Bespoke Blog

Specialized have revealed the new Shiv TT ahead of next week's Tour team time trial, and it's absolutely epic in every regard.

This is a bike that has a very particular set of skills, with a laser-sharp focus on time trial performance, and it benefits from Specialized's wind tunnel research as well as their experience derived from the previous Shiv.

The most striking thing at first glance is the tube shaping, with Specialized forgoing the usual deep tube sections and minimal wheel clearances and opting instead for a remarkably trimmed-back rear end.

The S-Works complete bike will come with a pair of Roval CLX 64 aero road wheels, but also includes the Roval 321 Disc rear wheel, allowing you to swap out for the aero advantages of a full disc when conditions permit.

It's a fantastic bike, even going uphill. Downhill, it handles like a road bike. It's a huge step forward.

Bob Jungels

So, they've made it significantly lighter without losing any aerodynamic ability. But the good news doesn't end there. The less extreme tube shapes also help handling, making the bike less prone to crosswinds and, combined with slightly tweaked geometry, make for a bike that also handles better.

TT courses have got more technical over the past few years, and this increased emphasis on handling and weight will be very welcome on twistier, hillier routes.

At the front end there's a newly designed one-piece bar and stem, saving a significant 200g over the previous generation. We're glad to see that this remains decently adjustable, with a good range of spacer and bridge adjustments to help us ensure the perfect fit and most efficient position.

above: Shiv up close. Our image gallery takes a closer look at the details of the new bike.

The new bike won't be available to the public until towards the end of 2019, but if you want to stay informed about availability then subscribe to our email newsletter (there's a sign-up form at the bottom of the page) and we'll keep you posted.

It will however be featuring in this year's Tour de France, most notably being ridden by Deceuninck-Quick-Step's young time-trial specialist Bob Jungels.

The Shiv TT will be available as frameset only, or as the aforementioned complete bike, including CLX 64 and 321 Disc wheels.

The frame has full internal cable routing (meaning it is only compatible with electronic groupsets). It can easily be run with 1x or 2x drivetrains thanks to a removable front mech hanger, and is designed to give maximum aero performance in 1x setup (in fact the S-Works complete is built with RED eTap AXS 1x as standard).

The complete S-Works build, including that additional 321 Disc rear wheel, is forecast to come in at £11,999. A serious price for a serious bike, one with a very tight focus and an exceptional spec. Get in touch to register your interest and we'll keep you informed.

below: check out Specialized's introductory video