Finally someone who knows the REAL truth
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Oh I donât doubt itâs purely for marketing. I just think itâs funny how they do it.
First they come with the tarmac and big splashes abut how itâs âThe on bike to rule them allâ. Then they come with the Aethos like: âoh the Tarmac was the race bike to rule them all⌠this⌠this thing is different itâs NOT for racers (itâs for dentists)â. And now they are like: âhang on a minute⌠you can also race it! Yes! totally a race bike!! Can has 15k$ please? 
â
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Will admit that I only read a few comments about the technical aspects of this bike and for that the price seems too high. But: the Satin Carbon/Red Gold Chameleon/Bronze Foil is gorgeous, in terms of colouring.
Letâs hope I can win one via a Strava challenge one day! (Hahahahaha⌠no chance.)
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Two local riders have bought one and I hear great feedback on the ride quality. It sounds a lot like my 2nd gen 2018 Emonda disc in many ways.
More comfortable than youâd expect for how well it seems to accelerate and snap on power. Beautiful bike in person and one I would consider if I were shopping today.
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Here I agree. Especially after they introduced more âaffordableâ version it is on top of my list âI want in the futureâ. I have heard only positive opinions about ride quality.
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Itâs top of my list as well to replace my SL6.
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Update:
Did a little tuning on my Aethos and in true WW fashion, it got 150g heavier 
I will be using it on a trip through the Alps, but primarily for Haute Route Dolomites.
Despite this being mainly mega steep climbs, there will be flat sections to be raced, so I tuned the bike for more Allround speed and comfort:
- Schmolke Oversized TLO handlebar instead of MCFK Aero (for more comfort)
- more and thicker bar tape (more comfort, too)
- climbing shifters, to be able to spend more times in the tops
- Rapide instead of Bontrager RsL 37 (+50g)
- Silca Tubes instead of Aerothan (+60g)
- DA instead of XTR Rotors (likely to be swapped again, +20g)
- Red Max instead of Force wide Rear mech (-30g)
- CS OSPW Ltd Edition (+15g)
I am really looking forward to how this will fare in the mountains, but I think This might be great.
(Light adds 20g and race day pedals are 35g lighter⌠but then again there is a 430g saddle bag, bottles and a rider to be added 
).
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Does the ride quality match the hype?
Beautiful bike.
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Thanks.
Of course it doesnât. It rides like a comfortable, super high end road bike. I must admit that I am not the Princess and the Pea when it comes to ride comfort. For me, bikes with same width tires, and the same pressure, and the same saddle, will usually feel very similar in comfort, unless something is terribly wrong.
Iâd say it is a little more comfortable than my other race bikes (like Emonda SLR) and on par with my Roubaix Team Edition.
I would however never say, that this is a totally different level of comfort.
It is very nimble through the corners, which is to be expected with this geo.
It doesnât accelerate better than another race bike, âbike accelerationâ is pretty much placebo.
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Sorry to dredge up an old thread. But Iâve been looking at the Aethos recently. I know youâve had various different specialized bikes, so I thought youâd be the one to talk to about how it rides. Compared to your SL7, how would you compare the stiffness and responsiveness? I love my SL7. Itâs been my favorite bike of all time. So I thought it would be fun to build up a superlight bike thatâs just fun to ride. I also own a new model Crux, and tried it in âroad modeâ with road wheels/tires and a more road oriented gearing combo, but it didnât feel as fast or as fun as the SL7. I was thinking the longer wheelbase and more slack geo explained that. Since the Aethos geo is basically identical to the SL7, Iâm hoping it rides similarly. I have another race bike thatâs aero, so the exposed cables are fine for me and a bonus for ease of maintenance.
I have a Crux and Aethos from the same MY and they ride just differently enough that I enjoy having both. The Aethos feels snappy and the Crux feels stable. Both are extremely flex-y and comfortable. I havenât ridden a SL7 or any Tarmac but some posts have suggested the SL8 is comfortable like an Aethos but fast like a SL7.
Flying with the externally routed cables is a breeze.
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Just canât get over how ugly it is. I know people have come around to the head tube bulge. But if Iâm paying premium prices I want it all. And I find the SL8 really bad looking.
I think youâd stop noticing in a month if itâs truly that good of a ride but if not, the Aethos is a damn good bike.
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