The US company Specialized presents its new lightweight racing bike Aethos as a revolutionary. The press releases rave about uncompromising lightness and consistent rule-breaking, because the bike, designed as a competition racer, is lighter than the UCI allows. The Aethos is not the first construction project to propagate a bike concept that is consistently trimmed to save weight. What's behind the new Specialized Aethos?
Consistent lightweight construction concept
Six kilograms total weight in frame size 56 (in the lightest paint finish option Satin Carbon/Jetfuel) - for a bike equipped with disc brakes, that's more than just a statement! 585 grammes is accounted for by the frame. In the smallest frame size 49, the frame of the S-Works Aethos The largest frame height of 61 grams is 643 grams.
For the frame design, Specialized used computer simulations to change classic round tube shapes piece by piece. According to the design team, seven tapered mouldings on the frame and fork are intended to achieve increased stiffness and balance with a minimum amount of material.
According to Specialized, this concept allowed them to reduce the carbon layers required in frame production by 11 per cent compared to the S-Works Tarmac SL6. At 1284 grams, the new wheels developed by Roval also contribute to the record-breaking low overall weight of the Specialized Aethos.
The Specialised Aethos models at a glance
S-WORKS AETHOS - Dura-Ace Di2
Price: 11799 Euro
- Gear system: Shimano Dura-Ace R9170 11-speed
- Brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace R9170, hydraulic
- Front derailleur & rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150
- Crank: Shimano Dura-Ace R9100, HollowTech 2, 11-speed, Powermeter, 52/36T
S-WORKS AETHOS - Sram Red etap AXS
Price: 11799 Euro >> e.g. available at Fahrrad XXL
- Gear system: Sram Red eTap AXS 12-speed
- Brakes: Sram Red eTap AXS, hydraulic
- Front derailleur & rear derailleur: Sram Red eTap AXS
- Crank: Sram Red eTap AXS Powermeter, 48/35T
Both models utilise the following components:
- Frame: S-Works Aethos FACT 12r Carbon, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc
- Fork: S-Works FACT Carbon, 12x100mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc
- Handlebars: S-Works Short & Shallow
- Stem: S-Works SL
- Saddle: Body Geometry S-Works Power, Carbon
- Seatpost: Roval Alpinist Carbon
- Wheels: Roval Alpinist CLX, 21mm internal width carbon rim, 33mm, with DT Swiss Aerolite spokes
- Tyres: Turbo Cotton, 320 TPI, 700x26mm
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