It’s safe to say the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 was perhaps the most anticipated bike of 2023. The bike was officially released in Glasgow at the UCI Cycling World Championships; however, thanks to a torrent of rumours and a few leaked images before the release, we had a pretty good idea of what was coming.
The media storm that enveloped the new Tarmac resulted in a vibrant online discussion about whether the new Tarmac was a real upgrade or just one big marketing ploy by the American bike giant. The truth, I think, lies somewhere between the two. But this bike requires careful analysis to be truly understood.
Construction
First things first, the bike’s new design. Aesthetically at least, the SL8 shares many similarities with its older
