First Ride Review: Specialized S-Works 7 Rd 2018 – what’s Peter Sagan’s favourite racing-shoe capable of?
With the new Specialized S-Works 7 Rd the Californian brand has launched an updated version of its popular high-end road-bike shoe. Lighter, stiffer and faster – what is Specialized’s new road-shoe capable of? We got all of the details from the launch and caught the insider-banter regarding its development. And of course we tested it for you!
The S-Works 7 Rd is the high-end model of the Specialized road-shoe line and comes with many updates for the 2018 season. According to chief-developer Rob Cook the sole is significantly lighter and also slightly stiffer thanks to additional reinforcement ribs. The total weight of 224 g in a size 42 remains unchanged from the previous version. This is mainly due to the heavier material of the upper and the added padding in the heel area. Our test shoe in a size 46 weighs 269 g.
For 2018 Specialized replaced the synthetic-leather of the upper with the fabric-like Dyneema material. This makes the shoe feel even smoother and softer without compromising its pedalling efficiency as the Dyneema fabric doesn’t stretch. According to Rob almost all of the seams are heat-bonded and not sewn in order to avoid pressure points.
Small openings encourage the breathability of the shoe; thess are obtained through a laser-edge method which is also used for the cleat-markings. The fancy looking CNC’d aluminium quick-release dial developed in collaboration with Boa is the main design highlight of the new S-Works 7 Rd.
Rob tells us that even the pros were totally blown away by the new design. Not only the Dial itself but also the internals of the Boa-dials are completely revised and also made of metal to improve durability and precision of the mechanism together with the new spring-clutch system. When asked about laser engravings and special-colour-editions for world champion Peter Sagan, Rob couldn’t help but smiling – this means we can probably expect some special editions in the near future. The new top model will be available from February the 9th at a price of € 359.90.
At first glance the Specialized S-Works 7 Rd is elegant and nicely crafted. The Dyneema-fabric of the upper is extremely flat and perfectly wraps around the foot. A special praise goes to the Boa-Aluminium-dials which not only look and feel great but also offer a very precise and straight-forward fastening system. The heel-cup which is directly glued onto the sole for perfect power transfer, allows the foot to sit firmly inside the shoe. The carbon sole is very stiff and efficient while the wide toe-box offers enough room even for wide feet without affecting the connection to the pedals. Please note: shoes are a very subjective matter and the right fit always depends on factors such size and foot proportions. We would always recommend testing or at least trying a road-bike shoe before buying it. Ventilation is first-class but not too practical at subzero temperatures.
Conclusion
With a price tag of € 359,90 the S-Works 7 isn’t exactly a bargain. But if you’re after a snug fit and outstanding performance Specialized’s high-end shoe is the perfect choice even if you have wide feet.
Also new: Is this the new benchmark for aero helmets? Here you can find our first ride review on the Specialized S-Works Evade 2018.
For more information head to specialized.com
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Words: Photos: Robin Schmitt, Manuel Buck
