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]

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Or (more worrying) when you hit 60 years of age performance really does fall off a cliff

Now I’m riding at the same pace and effort or slightly less as two years ago. It does decline quickly.

My performance has declined over last year. I'm 64 but my ailments have started taking a toll. Three years ago I could ride forest paths on my big Vado at 40/100 assistance. Now, I'm really happy at 60/100.

 

[BioWheel]

I use the Specy app and it xfers over to Strava after the ride. And - have a droid phone with an adaptor on back of case that fits the SL meter mount off the bars. Having the phone on bars is good imo - can navigate with G-maps and listen to satellite radio, see texts, etc..

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The only thing for an advanced rider, any season, any terrain, any ride length. (Here: Wahoo ELEMNT Ace).

The drawbacks of the smartphone on the bars:

• Ridiculously short battery life
• Vulnerable to the precipitation
• Hard to operate in full gloves (how do you unlock the phone with a fingerprint?)
• Vulnerable to terrain vibration and crashes
• Google Maps are not for cycling at all (RideWithGPS or Komoot are)

On last Tuesday, my brother rode his Trance E+ very fast on the Warsaw Grot Bridge at night. Suddenly, a rider of a "Chinese scrap metal" appeared on the collision course (the man even revved up with the throttle). Jacek braked very hard to avoid the impact. He made a full Over-The-Bars! His helmet broke but my brother's skull was saved. After Jacek got up on his feet, he noticed his Garmin dangling on a tether. The out-front mount broke but the GPS computer was intact.

What would have happened to a smartphone?

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

This one has a 'bathtub' that clicks in front that holds four kids with seats and seatbelts. I had to limit top speed to 20 km and give it 1,200 watts on the top end with some other things to make it right. This euro-cargo-trike weighs 52 kg before the mom and kids adding another 126 kg. I am so glad that motors are fully user programable and can fit any starter bike universally. Now I am onto a Specialized commuter, comfort, gravel bike. It will require very different programming characteristics. It has a beautiful frame design and the display wire is through frame. And I am free of proprietary servitude. There are about 150 user programable factors to dial in each bike for each user application.
This testing email came in yesterday:

From: patrice mcdonald
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2025 12:10 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: training update



Hi Rick,

I wanted to give you an update from my training weekend. I rode 115 miles over 3 days in what I consider to be the closest I can simulate around here to the climbing challenges I will face crossing the Western mountains. While I hope to routinely ride 50 mile days along most other portions of the GAWR, I would be thrilled with 30 mile days in those toughest mountain sections. The bike performed exceptionally. The rider did not die. In fact, I had NO neck, hand/wrist, back, seat, leg or shoulder pain. The 90 degree heat didn't bother me either. It was better in all respects than I would have predicted when I set out. Of course, I carried nothing except your Coolflask, a second water bottle, and a fanny pack. Nevertheless, I was super happy. Until, I get my final kit dialed in after the first of the year, I will do my regular riding on my Surly so I don't get spoiled. I had a friend once that had two vintage James Bond Goldeneye Ashton Martins. He was afraid to drive them for fear something would happen to them. I kinda feel the same way about Prospero. ~patrice

View attachment 201262

Does this have even the slightest connection to a Vado SL, or to any preceeding post?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Does this have even the slightest connection to a Vado SL, or to any preceeding post?

Guess why I ignored him.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

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.

Three years later, I'm still climbing out of the fitness hole left by 20+ years of very little riding. So may not mean much that my performance is still going up slowly at 77.

Both of my ebikes deserve credit for that — especially the SL and its very strong carrot effect.

Guess I'll peak at some point, then start going the other way. But this is a good location to age in place cycling-wise. Great bike infrastructure, and I can just shift the mix of hill and coast riding accordingly.

And of course, I'll have all that assist headroom provided by my still largely unused TURBO mode.

 

[PedalUma]

Does this have even the slightest connection to a Vado SL, or to any preceeding post?

If the topic is Chuck E Cheese Pizza maybe someone who knows would suggest that there are alternatives to put it into broader context. There is more going on out in the world. Including better alternatives for those who actually have tried and know. Otherwise it is like being stuck in Plato's Cave looking at shadows on the wall. A guy swears his mom's grits are the best food ever, but never ate anywhere else like Paris.

 

[stompandgo]

Chuck E Cheese is a great place to get a headache. They sell beer there for a reason.

