Aethos options and questions
06-15-21, 07:46 PM
#26
Clark W. Griswold
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If a 13 or 14 pound bike is your objective, you could probably find other options. I think that you get charged a premium for the S name. How else do they sponsor those teams and have the S only stores? But yes, the reviews that I have read about the bike is that it is pretty good. Wheels... some light wheels will make that bike or any other one fly up hills. Something in the 1300 gram range. But, all of this said, when you start to get into light frames, and builds, you pay an awful lot for saving one pound, really. Perhaps work on your own body mass and save a few thousand.
There is more in a bike than just carbon and a name on the outside.
06-22-21, 12:39 PM
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I like it! Very clean lines.
Likes For bigevil:
06-22-21, 04:51 PM
#31
Advocatus Diaboli
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06-22-21, 07:07 PM
#33
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ok ok bear with me my friends. any help in advance is epic and appreciated!
Worked hard AF this year so for my bday treating myself to a great climbing/fun road bike.
As I have a Checkpoint for gravel/endurance rides I'm loving the idea of something light/nimble and as I don't race I've landed on the Aethos.
After test riding it today at Specialized I was blown away. I almost bought it on the spot but they only had the $13k S-works one in stock and I thought better in the moment and luckily walked out unharmed.
I really love the expert level because of force etap and or ultegra di2 but I hate (like hate) the colors. That puts me in a position of a few options
1-buy the comp model and upgrade the gruppo ad other parts as I go [the rival isn't bad at all, but at nearly 18lbs its only 1lb lighter than my checkpoint]
2-buy the framset for $3.3k and build up my own pretty pimped out version [thinking force etap or ultegra di2, maybe even throwing my current Aeolus pro 37 wheels on it to start and save $ on the build]
3-something else I'm not thinking of that you'll all I'm sure think of.
Things important to me are lightweight, fun, power meter, great gear range for climbing and group rides. Not a racer.
things not important are electronic shifting(I'm down to have it, just not a deal breaker) and def don't need super aero everything.
lastly, is it worth alllllll that extra $$ just for s-works carbon to save 200grams?
Worked hard AF this year so for my bday treating myself to a great climbing/fun road bike.
As I have a Checkpoint for gravel/endurance rides I'm loving the idea of something light/nimble and as I don't race I've landed on the Aethos.
After test riding it today at Specialized I was blown away. I almost bought it on the spot but they only had the $13k S-works one in stock and I thought better in the moment and luckily walked out unharmed.
I really love the expert level because of force etap and or ultegra di2 but I hate (like hate) the colors. That puts me in a position of a few options
1-buy the comp model and upgrade the gruppo ad other parts as I go [the rival isn't bad at all, but at nearly 18lbs its only 1lb lighter than my checkpoint]
2-buy the framset for $3.3k and build up my own pretty pimped out version [thinking force etap or ultegra di2, maybe even throwing my current Aeolus pro 37 wheels on it to start and save $ on the build]
3-something else I'm not thinking of that you'll all I'm sure think of.
Things important to me are lightweight, fun, power meter, great gear range for climbing and group rides. Not a racer.
things not important are electronic shifting(I'm down to have it, just not a deal breaker) and def don't need super aero everything.
lastly, is it worth alllllll that extra $$ just for s-works carbon to save 200grams?
06-22-21, 07:19 PM
#34
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fwiw this is my exact thinking atm. grab the comp, and when new di2 launches upgrade everything to that. in the meantime upgrade the stem, saddle, bars, to s-works spec (or some dope enve/zipp stuff), add a power meter, and use my current wheels (Aeolus Pro 37) which would fly over the comp ones. (long as no one thinks those are crap wheels for the aethos)
seems better then building from scratch but only bummer is the comp has a teal fork and not white but then again that's just me being picky. maybe could swap the fork down the line....
I do think if spending $5k, scratch that, even $3k on a bike and higher you should love the color.
thank dear lord for my wallet that the S-works colors really suck on the aethos!
seems better then building from scratch but only bummer is the comp has a teal fork and not white but then again that's just me being picky. maybe could swap the fork down the line....
I do think if spending $5k, scratch that, even $3k on a bike and higher you should love the color.
thank dear lord for my wallet that the S-works colors really suck on the aethos!
What about:Options:
ICAN A2 light weight bike
Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Disc 9.0
Cannondale SuperSix Evo
Giant TCR advanced pro one (3,600) or SL zero
Factor O2 VAM Disc (may be harsh)
Bianchi Specialissima CV Ultegra
06-22-21, 07:24 PM
#35
Junior Member
Thread Starter
No one actually buys those bikes at full price. You can buy them with a 15% discount if you buy online from the specialized website. You can buy them for 20% off if you just buy a lightly used one on craigslist or another site. Specialized employees can buy them at a steep discount and will often resell to buy the next model.
that said finding things in stock was much harder than chasing the best price. ultimately I got very lucky putting it together.
06-22-21, 07:37 PM
#36
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Is the carbon layup any different in the sworks version of the aethos than the pro? Or is the frame the same and its just the components?
06-22-21, 07:46 PM
#37
Junior Member
Thread Starter
S works has better carbon and saves some grams but is over $2k more. Also (if it matters) no mechanical routing option. Most importantly I just prefer the color I got over any others even at any price point
