SRAM Specialized SL4s

by Simon · 25/02/2013

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Both bikes look good, the gracile seatpost emphasising the bulbous nature of the stiff front end. The Saxo bike is more flamboyant and colourful with its bright blue frame highlights and hoods, and white bar tape. The OmegaPharma frame is somehow much more menacing…

Saxo Tinkoff SL4 SRAM RED

In many ways its a case of spot the difference; S-Works carbon cranks with SRAM Red chainrings; Zipp bars, stem, seatpost and wheels; white cabling giving way to internal cable routing; and so on – there are many similarities. Aside the differing depth of the Zipp wheels – with 202s versus the slightly deeper 303s – the most obvious difference is the saddles with OmegaPharma using Specialized saddles and Saxo-Tinkoff Prologo. If you look closely, you’ll also see that Pineau is using a Quarq powermeter, which allows accurate power measurement for each leg.

QuickStep SL4 with SRAM Red

SRAM’s innovative DoubleTap shifting system is well established now and the good looking Red shift levers – complete with bold SRAM graphics – have by far the most straightforward internals of any of the major groupset manufacturers, which bodes well for their longevity. They also offer the excellent reach adjustment feature to cater for all hand sizes.

SRAM Red Ergodynamic shitfter on the Saxo Tinkoff SL4

We do like these blue Saxo-Tinkoff hoods, though we would like to see them matched with a blue saddle and bar tape. White bar tape is very pro, though for most amateurs white is an unrealistically expensive option, given the rate at which it becomes sullied and must be replaced. Black, as used by OmegaPharma, is by far the best option for riders on a tight budget, though we doubt that was their reasoning.