That is all.

 

[Gionnirocket]

If the topic is Chuck E Cheese Pizza maybe someone who knows would suggest that there are alternatives to put it into broader context. There is more going on out in the world. Including better alternatives for those who actually have tried and know. Otherwise it is like being stuck in Plato's Cave looking at shadows on the wall. A guy swears his mom's grits are the best food ever, but never ate anywhere else like Paris.

The French have one trick... Drown everything in butter.
You want to eat the best and in a wide variety, there's only one, Italy.
And don't worry if you're not going to participate in the Specialized circle jerk properly... you'll be ignored in declaration only.
So grab hold of the one to the left and . . . . .

 

[BioWheel]

View attachment 201264
The only thing for an advanced rider, any season, any terrain, any ride length. (Here: Wahoo ELEMNT Ace).

The drawbacks of the smartphone on the bars:

• Ridiculously short battery life
• Vulnerable to the precipitation
• Hard to operate in full gloves (how do you unlock the phone with a fingerprint?)
• Vulnerable to terrain vibration and crashes
• Google Maps are not for cycling at all (RideWithGPS or Komoot are)

On last Tuesday, my brother rode his Trance E+ very fast on the Warsaw Grot Bridge at night. Suddenly, a rider of a "Chinese scrap metal" appeared on the collision course (the man even revved up with the throttle). Jacek braked very hard to avoid the impact. He made a full Over-The-Bars! His helmet broke but my brother's skull was saved. After Jacek got up on his feet, he noticed his Garmin dangling on a tether. The out-front mount broke but the GPS computer was intact.

What would have happened to a smartphone?

Not at all. Battery has lasted on all my rides. I do keep the screen off a lot of the time. The phone is resistant to water but if it pours - I do stick it in my pack. I wear fingerless gloves and touch sens gloves in the Winter. I have broke the mount on the back of the phone case during two crashes but cheap to replace. And Google maps has directions for bikes, cars, public and walking. Just click 'directions' and choose a bike.

 

[PedalUma]

The French have one trick... Drown everything in butter.
You want to eat the best and in a wide variety, there's only one, Italy.
And don't worry if you're not going to participate in the Specialized circle jerk properly... you'll be ignored in declaration only.
So grab hold of the one to the left and . . . . .

Yah, but there is no Chuck E Cheese in old Napoli or Palermo? Wouldn't you rather have corporate giant mass produced pie rammed down your throat by a big rat, with no say over the outcome?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Not at all. Battery has lasted on all my rides. I do keep the screen off a lot of the time. The phone is resistant to water but if it pours - I do stick it in my pack. I wear fingerless gloves and touch sens gloves in the Winter. I have broke the mount on the back of the phone case during two crashes but cheap to replace. And Google maps has directions for bikes, cars, public and walking. Just click 'directions' and choose a bike.

May I assume Karl you do not do as advanced rides as I do? Does Google Maps lead you through a big forest?

How do you unlock your phone?

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

The drawbacks of the smartphone on the bars:

• Ridiculously short battery life
• Vulnerable to the precipitation
• Hard to operate in full gloves (how do you unlock the phone with a fingerprint?)
• Vulnerable to terrain vibration and crashes
• Google Maps are not for cycling at all (RideWithGPS or Komoot are)

I know you don't like phones on bars, but let's not spread over-generalized misinformation about it.

The Specialized app running in dark mode is very easy on my phone battery. No problem on a 40+ mi ride with stops. And I often have Google Maps or even RideWithGPS running simultaneously.

The caveat is that you need a phone with an OLED screen to take full advantage of the Specialized app's dark mode.

Granted, the RideWithGPS app is a notorious phone battery hog when set to 'screen always on'. But its power draw goes way down in other display modes.

I wear fingerless gloves 80% of the time and can always get into my phone easily enough with a PIN in any glove. Yes, full-fingered gloves with screen-friendly tips can be fiddly at times, but by no means a deal-killer.

I ride a fair amount of rough hardpack and cobble with minimal suspension (just a Future Shock 1.5 spring shock in the stem). Vibration hasn't been an issue for me — even with a cantilevered QuadLock out-front mount.

And as an adjunct to RideWithGPS or the Specialized app, Google Maps is most certainly useful in cycling — especially in bike mode.The info available from these apps doesn't fully overlap.