THE Chester STORE
Chester was the original Concept Store in the UK. We are situated in the historic town of Chester and offer a modern retail environment with thousands of Specialized products in stock, including our instore S-Works custom build area. We pride ourselves on exceptional knowledge and service levels, we're also dedicated cyclists and nice people to boot. Our services include Body Geometry Fit, Custom Builds, Test Bikes, 0% finance, Cycle to Work Schemes and a Service Centre. Be sure to pop by and say hello.
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Operated by Specialized Concept Store (Chester) Ltd (05973637), The Bike Factory, 153-161 Boughton, Chester, Cheshire, CH3 5BH
Location
Specialized Concept Store, 149-151 Boughton Road, Chester, CH3 5BH
Tel. 01244 322 220
chester@specializedconceptstore.co.uk
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Opening Times
Opening Hours:
Monday to Saturday: 10am – 5pm
Sunday - Closed
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Chester NEWS
Specialized at the 2021 MTB World Championships
It was once again a successful Mountain Bike World Championships for Specialized this year. With much promise going into the 2021 championships in Val di Sole, Italy, Specialized athletes repaid the faith and came home with a locker full of metal in disciplines ranging from e-MTB to downhill. With fierce competition from all angles in every single race, our athletes needed some truly special bikes to maximise their incredible abilities. Let’s take a look at how they got on in Trentino and the bikes that joined them there.
Specialized at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics may be over, but the images from the Games and memories made by the athletes will last a lifetime. As ever, dreams were achieved, and hearts were won by the strongest athletes in the world. But what bikes were they riding? Let’s have a look at some of the Specialized bikes that made it over to Japan.
What the pros ride: Cameron Mason
Cameron Mason is one of a new influx of multi-discipline riders backed by the forward-thinking development team, Trinity Racing. At 20 years old, Mason combines both cyclocross (CX) and cross-country MTB (XC) as part of an innovative racing programme supported by former Team Sky rider Ian Stannard and Trinity Racing founder Andrew McQuaid.
What the pros ride: Martin Söderström
Martin Söderström is a multi-talented freeride mountain biker who pursues freestyle perfection on Specialized bikes. The 31-year-old from Sweden has had a storied career characterised by big highs and lows. When he started competing 14 years ago, Söderström brought a new Scandinavian style to his discipline, riding to great acclaim on the FMB World Tour after his breakthrough in 2007.
Speed of Light collection
Our riders are incredibly fast – perhaps not as fast as the speed of light, but pretty close. In celebration of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, we have released a limited edition collection which will be available in Specialized Concept Stores and online. The Specialized Speed of Light collection takes some of our finest products and reimagines them as the intertwining of darkness, light, and speed.
What the pros ride: Paula Findlay
Canadian triathlete Paula Findlay has returned to Specialized for the 2021 season following her strong performances working with us a decade ago. Her 2010 season was her most successful to date and included some impressive performances – two consecutive wins in the 2010 ITU World Cup and three victories in the 2011 series the following season. However, due to a series of setbacks including an injured hip and anaemia, she has not competed in a World Cup since. The now 32-year-old persevered through these difficulties and her comeback is an inspiring tale for any athlete facing adversity. On her way back to her best, Findlay won the 2018 Ironman 70.3 North American Championships, the 2019 70.3 Ironman at Indian Wells, and both the 2019 and 2020 Challenge Daytona. This inspiring journey led her back to the racing machines that she has found the most success on, Specialized. Let's look at what she currently rides.
What the pros ride: Sofia Wiedenroth
We’re back off road for the next in our ‘what the pros ride' series, this time with Specialized athlete Sofia Wiedenroth. The 26-year-old German signed with the Specialized Enduro Team for this season and has been racing in MTB events alongside her teammates Kevin Miquel, Charles Murray and Francescu-Maria Camoin.
What the pros ride: Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish is back! To be honest, he never really left but for 2021 the Manxman is back on Specialized bikes and back at the front of the sprint pack. After a few years in the wilderness with what seemed like one case of bad luck after another, Cavendish returned to Deceuninck-QuickStep for this season. The team has been a happy environment for the sprinter in the past and so it has proved again with his return to the Tour de France.
What the pros ride: Anna van der Breggen
When Anna van der Breggen retires at the end of this season, there is no doubt at all that she will take a place at the top table in the cycling hall of fame. An Olympic gold medal, three Giro Rosa overall victories, two Liège-Bastogne-Liège wins, and multiple other Monuments demonstrate her versatility and staying power.
What the pros ride: Tim Don
Today in our ‘what the pros ride’ series, we turn our attention towards a multi-talented athlete - it’s the time of the triathlete. As a triple threat, Tim Don understands the importance of aerodynamics, speed and quick transitions better than most. The three-time Olympian and British Ironman record holder is a legend of the sport who has dealt with a career of ups and downs.
What the pros ride: Jordan Sarrou
In the second of our series looking at what Specialized athletes ride, we turn our attention from the road to the mucky stuff. We’re now in the realm of mountain biking and where better to go than the current men’s cross country world champion Jordan Sarrou?
What the pros ride: Peter Sagan
In this new series, we take a look at what your favourite Specialized athletes ride. Naturally, we kick things off with the enigma that is Peter Sagan.
Sitero saddles
When it comes to on bike comfort there is no more important component than your saddle. This is true of every discipline but is a factor often overlooked in the production of aerodynamic triathlon and time trial specific saddles. You can’t possibly have maximum comfort in an aero position, right? Wrong, and with the all-new Sitero and Sitero Plus saddles for 2021, we aim to buck that trend.
Mission control unpacked
When you ride a Specialized electric bike, you want to know that you can get the most out of the journey. That’s where Mission Control comes in.
Turbo battery recycling
Specialized are making a long-term commitment to sustainability. As e-bikes grow in popularity and the benefits of riding with power assistance become more obvious, we need to take steps to combat the environmental impact of our motors’ batteries.
New Ruislip Store Now Open
Ruislip shows off new premises.
Mountain bikes that don’t have to break the bank
Mountain bikes that don’t have to break the bank
Taking a look at Specialized entry level road bikes
Taking a look at Specialized entry level road bikes
The joys of group riding on open roads and gnarly trails
The joys of group riding on open roads and gnarly trails
Get to know the Specialized Turbo Levo Gen 3
The all-new Turbo Levo Gen 3 is set to be our most powerful and versatile eMTB yet, with a frame redesign and a complete overhaul of the motor and battery systems. Let's get into the detail of what you can expect from the third iteration of our powerful eMTB.
Local loops, how to keep it safe and exciting when riding on your own
Local loops, how to keep it safe and exciting when riding on your own
The lightest production disc brake bike ever… just don’t tell the UCI
The lightest production disc brake bike ever… just don’t tell the UCI
Turbo training – that was the year that was
Riders taking their outside exploits inside their homes and passing the time on training platforms is something that will forever be synonymous with 2020.
The ultimate commuter, meet the Creo SL E5
Sustainable transport has become a hot topic in recent months, with the UK government encouraging active travel both for short journeys and commuting. Social distancing is far easier on a bicycle than it is on the bus, and riding a bike to work means you’ll get fitter fast as well. Not to mention that it’s far more enjoyable!
What our riders are doing in their downtime
In these times where normal life and standard practises seem a long way off, it is important to join together as an online community and be there for one another, inspiring and motivating each other to be our best possible selves. So, stay in, get your fitness routine on point and we can save lives together.
Who needs the uplift when you have a Kenevo
Last October we revealed the Kenevo and we think it might just be the world’s best downhill e-MTB. We promised you it would bring more power, more speed and more fun to your ride. Well, the promises haven’t fallen on deaf ears and the Kenevo, like a lot of e-bikes, is rightfully enjoying its time in the spotlight. Let’s take a closer look at the bike, how it rides, and see what the reviewers like most about it.
