I bought a Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro but will I keep it? 

I got the tarmac after the aethos. Both have exactly same geometry in size 54. The challenge with those bikes is the saddle and its tilt. The power saddle forces to gravitate forward causing pain, to compensate we tilt the saddle further until all of our weight is on the front. Changed the saddle, leveled its tilt and can not be more happy. The tarmac is as smooth and super fast. BTW am 50 as well. So please consider another saddle that will help you balance your weight on the bike and you got yourself a very good frame. Good luck and enjoy. We have the right to still enjoy a race bike in our 50s

if you remember, the old Venge had this aero bar with the rise in it. i got a copy of this (yea yea i know) and this added a lot of comfort for me and helped massively being able to use my neck after rides. i think it looked really cool still and it made me look better on the bike as i felt much better and i was as fast if not faster since i was able to get down when it mattered instead of forced to low all the time.

Never too old for a race bike 😊… at 52yrs that was my way of thinking after a bike fit, which put me upright on a 54, short reach, loads of stack spacers. Felt just OK. Chewed this over with a second bike fitter who got me on a 56 boy-racer frame, moderate stack spacers and 110mm stem. Had to work a little on core, neck and shoulders but now it feels soo good. Dig in!

hey mate great video rundown. Check out the giant revolt x. It's really comfortable and puts you in a more upright position but super capable everywhere. Won bike of the year etc as well

nice man I had the S works SL8 loved it, Shame though living in london got stolen after 2 weeks

i think is great you give it a go before knowning it is not for you, most important is to enjoy every chance

With my dodgy back I find a high position with a short stem actually more uncomfortable. I find this makes me arch my back more and puts more strain through my lower spine with the weight distribution more towards the saddle. A longer stem helps the most as I stretch my back out more.

Hi Jase, Tarmac rider here (61, almost riding every day addiction ) . Nice bike! Tried that power saddle once (as it’s supposed to be the holy grail), it killed me. Now for years on a Toupe saddle, with a 1cm rise 110 slammed stem, no problems (of course my back is painful once and a while ). I do ride on the smaller size frame for my body (1.81cm size 54), as I feel more compact. I would recommend leveling that saddle and move it maybe a bit backwards. That way there’s is less stress on your arms and neck. That having said it’s only my personal experience and the Tarmac is of course an aggressive racehorse and I don’t have the injury you have . Keep on riding 👍

the new Giant defy looks great and is very light weight as well, it'll be my pick for endurance.

Thx for the video! Can you tell more about difference in comfort,. speed and acceleration between Tarmac and Roubaix? Why you decide to choose Tarmac SL8 over Roubaix SL8? And what about fun factor compared two bikes?

If you want to check out endurance bikes, then one solid option is the Merida Scultura endurance. Solid bike, but the only downside is that even the highest spec one doesn't come with di2, just standard mechanical ultegra. Still would be worth a look though.

Get a proper road bike and one that fits you right mate. Get one off my list of recommended. The best bikes now have NEVER been cheaper. IYKYK. Look how straight your arms are when you are filming. Id be in a lot of pain too if my seat was tipping me forward that much hehe. Your seat is way too high aswell.

Go for the factor Ostro VAM. More comfy, more upright position in comparison with the tarmac.

Nice rich man 👌👏

Hope you get to keep the bike.

that seat angle :}

What changes ( if any) would you suggest to try with the saddle to help with lower back pain that usually kicks for me on one side after close to 2hrs or so

Hi Jase, Thank you and very useful info. You've medium size bike. Could you pls let me know your height. I'm 5'9 and bought large SL7 pro and upgraded with the shortest step and zero latency seat post and Roman saddleand then feel much better after these 3 changes . I may have gone with size medium 😇😇

Thanks for the honest review. I’m not a professional bike fitter but I’m also now in my 50s (so have been around race bikes for a long time too) and my tuppence comments would be - your saddle looks to be at quite an angle throwing your weight forward and yet you have quite an upright style. Perhaps that eases your back pain but I wonder if it might make it worse because your neck might be angling up to see forward while your body is under stress to push further forward than is comfortable? Either way, I’d suggest a proper bike fit before ditching it but, ultimately, you might be happier on a Defy or Domane or something like that for the type of riding you want to do? Good luck!

Why is your saddle titled like that? Maybe that’s contributing to your discomfort? It’s tilted very aggressively…I’m sure you tried but perhaps consider levelling it as close as possible to flat? I’m not sure how the seat post of the Tarmac works but there should be a way to flatten the angle.

50s are the new 30s mate, of course you should keep it. And slam that stem. 😂

Have been commuting on hardtail mountain bikes since forever…just turned 50 in August and got myself my first drop bar bike in the form of a Specialized Diverge about 5 weeks ago…,also based in Auckland so lot of this resonates with me…running Continental 32 mil slicks and Loving the bike so far….but will look at at enduro bike once better bike fit and confident…subscribed

What kind of rear light is that?

Saddle angle looks odd

The video just started, why is your saddle tilted so much? Looks painful

Buy a Aethos pro it's better for you

Get a crux

We are similar ages. I have a Tarmac too… For more comfort I ride my Scott Addicts which feel fast, & are aéro. I also recommend thé Scott Foil. The geometry on the tarmac is aggressive. So I would recommend thé Scott addict, get a bike fit… Don’t stop riding… stay safe!

Disappointing that you've gone to the dark side Jase . I bought a gravel bike a while ago , but , at 62 yrs of age (then) it just wasn't me .