Buying a new road bike is almost the best part about owning a bike. I mean, obviously actually riding it wins out, but just barely.

There are hundreds of options out there to choose from, and whether you’re a new cyclist, looking for an upgrade for your current ride, a triathlete, or searching for a top of the line speed machine, there’s an option for you.

Specialized has been around since 1974 and is one of the leading American manufactures of speed machines. They are known for their aerodynamic designs, and for putting out some of the absolute best products for casual and competitive cyclists alike.

The sponsor over a dozen professional teams, over 30 individual riders and their bikes can be seen everywhere from the Tour de France to your neighborhood cycling club.

If you’re in the market for a new bike, Specialized bikes are an excellent choice. Here, we give you our top picks from the Specialized line for every rider.

You’re ready to be hell on wheels, but these are the first wheels you’ve owned since the ones that had a banana seat when you were eight. I totally get it, we’ve all been there.

Luckily, Specialized has a budget friendly entry level option that is perfect for a new rider in the Allez Sport.

Priced at $970, this aluminum bike features a carbon fiber fork, and weighs in at about 20 pounds (based on a 56-centimeter frame).  The compact crank set makes for easy pedaling, and the

At the price point, all the bikes feature aluminum frames with carbon fiber forks. All of the bikes also feature “compact” cranks, which mean the chain rings are 50- and 34-teeth, instead of the standard 53/39. This means easier pedaling for you. Total weight for a 56 centermeter bike is about 20 pounds for each.

What we like most about the Allez Sport for new riders is how customizable the bike is.  With a proper fit your bike shop will be able to make adjustments to pieces of the bike like the Specialized EliteSet Stem to find the right position for your body geometry that will provide a comfortable and efficient ride.

If you’re a road rider who is ready for an upgrade to your aluminum or entry level carbon bike, we love the Specialized Tarmac Comp.

For $3,000 you can be riding the same frame as cycling legend Alberto Contador from Team Tinkoff Saxo.

The carbon frame is lightweight and ultra responsive, making it a dream around corners and up and down hills.  Many riders find they are faster from just making the switch to this bike designed specifically for explosive speed in racing situations.

The Specialized Tarmac Comp comes out of the factory with Ultegra components, which are considered to be the middle tier available, and are a considerable upgrade from entry level components.  They shift like a dream, and will give you a noticeable difference in the efficiency of your ride.

Triathlete’s are a picky bunch. Not only do they want to go fast, they want to be as aerodynamically efficient as possible.  Trust me, I know. I am one.

And with so many races in areas that are less than flat, like Wisconsin, Idaho, and Hawaii, a bike that has aerodynamic options and the ability to fly up hills, and handles perfectly on descents is the holy trinity of awesome for those of us who tri.

If you’re crazy enough that one sport isn’t enough, Specialized makes the Venge Expert Ultegra (or if you want to get really fancy, check out their Venge Lunch Race with an upgraded wheel set).

The Venge is literally a speed machine. In wind tunnel tests against the Tarmac, it saved 45 seconds of time over 40 kilometers. It’s FACT carbon frame is super light weight, stiff, and beyond responsive, and it comes standard with an S-Works Aerofly bar that will save you up to an additional 17 seconds over 40 km because of improved aerodynamic positioning.

At $3,900 it’s an investment bike that will perform equally as well in flat or hilly races, and is literally the perfect machine for age group triathletes.

While a men’s road bike might work for a lot of women, Specialized knows that our geometry is different, and makes bikes with specific differences designed to give the ladies a better overall fit and more comfortable ride.

In the Specialized Amira SL4 Comp we find the quality and performance ability inherent in the full carbon frame of it’s counterpart, the Tarmac, but with modifications like shorter chainstays and headtube to allow for a women’s specific fit.

The stock shallow drop handlebars and Body Geometry Women’s Oura Comp saddle make for an even more comfortable fit.

Kudos to Specialized for not just “shrinking it and pinking it” as they sometimes say about women’s specific products, but for actually putting thought into how to make the Amira a better ride for women at a $3000 price point.

If you’re the guy or gal that wants it all, Specialized makes it easy to get your hands on the absolute top of the line model in whichever frame you like best.

Their S-Works models are described on their site as:

“S-Works is the pinnacle of everything we’re capable of. No expense is spared, no ideal too abstract, no design too extreme.”

And boy do they mean it.  These babies feature top of the line Dura Ace components, the best wheel sets money can by, and they are absolutely beautiful to behold.

These bikes have won everything from every major cycling Tour out there to Ironman competitions and more, and you can own one as well.

As long as you’re willing to pay in the $8,000-$10,000 range depending on the model.

Check them out on the site and covet away.  They are combo work of art and faster than a speeding bullet, and every single cyclist out there can’t help but want one.

 

Still have questions? Feel free to reach out and I will totally talk everything from bike frames to components, or point you towards some great resources to help you make the right bike purchase for you.