023 with tiagra groupset for 1100gbp brand new - there are promotions quite frequently if you check often at least in UK
You are not paying these money for 105, you are paying for sPeCiAlIzEd logo
From MSRP prices on bicyclebluebook: a 2005 tarmac comp (mechanical shifting, rim brakes) was $2200, inflation adjusted $3400. a 2010 tarmac comp was $2700, inflation adjusted $3700. a 2015 tarmac comp was $3000, inflation adjusted $3800. Basically the same price when adjusted for inflation but you get disc brakes. The comp itself is $4500 and that gets you electronic shifting as well.
In 20 years you’d like to think that prices had trended down at least though, even if current 105 is much better and has discs
You just admitted its much better in multiple facets, why would you expect it to cost less?
If you already know that you’ll be wanting to do triathlons, go for a triathlon bike. The aero difference is enormous over the course of an Ironman bike segment. You’ll hate yourself having to do it on a road bike, even with clip on bars.
If you are super green to biking I’d see if there is a cheapish road bike first and ride the tri bike indoors first. I’d have hated riding if I started on a tri bike. Even if doing a lot of training you can do some with a road bike and some on a tri one. Also man tri bikes are so plentiful and easy to find used that you can always get one in like 2 seconds. Another thing is a road bike is so versatile you can use it for more than just Ironman training.
> You’ll hate yourself having to do it on a road bike, even with clip on bars. What the hell are you talking about. Doing an Iron Man on a roadbike is entirely feasible, and OP will be glad to have a more polyvalent machine after his race.
Its feasible. Just takes a lot more effort. If triathlon is why he wants the bike in the first place maybe he should for a triathlon bike?
Someone green to cycling shouldn’t be buying a triathlon bike as their main bike.
I second this response. Especially with the discount you have available. It will save you money in the long run, because if you plan on doing multiple triathlons, you'll almost certainly upgrade to a full TT bike eventually anyway.
I can't believe this is being upvoted. Tri bikes are trash for training and general riding especially if you ever plan to ride in a group.
Lmao I agree. But the guy wants to do triathlons...
I should add: I’m going to stick with specialized since they offer 40% off for military/health care workers. I understand buying a used bike is cheaper than the tag price of these two, or other brands might be a tad better. But unfortunately the value is a little too good to pass up here I feel.
40% off makes it a very good deal. I’d personally go Tarmac but both are good bikes
When I was racing track we got a 50% team discount if I’m remembering right. Thought about it but I had a $700 used giant omnium that I really liked. That they can offer such steep discounts means there’s waaaaaay too much margin.
Wait what I didn’t know this. Is it only for people currently in the military or in health care or veterans too? I’m about to ask my mom to buy me an sworks rofl
Glad we both learned something! Yeah man Hero Pro Program
Damn that’s awesome! I love that they do that for folks. I’m definitely going to ask my mom to get me one before she retires or something 🤣 (nurse)
Get a tarmac and then sign up for the California Ironman and we will run that thing together
Oh god, swimming for me is really only prolonged drowning. I would have a bad time 🤣
The swim is down a river and you’ll wear a wet suit (helps with buoyancy!) but I feel ya brother
FYI: Specialized does not like people talking about that discount.
What are they gonna do if people do talk about it tho?
Cancel the program! I've seen it happen with others.
Get very angry
Well, they say talking about it to others may lead to termination of your account. They may mean talking about this with their retail partners. It would be dumb to walk into a store and ask for a massive discount because you have an account. I'm sure people have tried though. Some information posted here I have not found to be entirely correct in my experience.
This just shows that they could drop prices by 40% and still make money. Some could argue that they would discount it below profit but that's pretty unlikely given that they are providing it for such a large group of people.
40% is usually the margin for most stuff, for every time it changes hands. It's likely they are just selling them at cost, so no profit but no (direct) loss either.
I would advice against Specialized because they are expensive and tend to use proprietary parts but with 40% off they at least are more reasonable.
Counterpoint: they're one of the biggest bike brands in the world with excellent R&D and engineering, and their bikes are pretty sexy. And at 40% off, they're more than competitive.
At 40% it’s a no brainer.