These boots were made for cycling – the Recon range
The all-new Recon line is here. Coming in four models, these are our premium MTB trail shoe. As per usual, each model has little differences that set them apart from their siblings, but in general, the Recon line can be categorised by its SPD platforms and a heavily lugged “SlipNot” rubber sole. The revamped Recon is perfect for all your trail riding, bikepacking and gravel grinding needs.
Review Roundup - highlights of our 2020 range
It’s been a bumper start to the year for Specialized and we’ve talked a lot about our innovations, so today we’re going to show you what the independent reviewers of the world think. It may only be early spring, but since January our bikes have created plenty of chatter. Here are the picks of the bunch.
Specialized custom builds
The Specialized community is truly a wonderful, creative bunch. Specialized bikes are made to suit your style and your riding so we’re always excited to see our fans’ custom builds and the designs they wrap their bikes in to make them that little bit more personal. Today we are sharing some particularly awesome custom designs that have cropped up on social media.
Mission control - What is it - Why is it awesome?
We recently brought out our new Turbo Levo SL range for 2020 and toasted it in typical Concept Stores fashion with a blog post on the features of the ground breaking e-MTB. In that post we touched on our fantastic e-bike partner app, Mission Control (which can found on the App Store and Google Play). There is so much to learn about the app, so we thought we’d focus this week’s blog entirely on Mission Control and how it complements the Turbo Levo SL.
Which Turbo MTB rider are you?
Welcome to the future. New for 2020 is the all new Turbo Levo SL range which introduced itself to the world with a bang earlier this week.
Meet Sirrus X
Capable, confident and fun. These are the words that define the Sirrus X. It’s a bike inspired by its pavement-focussed antecedent, the Sirrus, with a fresh new perspective and focus on riding more varied terrain. It’s about tackling all surfaces or going further than before with a bike that loves to explore.
Top tips for gravel riding
In a recent post, we presented the idea of trying something new in 2020. One idea was to pick up gravel riding as you're new on trend bike pursuit for the new decade. Riding on gravel is some of the best fun you can have on a bike and as the discipline grows there seem to be more and more chances to ride on the crunchy stuff. Tow paths, bridleways, gravel sportives and events, there’s never been a better time to get out into nature.
Specialized 2020 Enduro range
Released in the autumn of 2019, it didn’t take long for the 2020 Specialized Enduro range to make a stir with customers and press alike. We’ve ripped up the rule book for the 2020 range, started from scratch and created a special selection of bikes ready to tackle any adventure or all-day event. More travel, redesigned suspension, carbon frames and our style-specific sizing means we’ve revolutionised the classic enduro bike to create a range that is bigger and better than ever before.
Top ten reasons to go Turbo
One of the fastest growing areas of the bike market is e-bikes. These motor driven/ power assisted bikes are fantastic machines and suitable for any and all riders. It’s easy to see why they are growing in popularity. Here are just a few reasons to get yourself an e-bike.
New Years resolution - try something new
We’re winding our way to the end of the year, the time for New Year’s resolutions. Eat less, drink less, exercise more – all pretty common themes. These trivial promises to ourselves are often broken within minutes of the clock striking midnight but were here to tell you to ditch the boring resolutions and go for a fun one on us. Make 2020 the year you pick a new discipline, a new bike, a new adventure. The bike is the best tool to make sure you stick to your goals in the new decade.
Specialized bikes for kids
At Specialized we love to see more kids on bikes – we see it as an important stage of childhood. We have a large range of bikes from strollers to trail shredders and everything in between. Make 2020 the year you give the life changing experience of cycling to a young child.
Stuff the stockings with Specialized
We are halfway through our advent calendar, so Christmas really is just around the corner. You’d be forgiven for not sourcing all your presents by this point but have no fear, here at the Specialized Concept Store, we’ve got you covered. We have put together this handy list of Christmas gifts from Specialized, arranged rather handily to suit all budgets, from Secret Santa to new bike day.
The new Fuse is perfect for Christmas
The Fuse is here and it breaks the mould. A hardtail that gets back to the roots of mountain biking, the Fuse isn’t about getting results, it’s about seeking thrills and having fun. The perfect hardtail for Christmas maybe? The big day is just around the corner so how about gifting yourself something that is sure to transform your riding in 2020. After all, it is a new decade – let’s get shredding.
Get your child riding this Christmas
Is there any better gift for a kid at Christmas than a bike? We all remember our first bikes and if anything, it is the most special of any bike you will ever own, the one that started it all. Specialized has a great range of kids’ bikes, so to help you make your little one’s year.
Christmas is coming
We make no excuses for getting the mince pies out early this year. Christmas is coming and here at Specialized we’ve got everything you need for that special cyclist in your life.
Two new models to the Creo lineup
Specialized have released two new Turbo Creo SL Comp Carbon bikes, one to tackle the ever-popular gravel scene and the other its performance road-oriented cousin.
Zdenek Štybar’s custom CruX
hree-time cyclocross world champion Zdenek Štybar will once again race cyclocross this year to prepare for the 2020 road season. The 33-year-old Czech rider is scheduled to race at eight CX events this winter and Specialized have created a unique CruX for him to race on.
Bike lights for winter
Another vital element of riding through the winter is getting your light setup dialled, whether that’s to ensure you’re visible to other road users or to light your way as you blast through deserted woods and explore the empty lanes. As you’d expect from us, we’ve got everything you’re going to need so you can keep feeding that urge to ride all winter long.
Specialized 2020 Winter Kit
In a heartbeat, it feels like we’ve rapidly moved from late summer into autumn. Since the clocks changed last weekend the temperatures have taken a definite downward turn – frosty morning commutes and chilly toes have made their inevitable return.
The Turbo Creo SL - You Only Faster
We’re big fans of e-bikes here at Specialized; anything that allows more people to experience the joy of riding is a good thing in our eyes. An e-bike means riders of all fitness levels, ability and age can ride together. A ride with friends and family is one of the joys of life, and if some of us need a little boost to get to the café then, hey, that’s fine.
Celebrating the season
To celebrate the season and honour the team, Specialized are making a limited edition Tarmac Disc frameset, with every win and every rider celebrated in a stunning paint job. Only 200 of these gorgeous S-Works framesets are being made, individually numbered and available now for pre-order from one of our stores
New Roval Terra CLX Wheels
Yep, your wheels have a tough life, which is why we spend so much time thinking about them. We, like you, want wheels that are tough, ready for anything and are capable of letting us decide where we ride. Our new Terra wheels, designed by our component partners Roval, are supremely accomplished hoops, ready to ride wherever and whenever you want.
The New Turbo Kenevo - More Power, More Speed, More Fun
New bike day is always an exciting one at Specialized and today is even better than normal. We’ve been busy you see, and today we’re stoked to unveil the new Turbo Kenevo, the most accomplished electric downhill MTB we’ve ever created.
The road less travelled
You know what? Sometimes, getting lost is the best way to find out exactly where you want to be. The fun really starts when you get out there, where you can answer the question “Where does this track go? What’s down there? What’s over that hill?”.
Ey up, It's the Worlds!
For the first time since 1982, the UCI Road World Championships is coming to the UK. Back then the racing took place around the racing circuit in Goodwood down in sleepy West Sussex, but this time around we’re expecting it to be a lot rowdier. The county of Yorkshire has been well and truly bitten by the cycling bug, displaying an incredible passion for the bike since 2014’s Grand Départ that saw huge crowds welcome the Tour.
Road World Championships Celebration
With the World Championships heading to Yorkshire, we're hard at work bringing our newest and greatest tech innovations to life at our World Champs pop-up, right in the heart of Harrogate. So come join us, have a drink and let's mull over your predictions for who'll take home the rainbow stripes!
Shoe me the way
Ask any road cyclist what change made the biggest improvement to their riding and they’ll all give you the same answer – the right shoes. The right shoes help you to look good, ride well and make the whole experience a whole lot better.
