Tech

Specialized announce new S-Works 7 shoes and Evade helmet

Supplied by Specialized Bicycle Components.

· By Press Office · 0 comments

You like to go fast. We do, too. That’s why we make an edge when it doesn’t exist—an edge for us, an edge for that guy back there in the photo, and most importantly, an edge for you. And since their inception, our line of S-Works shoes and Evade helmets have been doing just that: Making the things we love the most, well, a little faster.

S-Works Evade

Countless tunnel hours. Numerous iterations. One goal: Make the fastest road helmet in the world faster and cooler. We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t do it.

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The Fastest Just Got Faster

The new Evade was dreamt of, conceived, and born in the Win Tunnel. Why? Because we can’t help ourselves but want to go faster.

There’s More to a Helmet than Speed

Sweltering has never been cool—too bad aero helmets never got the memo. We pulled out all the stops to cool things off, and now the Evade is as cool as wearing no helmet at all.

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It’s Just More Comfortable

We listened to you, and now the Evade has a shorter, more compact design and all the fit features you know and love. It doesn’t feel like the world’s fastest helmet, it just feels good.

Jigsaw Aero Testing

A fast helmet is the sum of its parts, so it makes sense to test each part on its own, right? Having our Win Tunnel on the block lets us do this, and really, any other kind of aero testing we want. And while it may look like a bit of Mr. Potato Head configuring, our jigsaw testing method is our most refined aero testing to date. Cutting the helmet up into multiple pieces allowed us to test each part of the helmet on its own, so we could determine what vents and shapes were fastest. Put them together, and you have yourself the fastest road helmet in the world.

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Exclusive Thermal Testing

Thermal testing helmets is a dark art, so rather than trust some strange wizard back behind the Win Tunnel, we developed our own protocol. Did we burn some helmet pads for science? Absolutely. Did we learn more than ever about helmet cooling? You bet. We’re happy to say that the new Evade is actually just as cool as not wearing a helmet. Yes, you read that right. There’s no longer a reason to not go aero on every ride.

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It’s Called the Win Tunnel for a Reason

What’s with all the airflow testing and why does it matter? First off, it created the fastest road helmet we’ve ever tested. It’s not only six seconds faster than the original Evade, on average, but nearly as quick as our S-Works TT. And just as importantly, we answered the question, “Why save watts when you’re dying of heat exhaustion?” The new Evade is not only cooler than the original, but it’s proven to be as cool as wearing nothing at all.

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Features:

  • Through extensive Win Tunnel development, the Evade is the fastest road helmet we’ve tested.
  • 4th Dimension Cooling System with deep internal channels, large vents, and aligned exhaust ports make it the best combination of aerodynamics and ventilation.
  • Patented Energy Optimised Multi-Density EPS construction helps to manage impact energy.
  • Patented Aramid-Reinforced Skeleton provides internal EPS support to help manage impact energy.
  • Ultra-light Mindset HairPort II micro-dial fit system with height adjustability for the perfect fit.
  • Gutter Action brow pad design for increased comfort and sweat management.
  • Thin, soft, and lightweight 4X DryLite webbing won’t stretch out with sweat or water.
  • Tri-Fix web splitter for improved comfort and ease of strap adjustments.
  • Instrap webbing system for ultra-light construction and security.

Iwan’s First Ride

I’ve been riding the new Evade II for the past couple of weeks and although it was not enough riding time to warrant a full review, I did get a good feel for the updated helmet compared to my current Propero 3 and the first generation Evade.

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We’ve had our fair share of hot days in Cape Town making it relatively easy to test the cooling factor on a ride. The first thing I noticed is how much quieter the helmet is compared to other helmets. White noise from air and aero wake has been cut down, which is the first sign of good aerodynamic properties. The Y-Straps could also be contributing to this effect. I’m not a big fan of the feel of the Y-straps as they sit too far forward on the side of my face, but once I get going they don’t bother me.

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Speeding along on flat roads on early morning rides I could feel the air passing through the helmet. Most aero helmets achieve their wind-cheating figures by closing off most of the vents which tends to lead to a hot and bothered ride. Especially when climbing or on long summer rides. Although the Evade II does cut back on vents, the R&D time spent in a wind tunnel certainly shows as the Evade II is noticeably cooler than the original Evade and a number of other aero helmets I’ve ridden. But at low speeds, the Evade II does not feel any cooler than other helmets as it seems to rely on air flow to keep your head cool.

