Originally Posted by
RichStu99
I am considering the following:
Specialized Tarmac SL 7 Pro
Specialized Aethos Pro
Specialized Roubaix Pro.
Would appreciate opinions on any of these. I pretty much live on the dirt and am branching out to the road. Looking in the 5K to 8K range. Any comments are welcome.
Thanks
Sounds like you are partial to the Specialized brand and just named its carbon fiber road bikes (except the e-bike). Geometry-wise, one of these is not like the others. The Roubaix is an endurance bike while the Tarmac and Aethos have a more race bike geometry (lower stack height, more reach) that requires the rider to bend more and keep his/her torso more parallel to the top tube. So while it makes sense to cross-shop the Tarmac and the Aethos, it is rare to cross-shop all three of these bikes, at least when buying a first road bike. Best to get a test fit and test ride to see which type of geometry you prefer.