Introducing the new Grid Trail & Control Tyre Casings
Trail riders are pushing the limits, riding more technical trails at higher speeds. That evolution places greater demands on tires, which need to be stable at lower tire pressures while also fending off the pinch flats that are more likely to occur when you are riding fast over rough terrain. That’s why we’re rolling out several of our existing tire models in a new, more heavily-reinforced GRID TRAIL casing.
Turbo Levo 2020
More than any other model name, the word Levo means e-MTB. We’ve led the industry towards better-designed, all-round more fun e-machines since the beginning, and the Levo has been at the heart of what’s good through most of that.
Keep moving forward
At Specialized we’re always striving to be the best we can, moving forward every day, and since we started designing bicycles in 1974 we’ve had this little gem of a quote from Herr Einstein in the back of our minds. Our 2020 range of bikes might just be our best line up yet.
The Best of the Best
If there’s one thing that unites everyone in the Specialized family, from the designers and engineers to everyone who rides our bikes, it’s the belief that bicycles change lives. We’re always looking to the future, to inspire the next generation of riders to be the best they can be. It’s driven us for the past 45 years and it will be what drives us in the years to come.
The New Enduro - Fast just got Faster
Our first Enduro appeared on the MTB scene at the end of the ’90s, turning heads, destroying trails and single-handedly defining the genre that bears its name. It was a completely new approach to mountain bike design – capable of smashing the descents yet still happy to get you back up to the top again for another go.
This is going to be Epic
The 2020 Epic Hardtail has been redesigned from the ground up to give you an unparalleled advantage. It’s not just the lightest mountain bike frame we've ever made, it's our lightest frame ever.
The New Shiv
Unrestricted by the limitations of the UCI rulebook our engineers were free to let their enormous brains go wild and set a new standard for speed. The 2020 Shiv takes aero to new heights, virtually disappearing in crosswinds. It’s not only the most aerodynamic bike we’ve ever made, but it's also by far the most aerodynamic bike we’ve ever tested.
RMNC x Parra bike auction
Independent cycling apparel brand, Romance, have teamed up with world-famous Dutch artist Parra to produce a one-off, fully customised Specialized S-Works Roubaix bicycle to be sold at auction, with all proceeds going to World Bicycle Relief.
An epic tour
Wow. Wow, wow, wow...what a Tour de France we’ve seen this year! We always hope for an exciting race and 2019 has delivered in more ways than one. With Peter Sagan’s wheelies winning him yet more fans, Julian Alaphilippe warming the heart of even the most jaded French cycling fan and Specialized right in the mix all the way to Paris, we’ve loved this year’s race every step of the way.
Inside the Specialized Creo SL
The future of e-bikes has arrived. The Specialized Creo SL is our first performance electric road bike and it’s about to take the world by storm.
Specialized Creo SL - First look
The Specialized Creo SL is our first performance electric road bike. We’ve built upon our rich heritage and integrated new technologies to make the most complete e-bike yet.
Sprinting bikes vs climbing bikes – what’s the difference?
It’s that time of year again, the time when the Tour de France takes over the world of cycling and fills our TV screens with non-stop pictures of stunning, truly drop-dead gorgeous bicycles. Watching on from afar, however, it can be difficult to see the small details that go into each rider’s bike – the unique features that specialise it for a certain type of terrain.
Specialized at the 2019 Tour de France
For its 106th edition, organisers have plotted one of the toughest routes in years, with three stage finishes above 2000m for the first time. The race this year is for the guys who can thrive at high altitude and in the pressure cooker of the greatest show on earth.
Get the grip
We’ve been designing tyres for over 40 years, and in that time we’ve developed something of an obsession. And for good reason – your tyres are what keeps you rolling, keeps you shiny side up and keeps you smiling. Choosing the right tyres for the job is as important as making sure you choose the correct bike size and ensuring you get the biggest slice of cake at the café.
Get the connection
Pro riders and their teams spend an awful lot of time getting themselves set up for the most comfortable and aerodynamic position on the bike. There are a lot of very sound reasons for this – the right set up means they can hold their most efficient position on the bike for longer, remain as aero as possible, reduce fatigue and avoid injury at the same time.
The Tarmac – then and now
For 17 years the Tarmac has been our designated ‘do-it-all’ road racing bike, able to crush it on both the climbs and on the flat. It has won a countless number of stages at all three Grand Tours and even managed to scalp major Monument victories across both the men’s and women’s racing calendars. But what is it that makes the Tarmac so unique? How did it become such a dominant and consistent winning machine? Let’s find out…
Allez Allez Allez
Since it first made waves back when Wham! were top of the pops, we’ve refined the Allez, perfecting every aspect of the bike. 35 years down the line it is the ultimate aluminium road bike for every type of riding, from long distance touring to the heady world of full-gas, head down racing. The latest Allez is so good it would have blown Mike’s flouro socks off back in the day.
RIde into summer
Warmer weather isn’t too far away now and with temperatures finally heading in the right direction, it’s time to refresh your wardrobe in time for those lazy, hazy summer rides.
MEET THE TURBO VADO, THE LATEST E-BIKE FROM SPECIALIZED
This is just a sneak peek of what to expect as the range has not yet landed in our UK stores, but trust us, the Turbo Vado is about to redefine the way we go about our daily lives.
Dream Big
You know that a Specialized bike will deliver over and above on the standard details, will tick the boxes titled ‘got to be a head turner’ and ‘must make my friends jealous’ and will also bring extra cakes to the party. With the 2020 Specialized range, you can ride the very best. Time to get dreaming.
Commute in style this summer
As the days get longer and the weather fairer, there’s never been a better time to take up cycle commuting than right now. And what better way to commute than on a Turbo-powered e-bike, one that can get you to and from work without you having to bust a gut or break a sweat.
Specialized at the Giro d'Italia
With the 102nd edition of the Giro d’Italia due to start on Saturday 11 May we’re looking forward to seeing some of the stars of pro cycling roll down the start ramp on their Specialized machines. Piloted by the likes of Deceuninck-Quick Step’s Italian fast man Elia Viviani, teammate and hilly classics specialist Bob Jungels and Bora-Hansgrohe’s Polish GC hope Rafał Majka, we’re likely to see them first across the finish line when the action heats up too.
Use your head
Specialized helmets are designed, as you’d expect from us, with you in mind. Specifically tailored to whichever type of riding you do, a Specialized helmet has all the comfort, fit, ventilation and adjustability you’d expect. Our designers spend an awful lot of time creating a lid that works so well you’ll forget it’s there. Until you need it of course – then you’ll sure be glad it is.
Shred with a Stumpjumper this spring
Our Stumpjumper has never really fit the mould of a normal trail bike, nor restricted itself to a specific type of off-road riding. It’s a jack of all trades, a monster on the dirt and a machine that’s ready to take your mountain biking to the next level.
Roubaix domination
Five. That’s how many S-Works Roubaix bikes finished in the top 10 during Sunday’s Hell of the North, a whopping 50%. If that wasn’t testament to the Roubaix’s new and improved, cobble-crunching features then we don’t know what is.
The New Roubaix is here
Last week we brought you the news that Specialized are to become the sponsor of the Paris-Roubaix one-day race and we couldn’t be more proud to be associated with this epic Spring Classic. Ahead of this Sunday’s 117th edition, we’ve an even more exciting announcement. Yep, it’s new bike day!