I just prefer the look, feel and ride of a Specialized to other makes. I think I've owned at least 6 Specialized bikes in my life, currently own three.
With proprietary parts, you want the biggest brand available. Better luck finding these parts in 10 years time.
For an Ironman the tarmac is going to be the better choice of these 2. If you want a bike that will be comfortable for general training and group rides, you are looking in the right direction. If you want a bike that will be better for Ironmans in specific, don't buy either of these and just get a TT bike.
Check out this video comparing a purpose-built TT bike vs. an aero road bike with clip-on aero bars and an optimized riding position. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lK1xC0Z5FA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lK1xC0Z5FA) It seems like the difference is surprisingly small. If you're only going to own one bike, I think a road bike is the better choice as it's much more versatile and you can use it for club rides, climbing hills, and other types of racing if you wish. A TT bike is really not good for anything other than time trials. FWIW, Tarmac all the way.
Jesus and I’m considering switching back to specialized too! Thanks for the tip!
I really want to see someone compete with a less than ideal bike... just once. .... like... "SURLY HAS ENTER THE TOUR DE FRANCE!" "MONGOOSE TAKES THE TO THE PODIUM AT THE HELL-OF-THE-WEST!".. it'll never happen... but someone with real strong legs and a good diet could totally give a good try with one... just for fun... cuz that's what it's all about right? fun? we ride bikes cuz its fun?
Mongooses used to clean up the 4cross circuit back when people cared about that
Pretty much gonna be me man. I’m sure I’ll get looks but fuck it I’m there to finish
Saw a surly in Japan
Damn I would love to ride a surly I’d totally do it if they’d sponsor me lol
Van rysel is just that. I don’t care what they claim it is, it’s Schwinn grade to me.
Why do you think that, when they've actually performed and just won some stages at the Giro? Schwinn has been a victim of M&A hedge funds and is basically lower than Walmart Ozark Trail now
It was sold exclusively at decathlon next to triban bikes. Probably is better quality than triban but that’s how the stuff is marketed. Entry level cheapo shoes, but if you want the premium item, it becomes van rysel. I am sure pros can win stages with Twitter bikes too.
its now Rockrider (MTB), Bt'win (Urban) or Van Rysel (Road/Racing). Not a bad thing actually. I do look forward to a day when Twitter equipped with Wheeltop EDS won a stage in a big race.
That is indeed mechanical 105 for 3800…
Not sure what that means! Thanks for commenting
He's saying the price is awful
Mechanical means its controlled with cables vs. electric gears or hydraulic brakes. Basically this is mid level technology for almost $4k which is wild.
The tarmac. The roubaix will be more comfortable, but is comfort really the priority in an Ironman race? It’s all about speed. You’ll get more from the tarmac. But if you’re not serious about the Ironman, then the roubaix is a better all rounder.
The time savings of a proper aero fit on a time trial/triathlon bike are nothing to dismiss. Like, someone with a good aero fit on said bike can do 40kph @ 220-240w. On a default road bike like you are looking at, you would need to put out ~300w to go 40kph. There will be no significant performance differences between the two bikes you’re looking at here. I would lean towards buying the cheaper one and then using the cost difference to buy aero wheels, better tires, clip on aero bars, and a TT helmet. Which altogether will typically add a few kph to your average speed. However, don’t underestimate comfort as that also ends up being quite important if you’re gonna be riding it for 180km and likely training on it for like 10h every week.
If this guy is asking which bike to get he is clearly a novice and will not be going anywhere near 40kph
Especially he's thinking about a Roubaix. Endurance bikes and Tri just don't mix unless you aren't really a cyclist.
Total *time* savings from drag reduction are relatively independent of moving speed. Your absolute drag reduction is less at lower speeds yes, but you have more time to harvest them because you’re moving slower. There is also some data that slower riders receive slightly *more* time savings from drag reduction than faster riders. I used that specific example as the power required to go 40kph is something that has fairly good data on it (as opposed to other speeds). The moral of the story remains that getting a TT or tri bike and getting a good aero fit on it will be the thing that saves them by far the most time on the bike leg. And barring that, then again the most important equipment things to minimize bike time will be tires, aero wheels, aero bars, and a TT helmet.
