Specialized Turbo Vado SL: An Incredible E-Bike (User Club)

[2wheelsgood]

I remember when i first got the Vado SL and I mentioned on here that I could not help turning off the motor and going hell for leather over a short stretch near my house. I had forgotten that my Apple Watch recorded those attempts and when I switched Strava back on it reloaded all the data.

I did it today on the Roubaix, helmet, aero position, clipless pedals etc.

July 2024 - Vado SL (16kg) flat pedals, motor off - 1:15s
Oct 2025 - Roubaix (8kg) clipless pedals aero position - 1:22s

I guess a road bike and clipless pedals take some getting used to.
Or (more worrying) when you hit 60 years of age performance really does fall off a cliff

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I remember when i first got the Vado SL and I mentioned on here that I could not help turning off the motor and going hell for leather over a short stretch near my house. I had forgotten that my Apple Watch recorded those attempts and when I switched Strava back on it reloaded all the data.

I did it today on the Roubaix, helmet, aero position, clipless pedals etc.

July 2024 - Vado SL (16kg) flat pedals, motor off - 1:15s
Oct 2025 - Roubaix (8kg) clipless pedals aero position - 1:22s

I guess a road bike and clipless pedals take some getting used to.
Or (more worrying) when you hit 60 years of age performance really does fall off a cliff

Very interesting result! Looking forward to seeing how the Roubaix time evolves over coming months.

 

[Twowheelxtc]

As I am over 60 and riding on some pretty rough roads it seems to be perfect for the kind of speed workouts I want to do. It has been upgraded with Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels, S-Works Aero bars and a more aggressive Zipp Sprint SL stem. I put some SPD-SL pedals on it now but haven't ridden it for days now as the weather has been atrocious. I put the old Bridge Sport Saddle on the Roubaix as it was sitting around in a box. With all the other weight saving components this does feel a little incongruous so I might have to change that in the spring when it gets some serious use - I never got on with the Bridge Sport anyway.

Off to the gym this morning and will be taking my trusty Vado SL as usual. As part of thanking the bike shop for giving the Roubaix a once over I thought I would buy a quad lock bike mount and phone cover (I felt I had to buy something as they would not take any money for the check over)

Never used one of these before but I am quite impressed how sturdy and vibration free it initially seems - it will come in handy as I often have to stop, get my phone out and recheck my location when getting out and about in new areas.

Ive used quadlock for many years over long European tours and they have been bombproof! As mentioned they can be a little fiddly to engage at times for no apparent reason but once in place totally secure.

 

[BEC111]

I remember when i first got the Vado SL and I mentioned on here that I could not help turning off the motor and going hell for leather over a short stretch near my house. I had forgotten that my Apple Watch recorded those attempts and when I switched Strava back on it reloaded all the data.

I did it today on the Roubaix, helmet, aero position, clipless pedals etc.

July 2024 - Vado SL (16kg) flat pedals, motor off - 1:15s
Oct 2025 - Roubaix (8kg) clipless pedals aero position - 1:22s

I guess a road bike and clipless pedals take some getting used to.
Or (more worrying) when you hit 60 years of age performance really does fall off a cliff

I’ve been using Strava for several year, mostly to track cardio related data. I’ve used t(e Apple Watch and a HRM when watch battery life is an issue. One thing I’ve noticed is that my performance plateaued when I reached 75. I’d started tracking at 71. Now I’m riding at the same pace and effort or slightly less as two years ago. It does decline quickly.

 

[PedalUma]

Roubaix

It is designed to race on cobbles.

 

[Twowheelxtc]

It is designed to race on cobbles.
View attachment 201246 View attachment 201247

They’re not cobbles they’re chasms!

 

[PedalUma]