Specialized sponsors the Paris Roubaix
The aim was to create a do anything, go anywhere bike that could cope with the ultimate demands from a wide range of riders. By naming it after the toughest bike race on the professional calendar, one defined by rutted and cobbled farm tracks and so incredibly hard on both bike and rider that it is nicknamed the ‘Hell of the North’,
Slice through the summer breeze
When it comes to flying at top speeds on two wheels, pedalling is only half of the equation. The rest is all about aerodynamics – the less drag, the faster you’ll fly. Don’t let the wind slow you down this cycling season, cut straight through it with our wide range of aero-optimised equipment, from bikes to bib shorts…
Take on any trail
We’ve all got that one bogey trail that puts us off a certain centre or downhill run. Whether it’s a gnarly rock garden, super-tight bend or massive jump, it only takes one scary feature to put us off a trail. Here are some of our best trail bikes to help you gain that confidence and finally shred that dreaded trail…
An in depth look at our super shoes
When it comes to riding your bike, there are few more important pieces of equipment than your shoes. They drive power through the pedals and ensure all of your energy is transferred into forward momentum. No shoes, no fun. We’ve released some pretty spectacular shoes of late, both for the road and the off-road. Here’s an in-depth look at them…
The Stumpjumper EVO Pro Carbon has landed
Around a year ago here at Specialized, we revealed the alloy Stumpjumper EVO, the rowdy big brother to the trail-tuned Stumpjumper, built for hard riding and bigger terrain. This spring we’re blessed with the machine to take your riding to the next level – say hello the Stumpjumper EVO Pro Carbon.
Pedalling at the speed of light
There’s lightweight and then there’s the new S-Works EXOS definition of lightweight – a term that marries lightness, agility and power all in a single shoe. Everything but the bare necessities have been stripped away, leaving a cycling shoe that will help you float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.
Step it up a gear with the Turbo Levo
The days of pedalling your trail-blazer back up to the top of the local run are long over. Thanks to the new Turbo Levo FSR and Turbo Levo Hardtail, the uphill is now just as fun as the downhill.
The Fastest Just Got Faster
SRAM’s Red eTap AXS groupset, one of the worst kept secrets of the past few months, has finally landed and offers our Venge and Tarmac a whole new level of hot and aggressive speed. It isn’t just the extra gear however, there’s a lot more to this 12-speed groupset than meets the eye...
Head to Toe in Specialized
At Specialized we’ve got years of experience designing equipment that works whatever Mother Nature throws in your way – we’ve got you covered from your head right down to your toes.
Specialized at the Cyclocross World Championships
The cyclocross world descends on the Danish seaside town of Bogense this weekend, and as always, Specialized will be at the pointy end and we'll be cheering on the guys on their CruX racing machines.
Five Great Rides
We’re pretty lucky here in the UK to have a great variety of riding on our doorstep. Within an hour or so from each of our shop locations are some jaw-dropping locations, and at this time of year, it’s well worth exploring a little further afield to keep up the motivation.
Specialized Down Under
The start of the new season always brings with it a whole host of new tech, and what better place to show off the new bling than beneath the sparkling sun Down Under? A lot of our new kit has been spotted, from new bikes to new shoes, so here’s the lowdown on some of the tech we sent to the first World Tour race of the season.
10 Reasons why you should get an Ebike this year
The new year is all about jumping on new trends and trying different things. What better way to do just that than with a turbo-powered e-bike? Here are ten reasons why you should grab an e-bike this winter and join one of the fastest growing trends in cycling.
The best moments of 2018
We started out the year thinking that it would be tough to match 2017, nigh on impossible to surpass it. Well, I suppose you could say we've done the impossible then, smashing just about every race that came our way, no matter the discipline.
Christmas gift guide
The trees are up, the carols are blaring, and the calendars are counting ever closer to the 25th folks, Christmas is almost here.
Our helmets just got a big facelift
Remember those days when a helmet was just a plastic lid you wore on your noggin? Well, those days are now gone, we've transformed the rudimentary helmet into a live tracking device.
Prepare for the worst and stay dry this season
Anyone who rides a bike knows that you can't beat the weather, but the weather sure can beat you. so you need a reliable selection of gear to keep your pedals turning. At Specialized we have everything you demand, proven on the road and on the trail to be tough enough to last as long as the winter does, and then some.
Introducing the new SWorks Recon
With a design that's been honed over 30 years, it comes as no surprise to learn that these are some of the lightest, robust and freakishly comfortable shoes we've ever produced.
Treat the kids this Christmas
Christmas is coming and as the little ones buzz with excitement, adults are often left thinking how the hell are we going to get all this shopping done? Well, that's where we come in. Here's a quick guide to all the awesome kid's bikes and gear that we have to offer. Even if your little-un has forgotten to write their list, fear not, for we have something for just about everyone this Christmas.
Super support from MIMIC technology - No more suffering in silence
There's nothing worse than a numb backside on a long ride. For female riders especially, finding the perfect saddle is a tough task and one that requires a lot of research and pre-planning. Striking the perfect balance between helping you lay down the watts, and providing a plush surface for your tush, the new women's Power Saddle with MIMIC technology significantly reduces the pressure and improves comfort, power and performance in bucketloads.
Skip the winter and go abroad
Living in the UK, we all know that winters can get pretty rough, with the snow, rain and slush inhibiting our abilities to get out there and ride. But what if we told you that you didn’t have to trudge through this cold and wet season and that you could head abroad instead, chasing the eternal sun.
Winters coming - Cyclocross on the CruX
Winter can really test your resolve. As the days get colder and the mornings get darker it can be more and more difficult to prise yourself out of that comfy bed and head outdoors. But at the same time, you’re a cyclist, right? It’s what you do, and it’s what you need – it keeps you sane. This is where cyclocross comes in!
Wrap Up For Winter
One of the best things about bike riding is being outdoors: great views, fresh air and good riding. But there’s no denying it - winter is around the corner.
Introducing the new S-Works Shiv Disc
When it comes to triathlon, aerodynamics are truly everything and the secret is integration. When you start taping on gels, fixing bottles and flat kits to the frame, you’re left with a whopping aero encumbrance that’s only going to slow you down. The new Shiv has solved that and more.
Specialized dominates the 2018 World Championships
The Tour de France has its prestige, the Giro its classy allure and the Vuelta its gruelling parcours, but no race quite matches the season-ending World Championships in terms of drama and ‘edge of your seat’ action.
Ain't no mountain high enough for the Enduro
The term ‘all mountain’ isn’t used loosely, it takes one special bike to take on climbs and descents with equal aplomb. That’s where the Enduro comes in, a bike that can ride the entire mountain while striking the perfect balance between performance and efficiency.
How to prepare for an all-day epic
Failure to prepare is preparing to fail. The 'train hard; fight easy' mantra is never more apt than when the all-day ride, that's been in the diary for months, is suddenly right around the corner. Don't be caught short and follow Ben Plenge's formula to be ever prepared.
Trail-blazing with a turbo boost
The all-new Turbo Levo FSR is here to change that. It’s stiffer, lighter and more powerful than ever before, and, it will give you the boost you need to climb back to the top, rendering the uplift redundant. Welcome to the new age of mountain biking – it’s still you, only a whole lot faster.
Specialized's super weekend at the MTB Worlds
It was a special weekend for our Specialized MTB riders, breaking and matching records in both the men’s and women’s disciplines.
BLCK DMND drops new rubber for our 2019 MTBs
Our tyres are, first and foremost, designed to keep you planted on the trail but a grippy tyre isn't necessarily the lightest. We've been looking for the perfect rubber, a combination of grippy, fast and light for years. With the help of enduro specialists Curtis Keene and Jared Graves we may have just found such a tyre.
The Stumpjumper evolves
You're going to love this latest Stumpjumper EVOlution, a bike that doesn't quite fit the mould of a "normal" trail bike. It's built for the rough and gnarly, designed to carry some hot speed through the toughest and most technical of trails. Does this sound like a Stumpy that you could handle? Then listen closely…
The CruX of Cyclocross
The Specialized CruX has experienced a revamp for 2018, slimming down to be the greatest Cyclocross bike for the local woods or your next world cup.
The new Allez Sprint
You may recognise the Specialized Allez Sprint as the aluminium racer that the Hagens Berman Axeon team rode to much success throughout the early 2018 road season, Well, now it has a new iteration, the Allez Sprint Comp Disc, upgrading the stunning alloy racer with superb stopping power and all-weather versatility.