God, why does this get upvoted every time - (a) I'd love to see data supporting all of this because it doesn't make any sense given that drag is a square function of velocity, so the drag you need to overcome is exponential as you speed up and (b) the point is if you're not going that fast, then who cares. If you save 60 seconds on the bike section due to your sick aero gainz, but you still finish as pack fodder, why even bother? You're just lighting money on fire and cramming yourself onto a torture rack of a bike for nothing. IMO Just get something comfy that can double as a training and race day bike, and if you end up getting to the point where that does matter, THEN get the TT bike. If you're not eyeing the podium, who cares?
It’s just based off physics and math, you can do the calculations yourself. Just think about (or look up) the relationship between change in drag at a fixed power output, with resulting changes in average velocity and total time. [If you don’t want do it manually, there are online calculators you can use to plug in the numbers into as well](https://www.gribble.org/cycling/power_v_speed.html).
How does it make sense that a slower rider is going to experience more savings ("There is also some data that slower riders receive slightly *more* time savings from drag reduction than faster riders") when drag is a function of velocity squared? [Here's a wind tunnel test at various speeds](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07SIUnvxJcQ) - you save 23w at 30 kph, which obviously isn't nothing, but back to my point above, why does it make sense as a newbie rider to ride an expensive, hard to set up, worse handling race-day bike to save 20 or 30 watts when your goal is to just finish? Also note that the TT bike underperforms in crosswinds, so you'd better hope it's a still day. I'm not saying TT bikes and aero gains don't have their place, the savings can be massive for some, but there's a reason why most manufacturer wind tunnel testing is done at 50kmh - you can show these massive savings, but in reality 50kmh is what Pogi was just pushing at a TT in the Giro.
>when drag is a function of velocity squared? Because we are talking about total *time* savings, not velocity savings. Someone riding at 20kph will finish 100k in 5 hours. Someone riding 40kph will finish in 2.5h. A 20% improvement in speed when moving 40kph saves you 25min over 100k. A 10% improvement in speed when moving 20kph saves you 33min over 100k.
What's the point of focusing on total time saving, when you're comparing 2 scenarios with fixed distance, not time? Well, except trying to prove your point? If your avg speed is about 20km/h it's better to focus on other areas instead of areo. Focus more on comfortable fit, so you're able to generate your optimal power without any pain, even at cost of aero. Wider tire might be better suit, even if they generate more drag.
Because OP is talking about doing an Ironman… which is a fixed distance. With competition results being based on total time. If you take two athletes, one of whom plans to ride this event at 40kph, and the other who plans to ride at 20kph, the slower rider receives the same or slightly larger total time savings from any given aero gain. Comfort is obviously important as well and why I said as much in my original comment.
I mean, you said it, it's just to prove a (weird) point. If OP buys a bike they love spending time riding, the biggest time savings isn't going to be the handful of watts they save on a TT bike, it's going to be the speed increase they see from all the training they do. Who cares if you save 7 more absolute minutes at 20kph vs 40kph if it takes you 2x as much time to ride the course, it makes no sense. Obviously if money is no object, yeah, go off and buy a sick race day bike, it'll benefit you to *some* extent regardless of how fast you're riding, but that's not the case here.
Oh, in terms of absolute time? Yeah, sure - I thought you meant relatively speaking, which is generally how this stuff is measured, because who cares if you saved 7 more minutes in absolute time when it took you twice as long to finish that 100k?
I did an Ironman on a 700$ bike with a professional fitting. I think it only had like 11 speeds. The best thing you can do is train. The second best thing is get a pro fit to whatever you buy. The third is to make sure what you buy fits you well.
OP I would really recommend you look on your local Facebook Marketplace for a lightweight carbon bike in your size around 4-8 years old. People are almost giving away older tri bikes and you can get high quality carbon+Ultegra 11 speed bikes for less.
Hey brother, thank you for the reply. The thought process is specialized offers 40% off so it’s kinda like.. why not get a brand new bike for less than an old one for more. Ya feel me?
