Hnnnnng!

PedalHeads Cycles in QLD have gone above and beyond with my S-Works SL8 build by moving over a complete SRAM Red E1 groupset from another bike to my bike (this colour would otherwise only be available on a Shimano Dura-Ace build).

I got to spec a 380mm x 115mm Roval cockpit too (the bike would have come with 400mm x 90mm which would have been too wide and short), they slammed the stem for me too!

Beyond happy with their service, everything from the initial emails, through to phone calls and getting update photos of the build!

SPECS:

2025 S-Works Tarmac SL8 Gloss Dove Grey / Silver Dust Blurred Impasto / Black Pearl

Brakes: SRAM RED E1 160mm/160mm
Shift Levers: SRAM RED E1
Derailleurs: SRAM RED E1
Cassette: SRAM RED 10-33t
Chain: SRAM RED E1
Crankset: SRAM RED E1 with Power Meter 165mm
Chainrings: SRAM Red E1 48/35
Pedals: Xpedo Thrust SL Titanium (165g)
Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB BSA 68
Front Wheel: Roval Rapide CLX II 51mm depth
Rear Wheel: Roval Rapide CLX II 60mm depth
Tyres: S-works Turbo Rapidair 2BR 700x26mm
Inner Tubes: Specialized Turbo Ultralight 60mm Front, 80mm Rear
Stem: Roval Rapide Cockpit 380mm/115mm
Tape: Supacaz Super Sticky Kush
Saddle: Specialized S-Works Power with Mirror
SeatPost: S-Works 15mm offset
Head Unit and Mount: Roval

MOOD.

Just a test shot from earlier this morning when Nick was setting up for Jen’s SL8 shoot at UNO Studios.

Hnnnnnng!

I’ve been pining for a Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 for 5 months now, but the absolutely ridiculous $20,900.00 asking price was something I just couldn’t swallow, so the Allez Sprint was a good distraction, and then the S-Works Tarmac SL6 even more distraction.

A few weeks ago an as new S-Works Tarmac SL7 popped up on FB Marketplace for $12K, they’re still selling those new for $18K so it shows the depreciation on these bikes (the seller dropped it to $11,500 and it looks like it’s now sold thank fuck).

About a month ago I had the SL8 on my mind whilst I was at the bank with Mum (I had a meeting with her bank manager). I told her all about the bike (was all lost on her lol), but Mum being Mum, she said if you really want it, buy it! Yeah thanks Mum…

Ultimately I decided that I’d only consider it if I got stronger and faster on the bike, and even then I’d just wait until next year and buy one second hand. If I count all my bikes (including 2 BMX bikes in storage) I have 8 bikes all up. 8 is my lucky number (thus the SL8 has my name on it), and that means if I buy an SL8 I’d have to let go of a bike from the collection (will most likely be one of the 2 BMX bikes, all good).

Fast forward to last week I got a message from Jennifer K who asked me how my SL6 was going (her SL6 is what inspired me to get mine). I proposed that since her SL6 was her “forever bike”, that I get photographer extraordinaire Nick (Turner) to shoot it in a studio. She was keen, but not to shoot the SL6 but instead shoot her freshly built SL8.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!

Of-course I let rip that the SL8 is my dream bike, to which she replied “Do ittttttttt. It’s wildly good”. Ah fuck, thanks Jen…

There’s one red SL8 in a size 52 in stock on the Specialized AU web site, but it’s equipped with Dura-Ace (I’m definitely now a SRAM man) and red isn’t my thang so I searched and found PedalHeads Cycles in QLD had a size 52 in Gloss Dove Grey / Silver Dust Blurred Impasto / Black Pearl, a lovely paint job only available in Dura-Ace spec.

I started to come around to settling for Dura-Ace, but the online shop said they wouldn’t ship the bike interstate. I figure it wouldn’t hurt to shoot off an email, so I did, and today I was on and off the phones with them to work on a deal. The legends at PedalHeads had another S-Works Tarmac SL8 in size 49 with SRAM Red, and were willing to swap over the entire Red groupset over to the 52. Winning big time as the cranks are shorter on the size 49 (165 vs 170 Dura-Ace on the 52). They were also cool to cut the steerer down, remove spacers and slam the stem for me.

The only problem left was that there was no way to send the bike to me in a box, as the bike is so expensive no box could be insured for the full amount, so they would have to literally send it built using what they called a “Roll on Roll off home personalised home delivery service”.

I was literally shaking on the phone when closing the deal. I even said out loud that $20,900.00 was ridiculous, and that could buy me an amazing motorcycle, but Lana at PedalHeads calmed me the fuck down and acknowledged that it’s a premium bicycle, and for that I get premium service, so moving the entire groupset from one bike to another was on them.