Loic Bruni wins in Mont-Sainte-Anne
World champion, Loïc Bruni, took a memorable victory, getting his just deserts after a season so far marred by misfortune.
The new Venge Pro
As the S-Works Venge went on to dominate the sprints of the 2018 Tour de France, Specialized’s Venge Pro lay in wait – biding its time before this week’s big reveal.
Peter Sagan - record breaker
Peter Sagan lined up for his seventh Tour de France, once again in the rainbow stripes of world champion, with a fierce glint in his eye and that trademark cheeky emerald glint.
Turbo: It's you, only faster
The e-bike revolution is here and it has come surging in with the speed and style to match that of even peloton favourite, Peter Sagan.
The next evolution of trail bikes
As the cross-country (XC) discipline grows ever popular among the mountain biking community and wider cycling crowds, XC bikes are becoming more and more versatile without compromising any of that characteristic, lung-searing speed.
Super Sagan and the brand new Venge
With the Tour de France now well underway, we’ve become familiar with seeing the peloton showing off a new collection of drop-dead gorgeous road bikes, all looking to make a statement on the world’s biggest stage.
The all new 2019 VENGE
Seven years of aero testing and race-winning results later, the new Venge has been born. Transforming the burgeoning concept of aerodynamics into an ideology, every edition of the Venge has been optimised to make you ride faster – the new model redefining the meaning of speed.
New Specialized Tarmac disc models just in time for the Tour
With the Tour de France approaching and the peloton’s best gearing up for three weeks of racing action, now’s the perfect time to launch a new line of Tarmac frames complete with disc brakes and drop-dead gorgeous paint jobs.
Peter Sagan - Why so serious?
With the stage victory on day two, Sagan took a record-extending 16th stage win at the Tour de Suisse, adding yet more weight to the claims that he is ‘the greatest rider’ of our time.
Gravel grinding on the road less travelled
An explosion in gravel riding popularity now sees more and more races popping up worldwide, check out this year's UK events as competitors hit the road less travelled and grind it out in the grit.
Three weeks of unrivalled success
With the pro peloton taking a well-earned breather after battling it out across the sunny beaches of California and the snow-capped mountain peaks of the Giro d’Italia, Specialized have been celebrating a spectacular few weeks of racing.
Aero is everything
With aerodynamics now at the forefront of bike technology and driving the market forwards with perpetual advancement, it’s time to take a look at the many ways we can take advantage. Forget pedal power, aero is everything.
The Retul bike fit philosophy
A process often neglected when purchasing a new bike, the bike fit is something that too many riders forgo and almost always regret further down the line. Retul’s bike fit technology provides all the necessary tools to improve both rider performance and comfort, so don’t wing it, bike fit it.
The womens road racing season so far
The undisputed queens of the early season, Boels have crushed every race that has unfurled before them. With a small hiatus before the next big race, let’s take a trip down memory lane and reminisce on the women’s racing season so far.
Specialized head to the Giro d'Italia
After a historic spring classics campaign for Specialized, worthy of entering cycling’s illustrious hall-of-fame, they now head to the Giro d’Italia alongside a rampant Quick-Step Floors team eyeing the sprints, and a promising Bora-Hansgrohe side targeting results in the high mountains.
Stumpjumper pilots top the table at the Sea Otter Classic
For anyone questioning the extreme performance promises of the new S-Works Stumpjumper 29, two trail-blazing Californians have just proved beyond doubt that the iconic bike is everything that it seems, and more.
Everything you need to know about the new Specialized Stumpjumper
The new Stumpjumper is here! Through some engineering wizardry and design overhaul, the new model is the ultimate trail bike.
Specialized: the Kings of Spring
With Peter Sagan’s historic victory at Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, the cycling world turns the page over to the next chapter of the calendar.
Everything you need to know about Specialized e-bikes
If you think there’s space for an e-bike in your arsenal – which there really ought to be – then you shouldn’t have too much difficulty finding something to suit you in our range. After all, we could all do with a bit of a boost from time to time!
Specialized put in epic performance at Cape Epic
You can keep your Tour de France and your Volta a Catalunya; we’re over here enjoying our new favourite stage race, the hot and brutally tough Absa Cape Epic.
New Specialized Spring clothing range
Our new spring clothing range has launched just in time, so let’s take a look at some of the highlights.
An Epic XC World Cup
On Sunday 11th March, the cross-country (XC) mountain biking world was gifted with a spectacular day of racing. Stellenbosch, South Africa, played host to the first round of the UCI World Cup XC event. Let’s take a closer look at the riders and bikes behind an Epic weekend.
Improve your commute with a hybrid bike
Hybrid bikes are all the rage in urban and rural communities alike, favoured by riders looking to upgrade their commutes and improve their fitness, and Specialized boasts some of the best and most popular hybrid bikes that the world has to offer.
Women’s off-road bikes
Let’s take a look at some of the women’s bikes and kit ready and raring to accompany you on your next adventure.
Which bike for you?
Two of our most popular machines are the Tarmac and Roubaix, two bikes which seem to have a similar purpose at first glance: to ride fast. However, there is a lot to distinguish between them. Read on for a helping hand in deciding which is for you.
New S-Works Evade helmet and S-Works 7 shoes
If you’ve been watching the early season races closely, you might have noticed that our Specialized supported athletes and teams have been sporting new models of familiar helmets and shoes. Let’s take a detailed look at these exciting new pieces of kit.
Specialized Road Helmets
With racing underway and motivation gathering momentum, now’s the time to take a look at the new products hitting the cycling world.
Worth It: Will Do
We know January has slid beneath our wheels already but that doesn’t mean steps can’t be taken to make a change or set a goal in 2018.
Specialized MTB helmets
After taking a look at our road helmets last week, this week it is the turn of our mountain bike collection.
20 reasons never to buy Specialized
Thinking about whether or not you should buy a Specialized bike as the next addition to your personal fleet?
Tour Down Under 2018 race preview
It’s time to box up the Christmas decorations, drag them back up to the loft, and bring down the inflatable kangaroos; the Australian cycling season is officially underway.
New Year New Bike (Sale)
Kick-start your motivation with a new set of wheels at mahoosive discounts in our winter sale.
Ten things every cyclist does at Christmas
Ten things every cyclist does around the Christmas period.
The six cyclists of Christmas… and what to get them
Welcome to our deeply unscientific look at six of the most common pedalling personas we think you’ll encounter out there, along with some handy Christmas gift recommendations for these types of cyclists.
New team rider
Introducing Kriss Kyle our new team rider
How to plan a long-distance touring trip…
A tour guarantees a succession of mornings spent breakfasting in new, beautiful locations, days riding through an endless variety of landscapes filled with friendly people and evenings watching a sunset and reflecting on the day’s events.
It’s time to take e-bikes seriously
The popularity of e-bikes is growing and with it, the recognition within world racing that it's here to stay.
Everything you need to know about disc brakes
Earlier this week, British Cycling announced that disc brakes will be allowed in all levels of domestic competition in road races and closed circuit events from 1 January 2018
Is Peter Sagan the greatest cyclist of all time?
Is Peter Sagan – our current world champion, a description he has carried for three years now – the greatest ever cyclist?
8 things your non-cycling friends just don't understand
Some of the acknowledged cycling stereotypes live on through sheer stubbornness and a firm belief that traditions and conventions should be upheld. Some are genuine issues of practicality, efficiency and safety. And most cause some degree of head-scratching from our non-cycling friends.
What to look forward to in the 2018 race season
The 2017 WorldTour racing season came to an explosive end this week with the Tour of Guangxi, the last and newest top-tier event on the calendar. It was a particularly eventful finale for Specialized thanks to one athlete in particular.
Stay safe and seen out there… commuting essentials for winter
As of September 22nd, the equinox, summer’s reign is officially over in the northern hemisphere. This means the sun sits lower in the sky and the nights stretch on for longer as the northern hemisphere tilts further from the sun.