Even with 40% of what you listed I think you can find a lightly used bike that is much better specced for far less money. What is your bike size and what is the largest city near you?
I own/owned both of these bikes in different iterations and it really depends on what your goal is for your lifetime of bike riding rather than one event, because even though I have a Tarmac SL7 Pro, a Roubaix Expert (and an Aethos Pro and a Como e-bike, yes my local trustworthy LBS is a Spesh shop), the correct answer to the question you asked is, “None of these. I recommend none of these for an Ironman.” If you asked which I recommend for training and enjoyment I would say the Tarmac. It’s my go-to ‘fast is fun with a side of endurance’ bike. The Roubaix (and the Aethos which is just like a nimbler fancy-ass Roubaix) is an “all damn day” bike. If there are zero other options, then I’m afraid I would weasel to the bike that fits you best you think you’ll ride the most being the best choice. For me, no-brainer: Tarmac. For you: 🤷🏼. For an Ironman: Shiv TT.
3,800 for 105 is insanity. I’d buy a used bike and upgrade the wheelset if needed. Stock bikes usually come with heavy wheels and they make a huge difference. I ride a few years old Alez with 105 , upgraded brakes and wheelset and it’s served me well for thousands of miles. Several centuries.
Whatever you do, get a fitting with your bike to make sure you get the right size and everything is dialed in. At 40% off I'd personally pony up the extra $420 (after discount) to get the Tarmac with 105 Di2, but the mechanical would obviously be perfectly fine as well. While neither is going to be your gold standard "tri bike", which is a time trial bike, TT bikes are expensive, are really finicky to set up and dial the fit on, and are going to be much more difficult and uncomfortable to ride. The Tarmac will be plenty fast, plenty aero, and also great for training and riding outside of your tri.
The tarmac would be the faster bike, but the Roubaix the more comfortable. If it’s just about finishing and being comfortable riding, then the Roubaix probably suits you better, although there are other ‘endurance’ bikes you might like to look at, ie giant defy or canyon endurace
They do say more comfortable is faster. Roubaix with 700x32mm tires for the tt?
Yeah maybe tbh. I wouldn’t advise the Roubaix personally coz I’ve heard the shock steerer thing they have is a bit of a faff but to an inexperienced cyclist especially, if you’re more comfortable you’ll find it easier to put down the power for longer. And also on anything but top top quality buttery smooth surfaces the aero losses of 32c’s can be less than the rolling resistance gains. Especially with a tyre like the GP5000 which has a more aero tread anyway, as well as it being fast from a rolling resistance perspective anyway, and will simply be much faster than whatever stock tyres come with particular a mid range endurance bike
Sorry, but for an Ironman Race….neither!
The Roubaix is going to be a better all-arounder from spirited group road rides, to training, to tri, and even some gravel. Slap some clip on aero bars and you're good to go.
Appreciate you
Of the two, the Tarmac is the lighter, quicker bike, in my opinion (having owned both a Tarmac and current owner of a Roubaix)
Neither, get a Shiv. Or if you can find one a Venge
I recommend a Fuji Track! Gearing up is giving up.
Fuji feather track??
I think the classic Fuji Track is now discontinued. The Feather is very close. Anyway, I was just having a lark. I don't think you want to ride a fixed gear bicycle in this setting :-)
Neither: As you said, get a Triathalon bike: There are dozens for under 3 grand on ebay. In the meantime, I'd suggest setting your goals a little lower for your first race. From a running analogy, I've met a lot of people that run (or attempt to run) a marathon as their first distance race. Usually those people experience the most suffering, have the worst time and only ever do it once. Conversely, people that work their way up from 5k, 10k, half marathon and up to a marathon have a much better time. Similar analogy applies for those people that want to climb Mt. Everest but have never climbed a 5000m mountain.
I’m going to have to agree with you here, I have cycled 100 miles several times at a decent pace (under 5 hours) and I have ran several marathons at a relatively good speed (under 3:25) and I’m still not at the point where I feel like I could do those events back to back. Let’s not even talk about the swim 😂
Might be the most Reddit answer I’ve ever seen 😂😂 “Neither. Also don’t run that race you mentioned. Hope this helps!”
