Nothing wrong with only having the shop press your headset and cut the steerer. Pressing bearings isn’t too hard, but at the rate I need it done, I wouldn’t have broke even for the headset press by now. All of my bikes are threaded BB, and now it sounds like that is the way the road bikes are moving towards.
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A position they are being dragged kicking and screaming to by consumers.
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Kicking, screaming, … and creaking.
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only creaking BB I had was on my specialized press fit OSBB
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The concept of press-fit bearings on a short axle receiving highly cyclical loads is not a good one. The bearing mounts will find a way to creep out.
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Some cases thats true. But the New Venge is NOT. The Pro is a fact 10 and the Sworks is a fact 11. Another example where the Expert and the Sworks share the exact same frame is in the Crux
Per the Specialized website product info, both frames are FACT 11r.
S-works Venge:
Pro Venge:
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Not that I know the etiquette here - but would think nobody is paying for anyone else’s bike in a crash in a race. Everyone knows the risks. Everyone brings their own bike that they are comfortable trashing. Not sure you owe anything to anyone else in a race. Also seem raw to ask someone that has a broken collarbone about paying too.
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Yes the venge pro is fact 11r
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I 100% agree, but all it takes is one person with an attorney and you are suddenly in the legal mix. It’s definitely a concern though and another reason I mainly ride alone aside from CX season.
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https://s3.amazonaws.com/imm-usac-uat-bucket-16e9mh4tuo6kc/documents/2019-Event-Release-1.pdf
You sign a form saying that you assume the risk and will not sue other participants.
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I have a 2016 tarmac expert with ultegra 6800 and the FSA K Lights cranks-I upgraded everything to Dura Ace9100 after two years and it’s a completely different bike also changing to fsa carbon handlebars and enve carbon stem-The changing components significantly change the weight-I have an S works seat post. When considering changing the stem I was told that the only difference between S. works and Non S. works stems are the titanium bolts and the logo-so S. works will shave some grams but the S is really just a $ without the line
That’s why I have bought cyclist insurance 
it insures not only your bike if you crash it or it is stolen, but also you are insured in case you crash into other cyclist or even pedastrian on the road. It includes the sport events. It is similar to car insurance, and costs me 100 usd/year. I do not know if somwthing like that exists in your country but maybe it is worth searching for.
That’s phenomenally cheap. In the UK bike insurance (ex racing cover) is 10%+ the value of your bike.
I am looking for 2 new Tarmac…I didn’t made made choice if it will be a pro or S-work version. Right I have been riding my 2013 Tarmac Expert (I have upgraded with UltegraR8000, CL40 and a P2Max). I wonder now, how fast will I be going with a new 2020 Tarmac pro or S-work. I know that I will be at least 90 seconds faster but will I be going faster?? Feel free to tell me about both of them since i didn’t had the chance to try them. Cheers!
Get the best one you can afford
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How much faster you can go really depends on the kind of riding you do and therefore how much you can take advantage of a better frame. Perhaps the largest advantage would be in a hilly road race. And conversely, the smallest advantage would be if you were to use it in a time trial. So as @ericallenboyd implies, if you can afford it and justify it, then buy it. I have now had my S-Works for 1.5 years and still love it!
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No one is getting dropped because they didn’t buy the S-Works model. Just buy the bike you like and enjoy.
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I like the S-Works logo because I’m vain…
Some people are far more sensitive to ride feel and handling than others, and without test riding both next to each other for extensive periods of time, one after another, you’re probably not going to tell much of a difference between the Tarmac Pro and Sworks.
The Allez Sprint suggested is an outstanding bike. It is mega stiff and more rigid (which is wonderful for crits) and less expensive to replace in the event of a crash. I sort of preferred it to my S-Works Venge 2012, but it didn’t quite give me as much joy when riding, and its quite a bit heavier.
Mid range (which used to be £/$2000 at some point, but appears to be £5000/$5000 now) gets you a superb bike these days.
If it was all about value for money, we’d all have alloy frames with Shimano 105.
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Isn’t the Expert the same as the pro in terms of the frame? That was the case with my SL4, which is still going strong by the way.
If your old bike has all the serviceable parts and wheelset you can cannibalise, then I’d go with the Expert and switch/upgrade components rather than stick with off the shelf parts I haven’t chosen myself.
I do like some of the paint jobs for SL7/SL6s though - definitely an area where Spesh have upped their game.