What is Specialized SWAT storage ?
Specialized SWAT is all about carrying everything you need for your race or ride in the most efficient way possible.
Specialized bikes and kit reviews - round up
Here's a roundup of Specialized product reviews throughout the press, these independent reviews offer an unbiased opinion on performance in everyday use
What is Cyclocross?
Some would lament the end of summer as we progress through September at an alarming pace. However, even though our carbon road steeds will see little other than the insides of the stable for the remainder of 2017, there is still a lot to look forward to this year.
Winter hi-vis essentials
The days are getting shorter and the temperature is dropping so it’s time to make sure you’re well prepared for whatever winter might throw at you. Hi-vis fluoro clothing and accessories are a must-buy at this time of year.
Who and what to look out for at the World Championships
All the world’s best and brightest cycling talent will shortly be descending on Bergen in Norway for the UCI Road World Championships. The racing starts with the women’s team time trial on 17th September and closes the following Sunday with the men’s road race.
Specialized dominates World MTB Championship
The 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships are in the books, and it was a successful week Down Under for many Specialized riders. There were some heroic displays across all disciplines and age groups, with the full gamut of Specialized bikes on show.
Four reasons why you need a bike fit
Everyone loves a good bike upgrade. Anything to help us climb easier, ride faster or stay in the saddle for longer durations. While there are countless products that promise to help you on your way towards these common goals, some are more effective than others.Â
First look: Turbo Kenevo
The all-new Turbo Kenevo picks up where the ground-breaking Turbo Levo left off, and adds more travel, providing the freedom to ride steeper, rougher, and gnarlier trails than ever before.
Best photos and recap from Vuelta week 2
It has been another spectacular week for Specialized’s supported athletes at the Vuelta a España, and though their presence is still as acutely felt as ever, it has not been all about Quick-Step Floors. Bora-Hansgrohe have also come out to play.
Recap the first week of La Vuelta with the best bits
Quick-Step Floors have sustained their status as the winningest team of 2017 in the first week of La Vuelta. With three of nine stage wins, the team elevate their victorious tally to a staggering 25% of all the Grand Tour stages completed so far this year.
Prepare for the CruX Season
It’s already agonisingly close to the end of August, which means the cycling world will shortly be turning off the paved roads and bombing it, instead, through thick mud, sketchy rock gardens and up and over vicious ramps.
The young guns of Quick-Step Floors
The Vuelta a España got underway this week and, if the early signs are anything to go by, it’s set to be one of the more electrifying Grand Tours of recent years. One team that’s already set about grabbing the Spanish bull by the horns is Quick-Step Floors
Bob Jungels - The Vuelta’s dark horse
The last Grand Tour of the season is just days away and the circus is already assembling in Nîmes, France, for the technical team time trial before the Vuelta heads into Spain for the race proper.
Best deals in the Specialized Concept Store sale
Its end-of-season sale time here at the Specialized Concept Store, and there are literally hundreds of bikes, clothes and accessories available at low prices.
Some of the big names riding Specialized in 2018
For fans of many sports, August means transfer season. And, while you won’t see any cyclists being purchased for multi-million pound sums, pro teams are now beginning to dip into the market of soon-to-be out of contract riders
The new 2018 Specialized Epic
In line with the changes to XC tracks in recent years, the Epic frame has been completely redesigned to better negotiate the tricky rock gardens and technical singletrack of modern racing.
Tips for buying your first road bike
When making that first foray into the road bike market, though, wading through the hundreds of different options can be a daunting prospect. But fear not, lycra-warrior! Here are a few pearls of wisdom to lean on when picking out that all-important first bike:Â
BORA-HANSGROHE, THE UNSTOPPABLE FORCE?
Bora-Hansgrohe have proved again and again that they have immense strength in depth and a real passion that does not dip in the face of adversity. The team may be newbies in the WorldTour peloton, but they are a near unstoppable force.
The Specialized Foundation launches 'Outride ADHD'
To coincide with stage 18 of the Tour de France, the Specialized Foundation launched the ‘Outride ADHD’ campaign to create awareness of an under-appreciated method to combat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The foundation aims to educate doctors, parents and teachers about the merits of cycling for children diagnosed with ADHD.
Red Hook Report
he Red Hook Crit is always a great place to spot beautiful bikes, with the unique Specialized Allez models ridden by the team standing out in a field of standouts. These fixed-gear versions of our market-leading aluminium frame are perfect for the hurly burly world of crit racing and have carried Team Specialized riders to victories in this and previous series.Â
Prepare your family for a summer of cycling
The summer holidays are finally here so it’s time to start planning some fun family rides. The warmer weather at the end of the school year is the best time to build up your family’s confidence on the bike and on the road.
The Red Hook Crit, London
Criterium racing is one of the more exciting and spectator-friendly disciplines of our sport. Raced on short, often city-centre, circuits, criteriums inspire a frantic and full gas style of racing
Catch up with the Specialized Pro Riders
Specialized bikes of all varieties have been put to the test on varying terrain, from the technically challenging MTB trails of Andorra and Switzerland, to the insane climbs of Italy and the extraordinarily fast sprints in France. Let’s catch up with some of the riders and what they’ve been up to lately
A good weekend for Specialized at the MTB World Cup Round 4
Last weekend saw the fourth round of the UCI MTB Cross-Country World Cup in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. For a few days, the venue was overrun with riders and fans who enjoyed the spectacle of MTB racing in some of the best scenery Europe has to offer.
Why your next road bike should be equipped with disc brakes
Marcel Kittel made history on Stage 2 of the Tour de France by winning on a bike equipped with disc brakes for the first time ever.
Boels-Dolmans at the Giro Rosa
The European road race champion rests at the top of the UCI rankings and currently tops the general classification standings at the Giro Rosa
Pro Bikes of The Tour de France
The professional cycling peloton is about to set off on its 104th Tour de France and there’s plenty to get excited about. The first stop for this unique travelling circus is Dusseldorf, where the racing kicks off with a 14km individual time trial. The Tour then visits Belgium and Luxembourg before arriving in France at the end of stage four
Specialized Teams at The Tour de France
Of the 22 teams heading to Dusseldorf, two will be riding with Specialized equipment including bikes, helmets and shoes. Both Bora-Hansgrohe and Quick-Step Floors are packed full of incredible talent for this Tour. Let’s take a look at who to look out for
A first look at the all new Specialized Diverge
The Specialized Diverge all-terrain adventure bike has been treated to a major redesign for the new season. In an era in which hybrid disciplines like gravel riding, or “Groad†biking, are inspiring the cycling world
The new 2018 Crux
Right now the perishing cold and sticky mud of winter may seem like a long way off, but Specialized has just launched a new version of its CruX frame. The new CruX is a cyclocross bike that is sure to keep you feeling warm and fuzzy all through ‘cross season when it does eventually come around.Â
STAR 2017 PRODUCTS
From the Venge Vias Disc eTap to the S-Works 6 road shoes, each of the products below are there for a reason; not only do they look simply stunning but they also perform to near-perfection.
Five times Peter Sagan was the Raddest Dude in Cycling
Peter Sagan is a rare breed of cyclist; a man whose abilities transcend the boundary between mountain bike and road racing, and whose personality would be well-suited to the Hollywood red carpet.
Getting ready for Bikepacking season
Bikepacking is a craze which is sweeping the cycling world with bikes designed especially for a particular type of adventure, bags and equipment developed for ultra-lightweight and efficient storage, and events like the Transcontinental Race being talked about almost as much as the Tour de France.Â
Get into the OVO Womens Tour with Boels-Dolmans
The OVO Women’s Tour, this year supporting Breast Cancer Care, is run by the same organisers as the men’s Tour of Britain and features five stages finishing with a challenging criterium-style finale in London’s West End.