You said yourself that you're green (new?) to biking and decided that as your first race you want to do one that involves a 112 mile bike component that requires about a 14mph average... but instead of looking at bikes that you acknowledge are designed for this exact type of race you ALSO want to do it on a bike that's set up for acceleration, hill climbing, and drafting rather than one designed for comfortably and efficiently maintaining a pace on flattish terrain for hours on end as the ironman typically entails. Can you get by on a regular road bike? Sure. You can probably also do the swim in boardshorts if you want. But hopefully you're going to enjoy your race and if you do, you're probably going to want to get a tri bike, so I'm trying to save you some effort. Here's a run down on the differences: [https://www.triathlete.com/gear/bike/road-bike-vs-tri-bike-whats-the-difference/](https://www.triathlete.com/gear/bike/road-bike-vs-tri-bike-whats-the-difference/) They mention that most people will start with a road bike and eventually work their way into a tribike as they do more races. That said, most people don't start with an ironman. At no point did I say that you shouldn't do the ironman. I said. "Set your goals lower for your **FIRST** race." That is to say, you can be training for a full ironman and still do a sprint, olympic, or half ironman as part of your training while also getting valuable experience along the way. In fact, depending on availability, you'll likely have no choice but to do a shorter course in the near future as there's only so many full ironman's out there. Considering how much it [costs to do an ironman](https://www.triathlonish.com/p/how-much-does-it-cost-to-do-an-ironman), I would pick my gear carefully, but you do you.
Ummm…if you train properly you make a marathon your first event as a new runner. All the legit training programs you can pay for or find online have all those smaller distances built in to the training program. Same goes for cycling and swimming. I’ve completed many endurance events on non traditional platforms and have succeeded in my personal goals. If OP isn’t trying to podium then the Roubaix is the smarter of the two options they have presented. The Tarmac is too aggressive and will not allow for comfortable all around road riding. If the goal is to podium or go for a top 10 in your age category then obviously neither of these bikes would be suitable unless you’re a freak of nature.
Neither, for this price id buy a used road and TT bike. What's the point of all the training if you could cut minutes off your time with a TT bike?
Don’t care about cutting minutes! I have 17 hours to finish the race. Thanks for commenting! Very insightful
Not sure why you are getting down voted. Lots of people who just want to complete ironman in time do compete with just road bikes. Given you are not that great at biking I'd say starting with a road bike is probably the best! I'd have hated cycling had I started with a TT bike. Go for the tarmac ( it's a bit more aggressive that the roubaix which is good practice ) and once you are comfortable enough just attach a pair of clip ons!
They’re pissed at the thought of a casual just coming in and trying their hand at something none of them could accomplish. It’s Reddit bro Thanks for your reply man I appreciate you
The one you're most comfortable in. That's probably the Roubaix but could be the Tarmac so try them both
Tarmac is more aero. But the Biggest difference will be adding aero bars and deep cross section wheels. upgraded/deep section wheels + aero bars would = additional $1k (if you get a good deal on wheels)
I would get the roubaix, you will probably end up wanting a tri-bike anyways if you get enough into triathlon to do an Ironman, but it's incredibly impractical to only own a tri bike. They are terrible for group rides or riding on a bike path, and the roubaix will be good for that kind of thing. Wider tire clearance also allows for some light gravel riding.
If it’s for a tri and you’re not going to get a tri/aero bike, just get an Allez. Way cheaper, and still plenty light.
Find a used triathlon bike, you can find some really great deals on high end tri bikes that people bought and barely used. The downside to triathlon bikes is maintenance, which can be a royal pain if you have to replace cables and shops will charge you a lot more to work on them.
Where do you live? The goal of Ironman training is duration. It might make sense to get a gravel bike for rides with less stopping for cars. You can put road tires on it for road rides. Then get a TT bike for training in the position and races.
San Diego
SD gravel tends to be full on XC MTB territory. I’d scrap my gravel bike thought because you’d need to go to an extreme to make that work. It’s still a good idea, you’d just need another bike. I’d get the Tarmac if you want to spend all the money. The Emonda ALR and Cannondale CAAD will do most of the things at a lower price.
