Author Archives: Justin Fox

I made a post on reddit asking for suggestions for small run custom kit. Due to analysis paralysis (there were SO many suggestions) I ended up making a cheap one off with vistaprint just to get my feet wet, and well… you get what you pay for.

The package came direct from China. It’s a white print on black, but the digital print looks more like a very pale light blue (has a slight blue tinge). Fit of the jersey itself is OK, it’s pretty long at the waist though and bottom edges (especially at the back) are very unfinished (it just flaps there, no grippy material to hold it down).

Lots of people suggested CUORE and they have an office in Alexandria so I’ll drop in and have a look. Attaquer are local too so I’ve sent them a message. Either way I’m definitely looking for better quality in both print and finish.

ZEM Jersey V2.

Darimo used my photo on their Instagram.

EDIT: They posted another one of my photos! Nice!

Aero 111.

Breaking the bead off the rim on tubeless tyres is something else. Took me a while to get the rear tyre off, and even longer to break the seal on one side of the front, but damn it no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t get the other side of the front tyre to budge. I googled and tried every trick in the book. No go. With broken hands and an air of defeat I dropped in to see Sam at CCACHE and within 2 minutes he had it off. Fuck!

Specialized did so well with the S-Works SL8 complete. The 26C tyres the bike came with are quite light at 236g. The new 30C GP 5000 on the rear weighs in at a hefty 299g and the 29C Aero 111 on the front weighs in at 285g. The Specialized inner tubes were pretty light at 80g each but with the weight savings from the Tubolito tubes at 23g for the front and 24g for the rear I’ve come out (just!) on top with a final bike weight of 6.65kg.

SPECS:

2025 S-Works Tarmac SL8 Gloss Dove Grey / Silver Dust Blurred Impasto / Black Pearl

Brake Rotors: Galfer E1 160mm/140mm (97g/79g)
Brake Pads: Absolute Black Graphen (40g)
Shift Levers: SRAM RED E1
Derailleurs: SRAM RED E1
Cassette: SRAM RED 10-33t
Chain: SRAM RED E1
Crankset: SRAM RED E1 with Power Meter 165mm
Chainrings: SRAM Red E1 48/35
Pedals: Xpedo Thrust SL Titanium (165g)
Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB BSA 68
Front Wheel: Roval Rapide CLX II 51mm
Rear Wheel: Roval Rapide CLX II 60mm
Front Tyre: Continental Aero 111 29C (285g)
Rear Tyre: Continental GP 5000 S TR 30C (299g)
Inner Tubes: Tubolito 60mm Front, 80mm Rear (23g/24g)
Lockrings: Absolute Black (10g)
Stem: Roval Rapide Cockpit 380mm/115mm
Tape: CCACHE x NSTRMO Burgh Bartape
Saddle: Specialized S-Works Power with Mirror (203g)
Seatpost: Darimo 0mm offset (104g)
Computer Mount: MagCAD (18g)
Bottle Cage: S-Works Carbon Rib Cage III (24g)

WEIGHT: 6.65kg

Made in Spain.

68g lighter than the Specialized S-Works 0 offset post it replaces.

Darimo goods are the lightest out there, but also the most expensive. I tried my best to avoid the stuff and instead went for a Chinese Hylix seatpost on both my SL6 and my Allez. I just ordered one for the SL8 too but a few hours after buying it a guy who works for an LBS commented on one of my SL8 photos on Facebook and let me know he had a customer selling one. Price was too good to refuse so it’s now mine!

SPECS:

2025 S-Works Tarmac SL8 (Size 52)
Gloss Dove Grey / Silver Dust Blurred Impasto / Black Pearl

Brake Rotors: Galfer E1 160mm/140mm (97g/79g)
Brake Pads: Absolute Black Graphen (40g)
Shift Levers: SRAM RED E1
Derailleurs: SRAM RED E1
Cassette: SRAM RED 10-33t
Chain: SRAM RED E1
Crankset: SRAM RED E1 with Power Meter 165mm
Chainrings: SRAM Red E1 48/35
Pedals: Xpedo Thrust SL Titanium (165g)
Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB BSA 68
Front Wheel: Roval Rapide CLX II 51mm
Rear Wheel: Roval Rapide CLX II 60mm
Tyres: S-works Turbo Rapidair 2BR 700x26mm
Inner Tubes: Specialized Turbo Ultralight 60mm Front, 80mm Rear
Lockrings: Absolute Black (10g)
Stem: Roval Rapide Cockpit 380mm/115mm
Tape: Supacaz Super Sticky Kush
Bar end plugs: Extralite (2g)
Saddle: Specialized S-Works Power with Mirror (203g)
Seatpost: Darimo 0mm offset (104g)
Computer Mount: MagCAD (18g)
Bottle Cage: S-Works Carbon Rib Cage III (24g)

WEIGHT: 6.66kg