A NEW GENERATION IS BORN
The 100th edition of the Giro d’Italia came to a thrilling climax on Sunday and it’s already being talked up as one of the more exciting Grand Tours in recent memory. It had everything; controversy, drama, crashes, surprise, fury, disappointment and elation
Spotlight on the Sirrus
The Sirrus is a machine perfectly suited to fast and comfortable urban riding, but it needn’t be confined to the city. Every model in the range can help you become fitter, faster and stronger, on the roads, through the woods or to the café with friends.
ANNIKA LANGVAD - EPIC CHAMPION
Langvad is a passionate athlete who sets a fantastic example for the sport on and off the bike and we’re proud to have her in the Specialized family.
GOING FULL ENDURO
Enduro is a discipline which is touted to be the next big thing in mountain biking. To get the most out of it, you need an all-mountain trail bike that is responsive when you’re plummeting down inclines and nippy when the trail tilts skyward.
FIVE MOUNTAIN BIKE MYTHS BUSTED
There is no better way to exhibit passion for pedalling than hurling yourself down forested trails with mates on knobbly tyres. But is it all fun and games? Like anything worth doing,
TEST RIDE A TURBO LEVO
Countless experienced mountain bikers have started coming out of the woodwork to praise the benefits of motor-assisted bikes, dispelling the assumption that ebikes should be the sole domain of the inexperienced, injured or elderly.
SPECIALIZED RIDERS TAKE THE FIRST WEEK BY STORM
On Friday 5 May, a circus arrived on the Italian island of Sardinia, a circus draped in pink, which set out on a lap of the island that would last three days. The Giro d’Italia had landed.
Spotlight on the Tarmac
This year, the men of Quickstep Floors and Bora-Hansgrohe are riding Specialized frames. For the flat and sprint stages, the Venge will be their weapon of choice, while the mountains call for the Tarmac, a significantly lighter beast. Let’s take a look at its merits.
Fairytale Fortnight for Boels
By the first week of April and the Tour of Flanders, Boels-Dolmans had cemented themselves as the team to beat. This year, however, they had scraped just one single win by the same point in the year, courtesy of this year’s world champ, Amalie Dideriksen.
Spring Road Cycling Clothing
Though summer is definitely on the way, this is a difficult time of year to dress for – so here’s a list of the key items that will set you up for spring – whether you’re dodging April showers on British shores or jetting off to the sun-drenched roads of Mallorca, Tenerife or Lanzarote for a training camp.
Spring MTB Clothing
Whether you’re using the spring as an excuse to get away from the UK for your first riding trip of the year, or simply fancy digging your trail-munching machine out of the shed and visiting the local centre, you’re going to need some appropriate kit.
Boels-Domans back with a bang
After starting the 2016 season as the dominant force in women’s cycling, Boels-Dolmans have had a quieter start to 2017. The ladies in orange have amassed less than half the number of wins as they had at this point last year, but that’s not to say that they haven’t enjoyed a significant degree of success.
Specialized Products in the DIRT 100
Every year, Dirt Magazine releases a complete guide to the 100 best mountain bike products available that year. The list is compiled irrespective of price, method of sale, or country of origin, and there are certainly some eyebrow-raisers in there.
The Other Specialized Superteam
Most British cycling superstars are cultivated in a velodrome where they learn the way of marginal gains, sports psychology and gold medals until they are deemed fully grown, ready to be released into the wild world of road racing.
Specialized Diverge - Jack of all Trades
If you remember riding your first bike as a kid, you’ll recall the unconquerable compulsion to ride over potholes and through the worst road muck you could possibly find.
Cape Epic Heroes
Taking place at the end of March every year, the Cape Epic is raced over eight gruelling days, starting on South Africa’s Western Cape at Meerendal and finishing at Val de Vie after 691kms and 15,400m of climbing.
Specialized Athletes you may not have heard about
Arguably some of the more exciting and awe-inspiring riders fly relatively low beneath the radar, so we’ve amassed some of the brightest new talents and heroes below.
Putting the Spotlight on the Allez
The Specialized Allez has been a benchmark in the road bike market for about as long as the company has been around. The Allez, inspired by the shouts of encouragement from French spectators (and also a play on the material the bike is made from), was launched alongside the Sequoia sports tourer as one of the American brand’s first production bikes in 1981.
Top 10 Road and Mountain bikes under £1500
So, you want to get into cycling but you’re not sure where to start? We’re here to help you find the perfect bike to get you inspired as you set out on the road or trail.
Grand Tour vs Classics
Why hasn’t Peter Sagan won the Tour de France? Why is Chris Froome not riding Paris-Roubaix? How is watching 200 men in skin-tight suits riding from one place to the next in the least bit exciting?Â
Venge ViAS Disc Reviews
The Specialized Venge ViAS Disc has become more and more prominent as the season has progressed. First, Tom Boonen grabbed a maiden race win for a disc-equipped bike at the Vuelta a San Juan in Argentina right at the beginning of the year
E-bike or regular - An E-asy Choice
Electric bikes have been subject to ambivalence for about as long as they’ve existed. They came onto the scene in the 1990s as city bikes with wacky designs that were far removed from traditional bikes.
Spring Classics are here
We can finally say with some conviction that spring is, if not here already, then definitely on its way. If all else fails, for cyclists, the beginning of the classics season is a good sign that spring is coming.
The best entry-level bikes for Women
So you’ve decided to take up cycling, (great news!) but you’re not sure what you’re looking for. Mountain bike, fitness or road racing, it’s easy to get stuck at the first hurdle of there being so much choice
Women's evenings at Specialized Concept Stores
Designed with a view to getting more women cycling, the ‘Where it Begins’ event series from Specialized is a month-long series of events that will offer a huge amount to both newbie riders and those who are looking to get back into the saddle after a long time without picking up a bicycle.
Limited Edition Bora-Hangrohe S-Works Tarmac in Stock!
A new season brings new opportunities, new objectives and new teams into the world of pro cycling, and this year is no different. 2016 saw the end of two top-tier teams in IAM Cycling and Specialized supported Tinkoff, causing a major reshuffle, not only in team rosters, but also in equipment sponsors. In 2017, Specialized has a renewed focus with just two teams to concentrate on in the incumbent Quickstep Floors team of Marcel Kittel and Tom Boonen, and Peter Sagan’s new home at Bora-Hansgrohe.
The power to ride more trails
If the divisions between roadies and mountain bikers are seen as a bit of a rift, then the split separating ebikes from the rest of two-wheeled society is perceived by some as a chasm of biblical proportions. But with the Turbo Levo, Specialized is breaking down the barriers that keep ebikes from experienced and performance-driven mountain bikers, and has already converted many of the ebike’s fiercest skeptics.
Try before you buy with demo bikes and events
When you buy a new bike, you want to know that it is the perfect machine for you. For ultimate peace of mind and confidence in the bike you choose, we have an awesome fleet of demo mountain bikes that you can take for a spin.
New Year, New Bike
New year, new you, new bike? Everyone knows new kit is one of the biggest motivators for a cyclist. Smart new kit equals more pro, which equals faster and more efficient riding. Whether you’re a mountain biker, road racer, sportive hunter or bike packer, we’ve got something to enable you to make this year great. Check out our list of bikes that will take your riding to the next level in 2017.
Introducing the stunning new Roval CLX 50
Introducing the stunning new Roval CLX 50
Peter Sagans Specialized S-Works Venge ViAS
His torso newly-wrapped in rainbow stripes for the second year running, Peter Sagan is about to begin a new season with his new team, Bora Hansgrohe, the german outfit which was upgraded to World Tour status for 2017 (thanks largely to the UCI points Sagan brought with him).
New year fitness drive
2017 is achingly close now, a new chapter is waiting for our reformed selves. Hopeful lifestyle changes and good intentions are just around the corner, we’ve just had the hurdle of Christmas Week to struggle over first.