The bike gets to me early December. Still pinching myself. I blame Jen!

Just an update.

60kms or so now on the bike. I’ve literally not ridden my Allez Sprint at all since this build has been completed (makes me sad), and I have to say that the larger frame (52 vs 49) and the non-slammed stem have made a world of difference in comfort.

As mentioned elsewhere I only ride at the one place 4-5 days a week. It’s a beautiful park with an undulating 4km loop and for the first time since getting back on the bike I did 8 laps (I usually only do 3 on average, some days 5).

I still think the Allez feels faster, especially when getting off the saddle and mashing the pedals. I also feel the Allez rolls faster (coasting on the downhills on the SL6 I feel like the bike literally drops all speed and slows down a tonne wheras the Allez feels like it actually gains speed when coasting on the downhills. I think the differences are a combination of things, maybe the Allez is stiffer, the more aggressive setup probably attributes to the bike feeling faster, and the extra weight of the Allez probably makes it roll faster when coasting downhill.

Either way what I’m really happy about is that both bikes look and feel different to each other. I no longer wish to make the Allez lighter, and I no longer wish to slam the stem on the SL6. Bit of a win win really.

Earlier I commented that my drivetrain was louder since installing mods, and I blamed the cassette (thinking that it’s because it’s a one-piece vs. the Ultegra cassette my bike came with).

I’ve ordered a 12-Speed Dura-Ace/XTR chain which will get to me next week, but this morning I refitted the Ultegra chain the bike came with and VOILA! No more noise at all! Sadly the Ultegra chain weighs 30g more, maybe the Dura-Ace/XTR chain will be lighter, will see when it arrives next week.

Hate to be a spreader of misinformation so thought I’d better share my findings. TLDR on the ZTTO Gen 3 cassette: Weight good, shifting good, price good. Very happy.

EDIT – Went for a ride this morning and wow, what a huge difference the Ultegra 11-Speed chain made to the drivetrain noise, which was pretty much non-existant and shifting is even smoother.

When I got home the 12-Speed Dura-Ace/XTR chain came in the mail and I just got it on the bike. The Ultegra chain was 2 links longer than the KMC X11SL as the bike came with a larger rear cassette, but I decided to meet half way and just leave an extra link on the new chain as today’s ride was just fine with the chain 2 links longer. It’s even quieter now on the work stand, and it’s lighter than the 11-Speed Ultegra chain too. All up 17g heavier than the KMC X11SL, and after wiping down the bike (was a bit dirty from the previous ride) weight is now 5.45kg’s.

SPECS:

2018 Specialized S-WORKS Women’s (unisex) Tarmac SL6 Size 52 Satin Gloss Monocoat Black/Acid Purple/Rocket Red Fade

Frame: Hopp frame insert (2g)
Seatpost: Hylix 365mm (108g)
Saddle: Berk Lupina short padded (90g)
Stem: Extralite Hyperstem Stealth 100mm -12 degree (76g)
Headset Dust Cover Cap: Ceramicspeed (4g)
Spacer: Extralite 2.5mm (1g) + Extralite 15mm (2g)
Expander Plug: Extralite UltraStar 4 (5g)
Top Cap/Bolt: Extralite Ahead Top Cap (3g)
Bars: EXS R175 360mm (175g)
Bar Tape: EXS Airtape (30g)
Bar Ends: Lucendi (0g)
Shifters/Brake Levers: SRAM Red eTap (267g)
Front Derailleur: SRAM Red eTap (164g)
Rear Derailleur: SRAM Red eTap (245g)
Cranks: SRAM Red 167.5 (363g)
Chainrings: Extralite Mid Compact Octaramp 50/34 (93g)
Brakes: Cane Creek eeBrakes for SL6 +adapter (176g)
Brake Cables: Jagwire + black teflon coated inners + hardware (76g)
Pedals: Xpedo Thrust SL Titanium (165g)
Bottle Cage: CarbonWorks + cage bolts (9g)
Wheelset: Wheelsfar Feder 45mm Extralite hubs Sapim CX-Super spokes (1280g)
Cassette: ZTTO SLR Gen3 11 Speed ​​11-28 (110g)
Cassette Lock Ring: Extralite ExtraBolt 3.6 (3g)
Chain: Dura-Ace/XTR 12-Speed (230g)
QR Skewers: Extralite (29g)
Tyres: Panaracer Agilest Light 25mm (335g)
Tubes: RideNow TPU Road Light (71g)

Weight: 5.44kg