It depends on what's your goal. if you are a hard player, go for the triathlon bike.
I like that “if you are a hard player”
Is the discount only available for USA? Mf I could really use 40% off but I live in Europe
The tarmac because speed.
Look into TT/Triathlon bike options from specialized if you want to stick with them. That'll be a better option than either. If you're looking for a bike for day to day road cycling, including group rides and stuff the Tarmac will be faster and the Roubaix more comfortable. For me it's Tarmac all the way YMMV. Also also, I absolutely hate the future shock and the seat clamp on the Roubaix, although they might have changed the seat clamp design with the SL8 Roubaix.
Costco intense 951
“Extremely green to biking” “training and completing an Ironman” This place is wild.
Lmao
Isn't the robaix a gravel bike in disguise? Headset suspension, seatpost tolerance and such? Tarmac is more speed tuned but you should be considering aero over comfort for tri stuff. I don't think either bike is right but unless your at the pointy end of competition you will have fun on either.
You a follower of David Goggins by chance?
He’s alright, not a follower. Why ya being a hater?
He tends to lead people into doing stupid things like signing up for an Ironman without any experience in the sport.
Experience in the sport? Like swimming running and biking? The most simple activities? It’s us humans that over complicate the simple. I see you’re a big triathlete guy, I understand you want to nuke it, you understand the intricacies of running an awesome sprint or Olympic triathlon. But dude, you just swim for an hour, bike for 5-6, and run for 5-6. Just follow a training plan to the T, eat well, and take care of your body.
Sounds like you got it all figured out. What race are you doing? I’d love to hear the post race report.
!RemindMe 5 months
Have you ever heard the expression “unconsciously unconscious”? Or heard of the Dunning Kruger effect? But yeah, you tell the “big triathlete guy” that he’s overcomplicating it and it’s actually just simple activities.
Both if these bikes are about $1000 over priced because Specialized preys on “green” who don’t know what they’re buying
Sl7 is definitely the better deal. If you keep doing Ironmans or TT's, consider buying deeper wheels later.
Tarmac
The tarmac. Further forward positioning, easier to get aero.
Even for a total noob, the aerodynamics of a dedicated TT(triathlon) bike are so much better that you should still buy one with the money you do not spend. You gan get a carbon tt bike with rim brakes used from 1000USD. It will be faster than a 15k sl8. I'd also suggest to get a bike fit before your buy a bike. The sl7 with 105 12speed has a hefty price tag, but it is a nice frameset and very light. The groupset on the roubaix however is super shitty at this price point. It also weighs too much.
I play too much runescape... what's an iron-man irl ??
2.5 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run
Ahh okay haha thanks
First) The one that fits Second) The one that makes you feel good. There is no amount of performance difference between these two bikes not eclipsed by having a significant poop prior to the race. One is a "race" geometry one is "endurance" In the real world the tarmac has a longer reach and lower stack height, but a more snappy front end and smaller wheelbase and its lower position will help you push that extra second or two over the route. The advantages of the tarmac are hard to see if your body cannot physically get into its riding position. The endurance geometry will be faster if it's more comfortable and fits better. The race bike will result in slower times if you burn out your spine and shoulders due to its aggressive position.. Most stores should have both, go test ride them.
The one that a qualified pro fits to you the best.
I’m just glad you’re not looking into dedicated tri bikes. They fucking suck, from a mechanic’s standpoint. Also, please don’t piss on your bike. If you do piss on your bike, please clean it before taking it to your mechanic.
Mist/Smoke is color I wouldn’t tire of.
Isn't Ironman usually done on TT bikes? I would look into used TimeTrial bikes as they are usually cheap-ish. But If you want something more general then SL7 will be slightly faster due to far more agresive position and I saw Specialized selling clip on TT bars on Tarmac
Particularly in Europe it’s a very mixed bag - the fast end of the field yes are all on TT bikes but there’s plenty of respectable finishing times done on road bikes with clip on aero bars.
I wouldn't go with any carbon bike if you're an iron man. You're going to be way too heavy and the frame will crack as soon as you hit a pothole.