I bought an sworks aethos because I wanted a lightweight disc brake bike. Let me tell you the weight is really only part of the story. The ride quality and feel is absolutely amazing. It’s super super super fun to ride! Forget aero, forget weight…it’s just really a jolly good ride. Ive sold all my bikes because I don’t wanna ride anything else. It’s that good
I disagree, I ride carbon frames from 2016 and the frames are still rock solid, no issues. If anything I believe they are made better because they have stood the test of time. I see many carbon bikes even approaching 20 years old still being ridden by my friends in the bunch ride. The truth is that lighter bikes are more cost prohibitive and in an industry trying to extract margin from every bike they sell, we are paying more money for less bike. I think the biggest challenge for the bike industry is that they built the old bikes too well and now are in a situation to try to convince us to buy new ones by adding more features like "disc brakes".
I have had or ridden just about every popular high end bike out there and the Aethos is my favorite. MyTarmac SL7doesnt get ridden much because the Aethos is such a nice ride .
Best carbon bike ive ever ridden. Selling my SL7 purely because of how it rides and handles. Something i cant explain but it just feels smoother..but just as fast in every way unless you are going on a flat 40kph + but this bike rides so well you wont care about numbers. Probably the closest feel to steel ive felt with carbon. descending fast over 70kph i also believe this handles better than the sl7. Im really not sure why but i feel like i can push this harder in technical descents
I am kind of old, so I remember the old steel framed bikes. They were flexible. I was amazed when I bought a Cannondale in 1991. It was a rocket. A rocket that would beat you up on a rough road, but still a rocket. As for disc brakes, I do prefer them. They are just better overall. They do add some weight, but I have never contested the KOM of a long climb. Even when I was young and very fit. I'm 6'3".
Definitely my favorite production frameset. Hoping that after Specialized created this gem, it opens other manufacturers to make lighter/non-UCI legal models as well. And, maybe when it becomes a norm, it's all more affordable for all.
Come now in nearly 40 years of living in the mountains road cycling I have never worn thru a rim with rim brakes. Mind you I am also including silly light tubular alloy rims like Mavic GEL 280's & Fiamme Gold labels That aside the market did not so much move towards disc brakes as the market blackmailed buyers into it. By offering only disc & many bought out of fear of no longer being able to get rim brakes parts etc. That aside the screeching you mentioned is a bit more than annoying it is horrific. It is the sound of yes not rim wear but instead disc wear & disc pads are as many have found not lasting long at all & a real expense. Yeah all that aside it is not surprising that now Specialized want to tout lightness after it was stolen from most 😉
Lol if the weight of the aethos is the main feature of that bike for you, I can see why you guys would still think that rim brakes are still relevant in this day and age. You don’t buy an aethos because it’s light, the same way you don’t buy brakes because of its weight. If the weight of a disc brake matters more than the sheer stopping power and control to you; I’d suggest cycling more and losing those pounds.
If you spend 10-15 hours a week riding in rain on team rides you will wear your rims out in two seasons. e.g. Seattle where I live. No, you won’t wear through rims nearly that fast in dry conditions, maybe never depending on grades and miles ridden. Regardless, I’m sad we see fewer and fewer options for rim brake fair weather, feather-weight bikes.
Why are we still going on about rim brakes. Disc brakes are 100% better! Would you put rim brakes on your car, Moto? You wouldn’t even put them on an e-bike! Disc brakes help you draw lines through corners with the precision of a sharpened pencil ✏️
Ummm 2 tons of car vs 15lbs of bicycle? Braking Comparison? That aside is there a problem with allowing choice? This lack of choice is the only real problem perceived by many.
@@maniastrat Well but disc brakes on cars are very different but the principle system is the same. You wouldn't choose a rim 'system' in that case was my point. Anyway I'm pro choice. I understand that rim brake users are put off by the weight of disc brake bikes that's why the aethos is the winner for me as it's similar weight as a top rim bike in 2015-17 but with superior braking performance. I live near the alps so brakes are maybe more of a concern than if I lived in holland!
