Anyone ride a Specialized Aethos?

Been offered one and quite liked the look of it. Anyone got one? How does it ride on rough UK roads?

I have a friend who has one: Ride quality is good. As I understand it the frame is quite lightly built and is a bit fragile.

All of the reviews I’ve read are positive. Comfortable, good handling and light. Various frames, latest entry model is 9R, s works is 12R, the 10R seems the sweet spot. I am tempted…..

Reviews all say it’s an amazing all round bike. I wondered if it was too light and therefore a bit twitchy. I’ve not ridden a very light bike before other than a quick test ride on a Tarmac SL8 last year.

The sort of bike I would have if I was into expensive bikes. The lightness is a bonus and will not make it any ‘twitchier’ than a 2kg heavier bike as twitchiness is down to geometry. I have had 5.8kg bikes that are less twitchy feeling that my old 9.5kg steel race bike.

That’s useful to know. It was a review that said it was twitchy because of its lightness. Perhaps they meant skittish (which is more of a concern, mainly as I fell off the other day so need confidence it’s not going to catch me out) I’m keen on it though so I can see a NBD coming…

I like mine, its on 32mm GP5000’s, so rolls quick and is comfy.

Bought a comp and did a deal for a set of alpinist wheels, good for the crosswinds that we get in Warwickshire all the time.

I don’t find mine twitchy at all, compared to my brothers venge, its very stable.

I’ve got one, not skittish at all, excellent comfort, on 28mm GP5000’s. I’d pay attention to the geometry/sizing and make sure it suits you.  It’s the same as the SL7 ‘race bike.’

Thanks. I’m thinking of putting some Corsa Pro 30mm on it and changing the cassette to 10-36. Specialized Retul says a 54 for me but I’m going to check that in store…

I’ve had a few rides on one, quite liked it, not twitchy at all, just light. twitch is normally geometry as others have said. my mates love theirs. I’ve had an SL8 though and its just great.

Right, ordered one! ?

I’d pay attention to the geometry/sizing and make sure it suits you.  It’s the same as the SL7 ‘race bike.’

Echo this, I bought a (second hand) SL6 in 56 based on the size chart.  Never found it comfortable, when buying my most recent bike did a proper fit and test in the shop and should’ve been on a 54 (tried an SL7 and SL8, though I ended up with a 54 Cannodale SuperSixEvo – much more comfortable now).

I’ve had an SWorks version – took it on a trip to the Pyrenees and it’s an excellent climbing bike, but not a great bike for ‘ general duties’ for me on our tatty roads (although lots do enjoy them here). I sold mine and I’d not get another unless I lived in the mountains and that was my thing.

Why not general use?
im not interested in aero btw. Ride quality and lightweight are the appeal for me

Unless you do regular rides in proper mountains, I would choose aero over weight.

I purchased the comp at the end of last year and upgraded the wheels and crankset plus fitted a power meter. Fantastic understated bike which is quick uphill but just a pleasure to ride.  At 5ft10 I went for the 56 as per the size chart and it feels great.

I’m not really interested in aero for aero’s sake. I get that it’s faster and less watts etc but I don’t do fast group rides, strictly social riding with some reasonable climbing rides here and there. It’ll be plenty fast enough for me.. 🙂

I think the Aethos will take a 32mm (measured) tyre so perfect for all roads. Same clearance as my SL7 which I happily take down the filthiest lanes around.

The Specialized size guide comes up a little large in my opinion – they put me on a 56 but I prefer a 54. The front ends are pretty low though, so bear that in mind.

Mine is being shod with some 30mm Corsa Pros and a 10-36 cassette (in place of the standard 10-33). Bike fit in-store once it’s ready tomorrow.

Was thinking of an S-works as the bike that might convert me to disc brakes. Like the classic look, geometry, exposed cables and paint. Don’t like… the price.

A clubmate loves his and rides the Surrey lanes without issue. Twitchiness is geometry not weight. Aero over weight is a fair point, but I have both and looks matter, as does the matter of adjusting or removing handlebars 😉

That S-Works looks lovely though doesn’t it.

Stunning!

I ride with a load of people who have them not heard a bad word. They look fantastic ( and that’s important). I can’t afford one though ?.

