other times to test prototype gear under race conditions. Heres a brief sample of some of the new stuff that will be hitting the peloton in July. Click for larger images.SPECIALIZEDS-Works Tarmac SL2Although two teams will be riding Specialized replica Tag Heuer cjf2150.bb0595 watch frames in the Tour—Gerolsteiner, of Germany, and Quick-Step, of Belgium—its clear that Quick-Step, the team of 2005 World Champion Tom Boonen and 2006 World Champion Paulo Bettini, has been driving innovation for the California company.
Boonen and Bettini are two of the most popular and successful riders in the sport, and Specialized relied on extensive feedback from the two demanding sprinters to develop the 2008 Tarmac SL2, which the company claims is the stiffest frame system replica Tag Heuer wae1111.ft6004 watch on the market. Using a new carbon-construction method and various design tweaks, the engineers at Specialized managed not only to make the bike stiffer laterally (for pedaling efficiency) and torsionally (for better handling), but also about 100 grams lighter and more vertically compliant (for comfort) than the previous Tarmac SL. The most notable change is to the steering. On recent test rides in the mountains of central Spain, the Tarmac dove into high-speed turns with more authority than any bike Ive ridden.
Specialized claims this is the result of two design tweaks. First, the head tube now tapers from the industry-standard 1 18 inches at the top to a beefy 1 12 inches at the bottom. A few other manufacturers have begun doing this, also, as the increased width enhances strength and stiffness. But Specialized went a bit further, moving the headset replica Tag Heuer wah1111.ba0850 Men's watch bearing higher into the head tube, so that steering forces are transferred directly into the oversized down tube. It may not sound like much, but the difference in feel is remarkable.S-Works Transition Specializeds new time trial rig will also be getting an official rollout at the Tour.