Get your kids riding in no time
Passing on the skill and joy of riding a bike is a great gift to your child, it’s something they’ll hopefully never leave, and, as the old adage goes: “You never forget how to ride a bike" Getting them there is another story though, there are going to be some tantrums, some tears and some cut knees, actually even at 33 years old the cut knees never end. There are a few schools of thought on the subject of teaching your child to ride a bike. I’ll discuss below the options and current thoughts on those ideas.
How to ride wintery conditions
As we enter December and winter is well and truly here, it’s time to think about riding your bike in wintery conditions – not just in the cold and the wet, but more dangerously, on the icy surfaces that become more of an issue as temperatures drop below the zero mark on your thermometer.
Looking forward to 2017 on the road
With New Year just a hop, skip and a jump away, we’re starting to look toward the 2017 road cycling season with bubbling anticipation. While we amateur cyclists settle into our winter routines driven by willpower and fear of loss of fitness, professional riders all over Europe and the world are beginning their preparation for another racing season, newly laid targets fresh in their minds with strict plans in place in order to meet them.
The wonders of winter riding
There aren’t many of us who truly love everything about winter. As the temperatures around the UK have plummeted dramatically in recent weeks a fair few of us will have been grumbling about the chill in the air. But all this doesn’t mean there aren’t some great things about winter too.
Dress from the ground up - all the essential winter items you need
Whether we like it or not, winter is here to stay, and with the off-season slump all but over, it’s time to turn our attention to winter training; taxing for some, exciting for others. It has been said that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing, and we couldn’t agree more.
World Champs Roundup
There has been just one story on everybody’s lips this week in the world of cycling; Peter Sagan’s incredible second win in a row at the UCI World Championships.
The bike press are loving our 2017 bikes
There’s a lot of love out there for our 2017 bikes, particularly the new incarnation of the Sequoia and the reimagined Roubaix. What can we say? We tend to agree!
Feeling adventurous? The new Sequoia and Burra Burra
The trend for adventure riding seems to be gathering pace with every passing month. More and more cyclists, be they mountain bikers or roadies, are discovering the joys of heading out into the wilds, just them and a bike loaded down with everything they might need for a few days in nature.
Winter welcome – cold weather clothing
You can’t fight it, in fact you might as well embrace it, winter is well and truly on the way. Riders all over the UK have been feeling a nip in the air and have begun the much-loathed process of sorting out their winter bikes and kit
Ride Into Winter
We all know the best way to keep riding through the Winter is to make sure you’re prepared to tackle the worst that the season can throw at you. With that in mind, we invite you to join us at your local Specialized Concept Store for our women’s Ride into Winter evening sessions.
The Specialized superteam – Etixx-Quickstep
Very few World Tour teams ever come close to the achievements hoarded by Etixx-Quick Step each season. With a squad brimming with talent and opportunities, there is not just one leader around which the team is built as with some teams. The Belgian squad are a stalwart of the pro peloton and are a joy to watch at any race. What’s more Eitxx is perhaps the only true candidate for the ‘super team’ label.
Essential 2017 helmets
There are few pieces of kit that are imperative if cycling is to be taken seriously and a helmet is one of them. In some countries you can incur a hefty fine for neglecting to protect your noggin, Australia, for instance. Earlier this week an Australian study was released, drawing on data from more than 64,000 cyclists worldwide, concluding that helmet use reduces the risk of serious head injury by 70%.
2017 Roubaix
First look at the 2017 Roubaix
Four reasons you need a 2017 S-Works Enduro in your life
The Enduro is a fearless, peerless backcountry bike – ideal for racing or simply exploring the local wilderness. Not only is it extremely able, but it also offers fantastic pedalling efficiency, because when you ride ‘all-mountain’, you have to take on the whole of the mountain – and that means putting in the power to go uphill as as well as down.
Revolutionary rides: the new-look Ruby and Roubaix
The Roubaix has been a stalwart of the Specialized family since 2004, when it revolutionised road cycling as the first truly successful entry in the ‘endurance’ bike category. Through the years it’s been through its fair share of changes and tweaks – like all our bikes, both mountain and road, we believe you can always improve on perfection.
Smoother is Faster
To some, smoothness is merely concept. But for the all-new Ruby and Roubaix, it's the driving force behind every design decision we make, and the result are a pair of bikes like no others before them. Find out how we did it.
The Tarmac is back – 2017 range of our top-end road machine
​For when owning a great bike is not quite good enough, the Specialized Tarmac is an exceptional all-round race bike. Light, stiff and agile, the it’s a versatile machine that is perfectly suited to sprinting, descending and climbing.
​Enduro 2017 – a whole new attitude
The Specialized Enduro has been a favourite for MTBers for some years, but has remained largely unchanged since 2013. That’s largely because we don’t believe in changing things just for the sake of it – especially not when you’ve got such a natural-born hill killer on your hands.
Meet the Sequoia – ready for adventure
Specialized first entered the market in 1974 with a touring bike called the Sequoia – and now that touring and all-road adventure riding is very much back in fashion, Specialized have brought it back.
Get into cyclocross – and meet the Specialized CruX
Riding a bike during the winter months can be a chore to say the least. The cold, rain, wind and gritty roads can wreak havoc with your mind, body and your drivetrain – confining many a keen road cyclist to the indoor trainer.
Marcel Kittel's S-Works Speed Machine
An introduction to marcel Kittel's S-Works Venge Vias and one of the fastest bikes on the market
S-Works Superstars - Our Cutting-edge Products Getting Rave Reviews
Our top of the market kit are getting the reviews they deserve across the cycling industry
Lizzie Brings it Home for Britain
Lizzie Armitstead wins at the Tour of Britain
Three Items to Instantly Upgrade Your Summer MTB Clothing
Here are our recommendations for three pieces of equipment to add to your summer cycling essentials
Our Five Favourite Things About Summer Riding
There are so many good aspects to summer riding but here are our top five favourites
Three bikes perfect for riding L’Etape du Tour
With less than a month to go before the 2016 edition of the L’Etape du Tour, we thought we’d take a look at some of our best road bikes for tackling this type of epic road cycling challenge.
Our Favourite Specialized Mountain Bikes of 2016
Our top picks from our 2016 Mountain bike range
Take The Next Step in a Pair of Specialized Cycling Shoes
Our buyers guide to Specialized shoes, our range covers a variety of different riding styles
Some of Our Best Road Bikes Between £1,200 to £1,800
Buying on a budget? Here are our recommendations on the Best Road Bikes Between £1,200 and £1,800 in 2016
How to Ride Faster on the Road (Without Buying a New Bike)
Our guide to a faster performance out on the road without replacing your current bike
Preparing For a Sportive
Our guide to preparing for your Sportive in 2016
Motivation Tips for Mountain Bikers
A guide to keeping up your enthusiasm and reaping the benefits of Mountain Biking
The Benefits of Cycle Commuting
Our guide on why you should consider cycling your commute
Target Your Weaknesses To Ride Faster
Ben returns to offer some valuable advice on strength training
Buyers Guide to Turbo Trainers
Our guide to fitness training at home for those times you can't leave the house
The Top Five Bike Maintenance Tasks You Should Be Performing
Top Five Bike Maintenance tips to keep your bikes performing their best
Enduro Training: Economy and Strength
Strength coach Ben Plenge offers this guide on Enduro training
The Importance of a Perfectly Fitted Bike
Here at Specialized Concept Stores we offer an unrivalled bike and equipment fitting service, find out more with our guide
Five Trail Centres Which You Should Have Checked Out By Now
Here's our list of the unmissable Trail Centres across the UK
Local Mountain Bike trails: Bristol
​There aren’t many cities where good singletrack can be found within a short ride from the city centre, Bristol, however, does offer such riding
The Specialized Bike That Won Giro D'Italia
Italian national champion Vincenzo Nibali traded his custom Specialized Tarmac for this new model