First Impression: Specialized Secteur – Take The Edge Off Rough Roads
The bike industry is still looking for the correct term for bikes like the Secteur. It isn’t a race bike, nor is it a touring bike. Specialized calls it “endurance road”. I’ve seen “comfort road” and “plush road” too. Whatever, all these bikes are probably better choices for the average rider than the more aggressive race models. So how about these just be road bikes, and we’ll call the race bikes what they are: race bikes.
Anyway, enough about that, what makes the Secteur not a race bike? Let’s compare it to the Allez, Specialized’s race inspired road bike at similar price points to the Secteur. I’m testing a size 56. To start, both bikes share a top tube length of 565mm and a 73.25º seat angle, so fit is going to be pretty similar. The Sectuer has a 20mm taller headtube to get the bars up higher, a slacker head angle, longer chainstays, a lower bottom bracket and a longer front center for more stability. Those long chainstays combined with elastomer inserts in the fork and chainstays should deliver on the promise of less road vibration transmitted to the rider.
It’s been a wet spring, so I mounted up a set of full coverage SKS fenders, which fit fine with the stock 25mm tires.
Look here, rack mounts! Specialized spec’d an almost complete 105 group, minus the hubs, although I won’t complain about using DT Swiss hubs instead. Glad to see the 105 compact crank, Shimano still makes the best shifting cranks in the business.
My road rides often include roads that are not pavement. They look like this:
Yes, I cleaned this climb
I’m enjoying the light and stiff feel of this bike, and I grudgingly admit the elastomer inserts are doing something to take the edge of rough roads. This is the first bike I’ve tested that makes me want to find some fast group rides to grace with my presence rather that continue with my typical solo missions.
I’ll be riding the Secteur into the early summer, might even try my hand at some road racing, even if this isn’t a “race” bike, is sure feels fast to me.
