Indoor Cycling
Smart Trainers Worth Buying: Indoor Training Tech That Makes Sense
A practical guide to indoor smart trainers, from budget direct-drive units to high-end models, plus the unusual designs that never caught on.
Independent reviews
Product Reviews and Buying Guides – 688 / 805
From everyday tech and home products to lifestyle and specialist gear, each review focuses on practical use, strengths, limitations, and who the product suits.
Road Bikes
Specialized Allez Sprint Review 2026: Aluminium Race Speed With Tarmac DNA
The Specialized Allez Sprint adopts SL7 geometry, a shared S-Works fork and seatpost, and a stiffer hydroformed frame, all for far less than flagship carbon.
Gravel Bikes
Specialized Crux 5 Review: A Pure Gravel Race Bike Built Around Aerodynamics
The Specialized Crux 5 trades its cyclocross roots for a pure gravel racing brief, with a claimed 15.2 watts less drag, 55 mm tire clearance, and a sharper, faster ride.
Gravel Bikes
Specialized Crux Pro Review: One Fast Bike for Road, Gravel, and Cyclocross
A lightweight gravel race bike that handles road rides, faster gravel, and cyclocross racing well, with clear trade-offs around price, tires, and gearing.
Gravel Bikes
Specialized Crux Review: The Gravel Bike That Still Sets the Benchmark
A close look at the Specialized Crux, a light and versatile gravel bike with a simple, serviceable design, plus the trade-offs to weigh before buying.
Gravel Bikes
Specialized Crux Review: A Light, Aero Gravel Race Bike for the Real World
The new Specialized Crux swaps round tubes for aero shaping while keeping weight low. Here is what the gravel race bike does well, and what to weigh before buying.
Gravel Bikes
Specialized Diverge 4 Expert Review: Fast, Stable Gravel With One Frustrating Spec Choice
The Diverge 4 Expert is a confident, fun gravel bike with generous tire clearance and frame storage, but the stock 45 mm tires and a non-adjustable Future Shock hold it back.
Gravel Bikes
Specialized Diverge 4 Review: Comfort-First Carbon for Long Gravel Days
A detailed look at the Specialized Diverge 4, including Future Shock 3.3, the flexing Terra seat post, wider tire clearance and who this gravel bike genuinely suits.
Gravel Bikes
Specialized Diverge STR Review: A Gravel Bike With Two Future Shocks
The Specialized Diverge STR adds a second Future Shock at the rear. Here is how the frame post system works, what it does well, and the trade-offs to weigh first.
Mountain Bikes
Specialized Epic 8 Range Review: S-Works, Epic 8 and Epic 8 Evo Compared
How the new Specialized Epic 8 range splits between the Flight Attendant-equipped S-Works, the standard Epic 8 and the longer-travel Epic 8 Evo.
Mountain Bikes
Specialized Epic World Cup vs Trek Supercaliber: Which Short-Travel XC Race Bike Wins?
A head-to-head look at two sub-100 mm cross country race bikes, the 75 mm Specialized Epic World Cup and the 80 mm Trek Supercaliber, and which rider each one suits.
Cycling Helmets
Specialized Evade 4 Review: Same Aero Speed, More Ventilation, Higher Price
The Specialized Evade 4 keeps the aero performance of the Evade 3 and adds ventilation and a rounder fit, at a $350 flagship price.
Mountain Bikes
Specialized Lightweight E-MTB Lineup: Kenevo SL2, Levo SL2, Levo, and Enduro Compared
How a lightweight electric mountain bike compares with a full power e-MTB and a non-assisted build, using four bikes from the Specialized mountain range.
Endurance Road Bikes
Specialized Roubaix Review: A More Adjustable Endurance Road Bike
The updated Specialized Roubaix brings six levels of Future Shock adjustment, 40 mm tire clearance and extra mounts, while keeping the rear-end flex riders already know.
