Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL3 SRAM

Price Paid:  $3000.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
2010 Specialized Tarmac SL3

Bike Setup:
S-Works BB30 Crank
SRAM Red Components
Mavic Aksium Wheels
FSA Stem/handlebars
Specialized Toupe seat

Summary:
This is one of the greatest performance bikes that I have ever ridden. It is extremely quick handling, but without any twitchiness. It tracks super straight even at 40+ mph, yet when needed can take corners at blinding speed. Even though it is very stiff, somehow the engineers have made it very complaint. It doesn't beat you up. This is truly a truly stellar frame for competitive riding. I have tried many, and none of them get it just right, like the SL3.

Strengths:
-Great handling
-Super stiff
-Very smooth
-Tracks Straight

Weaknesses:
There really are no weaknesses that I can think of.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Rock N' Road

Favorite Ride:
Any ride that includes a good climb

Bike Setup:
Stock with the Red group. I may change out the wheels since they are a little heavier than I would like, but for now they are performing quite well.

Summary:
This review is for a 2010 S-Works Tarmac SL3 with Red group. I was looking for a supper light, stiff, and great handling bike to use for century rides and road racing and found it with the Tarmac. This bike does it all.

Strengths:
* Handling - holds lines better than anything I have tried so far. This is true even at speed (50+).
* Stiff - No matter what I through at it, it responds by asking for more. I have not done an all sprint on the bike yet, but I know it will handle it with no issue.
* Arrow - I did not realize how anti-arrow I was on my previous bike since I am flying on the flats and downs now. Huge difference in this area.
* Smooth - Did a 4 hour ride on it yesterday and it did not beat me up at all. Is it the smoothest ride I have ever done, no but good enough.

Weaknesses:
* Brakes - I think the pads need to be upgraded, but still seeing if it just needs to break in. I like to come in fast into a turn and break hard. Currently do not have the stopping power to do this.
* Keeping it clean - It is just an amazing looking bike when it is clean so you are constantly wiping it down.

Similar Products Used:
I test road the Cervelo R3SL, Connondale, and Colnogo and liked the overall experience with the Specialized.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
MT. Evans

Bike Setup:
SRAM Red, 3T Team, Easton EC90 Aero, Thomson Masterpiece

Summary:
This bike has it all. Cornering is second to none. The most noticeable trait in the ride is the smooth without the harsh coupled with the stiffness.

Strengths:
stiffness, insane lightness, smoothness over the rough stuff, geometry

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
Caad3, Caad7, Caad8, Specialized E5 SWorks

Price Paid:  $2900.00 at the ride bike shop

Favorite Ride:
anything with hills

Bike Setup:
sram red shifters, derailleurs, kcnc brakes, nokon houseing, specialized bar, fsa stem, s-works crank, toupe saddle, alpha- q seatpost, speedplay pedals, and mavic equipe wheels.

Summary:
simply the best race bike you can buy, this is my forth tarmac and my second s-works. my previous one was first generation sl. its the stiffest frame i have ever ridden and is so comfortable i could do a century with out any discomfort, its just great

Strengths:
weight
sfiffness
looks
everything

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
2006 tarmac expert, 2008 tarmac elite, 2006 tarmac sl

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Bike Cycles

Favorite Ride:
Rolling Hills

Bike Setup:
61cm Quickstep Frameset.
SRAM Red: Der F&R, Brakes, Crank, BB, Shifters. Zipp 404 Tubular. Ritchey WCS carbon bar. S-Works stem and seatpost. Selle Italia Kit Carbonio Flow Saddle. Dura Ace 7900 Chain & Cassette. Dura Ace Pedals

Summary:
I recently built up a SL3 frameset with full SRAM Red and Zipp 404 tubular wheels. I have had a Tarmac Pro and a S-Works SL2. This tops them, the biggest advantage I can tell it cornering and accelerations, whether it be up a hill or through a technical turn. I went with the SRAM red crankset and ceramic bottom bracket and am glad I did so, extremely smooth and responsive. I have only put slightly over 100 mile on the bike so far, just finished an 80 mile ride to break it in. I have a Dura-Ace 7900 chain and cassette to smooth it out a bit. WCS Ritchey handlebars and Selle Italia SLR kit carbonio flow saddle. In a size 61cm with DA pedals, computer and bottle cage it comes in right at 15lbs. I weigh right around 180 and am 6'3" and it is strong enough for my best sprint effort, it keeps jumping forward throughout the whole effort. Gives me more courage in the turns also

Strengths:
Responsiveness, Acceleration, Turning, Looks, Warranty

Weaknesses:
Nothing really, cost but I feel it should be a bike that lasts and lasts, so it is worth it.

Similar Products Used:
2007 Allez Expert, 2008 Tarmac Pro, 2009 S-Works Tarmac SL2