Specialized Bicycles: a brief history
Specialized was founded in 1974 by Mike Sinyard, who still runs the company from his hometown of Morgan Hill, California, today. Back in 1981, Specialized altered the course of cycling history with the first production mountain bike, the Stumpjumper. Since then it has been paving the way and growing ever more popular with new and seasoned cyclists alike.
Specialized 2018 range overview
Specialized cater for all disciplines, from the usual mountain and road models to e-bikes, fitness bikes and women’s specific models. The brand now includes S-Works, which is designed to meet the demands of professional racers, as well as the Sagan collection, which speaks for itself. There’s also a huge range to choose from, but here are the basics you need to know to help you decide what’s right for you.
Specialized 2018 road bikes
In terms of road bikes, the Allez is the entry-level offering with an aluminium frame and carbon fork, and relaxed geometry.
For more seasoned roadies there’s the Tarmac, popular with the pros, race-oriented geometry and lightweight.
There’s also the Roubaix (or the women-specific Ruby) which is a stiff carbon fibre model kitted out with Specialized Future Shock front suspension technology and disc brakes.
For something more adventurous, the Sequoia is perfect for exploring and bikepacking, while the Diverge gravel bike offers big tires, Future Shock and a more aggressive geometry.
Finally there’s the Venge, an aero speed-machine with disc brakes and 12mm thru-axles. Or, if you want to go super aero and don’t mind constant questions from bemused onlookers, there’s the very non-UCI legal S-Works Shiv.
Specialized 2018 mountain bikes
Mountain bikers are also spoilt for choice. Starting with hardtails, the Pitch and Rockhopper are great entry-level aluminium models with 27.5in and 29in wheels respectively. If you’re getting into XC racing, the Chisel offers entry-level racing geometry and a 1x drivetrain on a budget. Finally the Epic Hardtail offers XC/trail mix which gives you the best of both worlds.
Full-sus XC racers should check out the Epic FSR, which is fast, racy and aggressive, while the aptly named Enduro does exactly what it says on the tin, with 160mm of travel.
The Stumpjumper, on the other hand, lets you get lary on the trails, with an asymmetrical design and clearance for 3in tires.
Finally if you’re looking for a bit more to power you up the climbs, Specialized offer two e-mountain bikes. The Turbo Levo is perfect for the trails and has very similar geometry to the Stumpjumper, while the Turbo Kenevo is designed for downhill and enduro, with 180mm front and rear travel.
Other Specialized bikes
For commuting and general fitness, there’s also a selection of models to choose from. The Crossroads and Sirrus make excellent commuter bikes, as they’re sturdy, comfortable and come with all the mounts you need for mudguards and pannier racks.
The Alibi is a lower-maintenance option as it comes with airless tires so you’re guaranteed to never get a puncture. The Roll on the other hand comes with a wide range of gears and 650b wheels with wide tires for added comfort.
Finally if you’re after something a bit more versatile, the Ariel and CrossTrail come with a short-travel suspension fork, letting you go off-road in comfort.
Where can you buy Specialized bikes?
You can buy Specialized bikes from bike shops across the globe. Use their website to find your local dealer.