Walked into my local Spesh store (Newbury) a few months ago, saw one at the counter and said “oh I see my wife has ordered my b’day present”… Turns out someone had bought it brand new, put it in a bike box, went off on holiday and it had arrived at the destination with a  cracked top tube!! Imagine, on a bike that cost that much, I’d be distraught!!

That S-Works looks lovely though doesn’t it.

Could buy a car for that! Even with the 30% current discount it still exceeds out company’s Bike to Work limit. Otherwise it would be in the bedroom by now!

Car/new bathroom/redecorate.. the list from Mrs OS is long and boring….

In the bedroom 😮 My other bike is in the utility and I’m trying to work out where to put this one… hadn’t thought of the bedroom…. xD

My mate bought the sworks version, 13k reduced to 7.5. Which tells you everything you need to know about how over priced spesh bikes are when the shop can discount it by that much.

That’s said he loves it. It’s not a bIke I’d have though. I have an sworks sl7, which is not going to be to be noticeably slower up hill and is way faster on the flat

I don’t need aero, I’m always at the back ?

Up the hills first now though… 🙂

Bike fit in-store once it’s ready tomorrow.

Why not a bike fit before buying or have you not actually paid for it yet until you have seen it tried it?
We are all different shapes but a 56 looks massive to me and I am an inch shorter than you but I would most likely be looking at a 52.

Not paid for it yet, I’m 173cm so we’ll see what happens this morning.  Retul hovers between 54 and 56 depending on a cm or 2 of  shin length so I imagine I’ll be a solid 54….

I’d love one. However my wife says we’re getting a pergola seated area in the back garden for spring. We did talk about getting a pergola earlier in the summer but I bought a fancy gravel bike. I think I’ll just have to make do with my TCR for another year.

I do think if I was buying I’d probably opt for the Tarmac rather than the Aethos. The 200 gram weight saving on the Aethis would be nice but in the real world the aero saving on the Tarmac would give me the most improvement. I am a lightweight and don’t have a huge power output, sometimes I have to work pretty hard in a bunch on the flat (with no draft) looking forward to the inclines where I have a natural advantage.

54 it is , with room to extend reach if required.

I meant shorten reach. Long day!

It fits basically.. ???

173, you’re definitely a 54. Stem to fit your flexibility. I’m 179 and a bang on 56 with a 55.5-56.5 top tube on all my bikes.

First proper ride in the morning if the weather isn’t shite…….

I’m trying to work out where to put this one… hadn’t thought of the bedroom…

If I spent that much on another bike there would certainly be more space in the bedroom. Or I’d be sleeping in the garage, so kind of the same thing.

I do not need a bike that weighs less than my leg

To be fair, the garage is pretty full. When I bought my Merlin Cyrene, it lived in a spare bedroom in our last house because I wasn’t allowed to hang it on the wall in the lounge! And yes, we had a garage.

Dining room is the transition from garage to ride in this house. I try and keep to one bike. Sometimes fail. At three, there is a distinct grumble from Mrs TiRed. Even when one of them is folded.

Looking at another lounge ornament for next year whcih might be an Aethos. Its a Colnago and may be sold by then though. Aethos is an every day bike. This would be a summer sunny day bike.

Well I can confirm that the ride is superb – plush even.

I do not need a bike that weighs less than my leg

This one probably weighs less than your arm!

Which model? I’ve got a Aethos Expert and love it. Very comfortable, very light, perfect handling (for what I want, which is long, fairly quick rides but no racing) and classic looks. I preferred those qualities over aero as I’m not racing it so outright speed isn’t a requirement. I think they’re designed by the guy who did Cannondale’s hi-mod frames.

I switched the AXS groupset to mechanical Ultegra (so the brakes are actually useable) and the cassette to 10-36. It definitely made climbing Ventoux and Galibier last year easier than they had any right to be! Also swapped the wheels for some DT Swiss with 240 hubs because the own-brand wheels were awful.

Aethos 105 di2 in 54cm white, £3000 available on 2yrs interest free. I’m being boring and sensible….. So someone else can enjoy it! The 2025 version is £5000!

https://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/shop/bikes/road/2023-aethos-comp-shimano-105-di2-332494/option/