Endurance Road Bikes
Specialized Roubaix SL8 Review: Tunable Comfort for Endurance Riders
A closer look at the Specialized Roubaix SL8, from the tunable Future Shock 3.0 and new 18 mm AfterShock to 40 mm tire clearance and a lighter, more aero frame.
Road Bikes
Specialized S-Works Aethos Review: The Lightweight Road Bike Refined
The new Specialized S-Works Aethos adds full internal routing, a taller stack and 35 mm tire clearance while keeping the low mass and ride feel that define it.
Road Bikes
Specialized S-Works Allez Review: A Light Alloy Road Bike Built to Last
A long-term look at the Specialized S-Works Allez, a hydroformed aluminium road frameset with a carbon fork, Ultegra 6800 gearing and a build that rewards careful upkeep.
Gravel Bikes
Specialized S-Works Crux Review: A Race Bike Turned Bikepacking Rig
A lightweight carbon cyclocross race frame loaded with camping gear for three days on the King Alfred's Way. What worked, what did not, and who the Crux suits.
Mountain Bikes
Specialized S-Works Epic 8 Review: A World Cup XC Race Bike With Flight Attendant
The Specialized S-Works Epic 8 pairs 120mm of cross-country travel with RockShox Flight Attendant electronic suspension. Here is what the bike offers and who it suits.
Road Bikes
Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 vs SL8 vs Venge: What Real-World Riding Reveals
A practical comparison of the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7, the Tarmac SL8 and the Venge, based on back-to-back testing on a climb, rolling mixed-surface roads and fast dual carriageway.
Road Bikes
Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 Review: A Lightweight Aero Race Bike That Delivers
A long-term ride impression of the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8, covering its low weight, aero performance, comfort on rough roads, and the price question buyers need to weigh up.
Road Bikes
Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 vs Canyon Ultimate CFR: Which All-Round Race Bike Is Right for You?
Two of the most covetable all-round race bikes compared on frame weight, aerodynamics, ride feel, specification and price.
Road Bikes
Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 vs Elves Vanyar Pro Disc: Does Spending More Buy Real Speed?
A top-tier carbon racer meets a value-focused road bike with a similar feature list. Here is where the extra money shows up, and where it does not.
Road Bikes
Specialized SL4 Review: Riding Alberto Contador's 2016 Tour de France Race Bike
A close look at Alberto Contador's 2016 Tour de France Specialized SL4, a 6.7 kg rim-brake race machine that still feels remarkably quick on short, steep climbs.
Mountain Bikes
Specialized Stumpjumper 15 Review: The Evo's Spirit in a New Frame
A close look at the Specialized Stumpjumper 15, including its new Fox Genie shock, adjustable geometry, 145mm of rear travel, and what the ride actually feels like on the trail.
Road Bikes
Specialized Tarmac Secondhand Review: Is a £400 Carbon Road Bike Worth It?
A full inspection of a £400 secondhand Specialized Tarmac reveals which parts hold up, which need replacing, and what the real cost of ownership looks like.
Road Bikes
Specialized Tarmac SL4 Comp Review: Secondhand Carbon Speed on a Budget
A secondhand Specialized Tarmac SL4 Comp for around £400 shows how much carbon road bike performance a small budget can still buy, and what to check first.
Road Bikes
Specialized Tarmac SL4 vs Tarmac SL8: How Big Is the Gap Between a £400 Classic and an £8,250 Race Bike?
A secondhand £400 Tarmac SL4 with a carbon wheel upgrade takes on the £8,250 Tarmac SL8, and the real-world gap is smaller than the price difference suggests.
Road Bikes
Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro Review: Six Months on a Lightweight Aero All-Rounder
The Tarmac SL8 Pro blends low weight, real-world comfort and lively climbing manners. Here is what six months of riding revealed, and where it falls short.
Road Bikes
Specialized Tarmac SL8 Review: Lighter, Stiffer, and Built to Race
A close look at the Specialized Tarmac SL8, from its Aethos-inspired layup and new head tube to its claimed weight, stiffness, and real-world ride character.