@@maniastrat I bike with similar weight but superior braking performance along with the ability to run 28-32c tires...which is practically impossible for these ultra-light rim brake race bikes is another aspect. On top of that, yeah maybe in Holland, but as for the rest of the country of Netherlands where rides and events often overlap into Belgium, the extra braking power and control along with the ability to run larger tires for more contact patch becomes much more significant. On top of that, the limitation to ride 23c or 25c tires on the cobbles....again grip in inclimate weather becomes a game changer. With tires like the Conti 5000 S TRs that are very light, you basically can "have your cake and eat it too". Also, there is a comparison to car brakes, and it went through a similar phase-out. You don't have to look any further than drum brakes...which you will not find on the front of any vehicle, and pretty much gone from most every modern vehicle on the market in favor of disc brakes. But we don't hear anyone complain for choice for that..... In the end, moving the braking surface provides multitudes of improvement in design: Improved braking in the wet and dry Faster descending due to improved braking, can brake later and harder Faster overall speeds Potentially life-saving because of it Can accommodate wider tires for 1) Improved grip 2) Improved comfort 3) Improved protections from flats 4) The ability run tubeless securely with less fuss 4a) Tubeless allows for even more comfort and grip 4b) Tubeless is even more resillient against flats 4c) Lighter than a traditional tube/tire setup (of course latex or tublito type tubes + extremely light tires wins out) Now if you're a casual rider or rarely see yourself over 30kpm or if you do its on a descent and you're managing your speed at that point (instead of letting it rip)....Or as you alluded to, you live somewhere like Holland NL or Miami Florida where you see no elevation...sure there's no reason to upgrade to discs, but for more people, the better braking experience is going to be safer and only contribute to positive experience rather than being a detriment.
I've been riding mtbs with disc brakes for over 15 years and when I saw roadies were using them I thought 'about time!'. But the weight and the noisy brake squeals puts me off swapping my rim braked roadie for discs. My mtb brakes squeal at times but I know the solution. This lightweight Aethos is the only disc roadie I'm now thinking of buying and only because they are discounted as the RRP is too pricey for me. 😃
Yeah, it seems many don't remember or have never ridden a bike with great ride feel. Actually this has been the largest problem with disc brake bikes. So i would bet fat tire trend has been a saviour for designers. Aero bikes will never have a possibilty to hammer ride feel over the old rim brake bikes.
Hi ! Thanks a lot for this review. I have a few questions, I am still hesitating between SL8 and Aethos. In a nutshell, I am a very light weight (55kg), I do not ride competition but I love climbing and long days out on the bike. The SL8 as you say seem to overlap with the Aethos, and go above and beyond it. However my concern is, I am not a rider who can ride 35-40kph average on flat (I cant push hard on the pedals with a 70 rpm cadence, I am a typical climber who averages minimum of 90 rpm). I have the feeling the SL8 would be harder to ride for me because of my riding style and morphology. I am looking for a bike for pleasure but also to progress in all areas. What do you think of that and would is your opinion on what I should choose? Thanks a lot :)
@@brody5211 I went for the Aethos Sworks and I am delighted of it ! It really is a climbing machine, but also fast enough for me on flat. It is comfortable and stiff, all i hoped ! Can't wait to go up Tour de France climbs this summer with this beast :)
Just wasted 8 minutes of my life watching a review on a bike I wanted to see but you didn’t show! Why don’t you show more of the bike and less of the guy gassing off 🤦♂️😆
I reserve my "thumbs down" for bike reviews where the reviewer appears to have not ridden the bike. Since he only mentions what the design is supposed to do for the ride instead of his personal experience, I'm guessing he did not ride it. Shame, cause the Aethos ride experience is excellent.
How to pay more for less? This is an answer to those prayers. You pay for aethereal intangible benefits and the purple prose provided by bike reviews. Placebo takes care of the rest.
