Clothing is one of the most overlooked aspects of aerodynamics. But when you consider that a rider has far more frontal surface area than a bike, it is obvious that even small improvements matter.
The S-Works Evade GC skinsuit will come in 11 sizes to ensure that riders can get as close to a custom fit as possible without the $1,500 price tag that comes with it. Specialized experimented with dozens of fabrics, wrapping cylinder tubes and putting them in the wind tunnel to gauge drag.
They also moved seams around, pulling them off the leading edges of the shoulders and placing them along the back of the shoulder blade and the underarm. That eliminates both a direct problem with the seam itself and the bunching and wrinkling that they produce.
The suit has a full-zip front and is anchored only in the back—much like Castelli’s San Remo Speed Suit. Three pockets are welded to the back. You can’t fit a ton in them, but they are entirely functional. That gives it some real-world appeal, although properly fitted, it’s still going to make you into a human sausage. And you can have any color you like as long as it’s black.
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For its shoes, Specialized created not one but two new top-end models. The S-Works 6 is very similar to the existing version. The heel cup has been redesigned for a snugger fit, and the upper uses a fabric layer from Dyneema called Cubic Tech—a high-strength, non-stretch woven panel across the instep that helps prevent the upper from loosening up over time.
The FACT Powerline outsole is Specialized’s stiffest yet, the company says, and accounts for a bold claim from shoe consultant Andy Pruitt: The new sole, he said, improves a figure Specialized calls zero to max watts (basically a function of acceleration) enough that in a 10-second standing sprint, a rider on the S-Works 6 shoes can travel four bike-lengths farther.
In terms of aerodynamics, it’s all about the Sub 6 model. At first glance, it’s Specialized’s entry to the trend of lace-up performance road shoes. And it has the same FACT Powerline outsole and new heel cup design as the S-Works 6, although not the Dyneema fabric layer.
But the key is the Warp Sleeve, a cover that slides over the instep and sits behind the cleat to essentially cover the lace portion of the shoe. Conventional shoe covers tend to bunch and wrinkle at the front of the ankle, said Specialized. So they simply got rid of the back half of the shoe cover and made a sleeve. It’s a simple trick and, for that reason, is bound to be immediately copied by everyone if it works. As a note, the Warp Sleeve is only made for the Sub 6; according to Specialized, putting a cover on a shoe with buckles or dials doesn’t actually make it faster.