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One of the coolest features (excuse the pun) is the magnet closure of the chin strap. The two connecting pieces slide into place with a magnet securing them. It works so well that I could not place the straps too close together when photographing them, as they would snap into place. On the bike, this works really well as securing and releasing the chin strap is now a one-handed task.

The actual weight is 244g for a size Medium. For comparison the Propero 3 weighs 278g. Not quite apples with apples, though. Overall fit is excellent and Specialized’s Mindset fitting system works well with the micro dial offering the ability to fine-tune the fit. The helmet does not feel bulky.

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S-Works 7 shoes

For generations, S-Works shoes have been all about comfort and performance. And now, we’ve taken all of the features you love to even greater heights.

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What makes the perfect cycling shoe? Is it exceptional power transfer? Superior Comfort? Undeniable style? The simple answer is “yes” to all of the above. With the S-Works 7, you get a shoe with no compromises.

A Closer Connection

Everything is new. Everything is better. Stiffer, lighter, closer—the S-Works 7 spares no expense in transferring your power straight to the pedals.

Comfort for a Whopping 10,000km, Not Just 10km

New materials. New construction. And the Body Geometry features you love. S-Works 7 will change your expectations forever.

How the Best Should Look

Seldom is luxury a feeling associated with cycling shoes—until now. We cleaned up all the lines, used exclusive materials, and added some functional pop with exclusive BOA dials.

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Body Geometry

Body Geometry features are a vital link between you and your bike, and you won’t find them from anyone else. Every aspect has been ergonomically designed and scientifically tested to boost power, increase efficiency, and to reduce the chance of injury. Comfort like this wasn’t an accident, it’s science.

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Longitudinal Arch

Better power transfer. More efficiency. Our footbeds’ longitudinal arch support prevent your arches from collapsing during your pedal stroke, so every watt is accounted for and nothing is wasted.

Varus Wedge

Hip, knee, and foot alignment are built-in. With 1.5 millimeters of angled support in the forefoot, S-Works 7 improves biomechanical efficiency. The result? More power and more comfort.

Metatarsal Button

Bye-bye hotspots. Our footbeds make hot spots and numbness things of the past. They do it by lifting and separating the bones of the forefoot, putting less pressure on nerves and arteries.

The New Powerline Sole

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Did we have to use ply-by-ply carbon engineering developed for Formula One? Probably not. Was an extensive pressure mapping study performed by the same team that brought you Rider-First Engineering a bit overkill? Sure. We’re not bashful that this is the most engineering ever put into a cycling shoe’s outsole, though. And while it might “just” be an outsole to some, we see it as an extension of you. And you, friend, deserve the lightest and stiffest sole ever made.

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A New PadLock Heel

The first PadLock Heel was slip-proof, but this came at the expense of some comfort. Not content, we digested a ton of rider feedback and then took on the challenge of injecting more comfort into the equation without any loss of the efficient power transfer we’ve all came to love. Our engineers nailed—extra cookies for them.

Every Detail Accounted For

Form that complements function? Sign us up. Every detail of the S-Works 7 has been laboured over and scrutinised, so much so that features like bonded edges and exclusive BOA dials create an aesthetic that actually paves the way for performance. How’s that for having your cake and eating it, too?

Custom S3 BOA Dials

We worked directly with BOA to create dials like you’ve never seen before. These CNC’d alloy dials not only add panache, but they feature spring clutch internals and one-millimeter micro-adjustments. Durable. Precise. Perfect. And yeah, you won’t find them anywhere else.

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Dyneema Mesh

What happens when you take NASA parachute material use for atmospheric reentry and make some shoes out of it? You get a shoe so awesome all others are in its orbit. Dyneema Mesh is extremely malleable and adaptive, but it doesn’t stretch when pulled. And in these shoes, it conforms to the contours of your foot for slipper-like comfort without any power loss. Oh yeah, and these are the only cycling shoes to feature this out-of-this-world material.

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Features:

  • Body Geometry sole and footbed are ergonomically designed and scientifically tested to boost power, increase efficiency, and reduce the chance of injury by optimising hip, knee, and foot alignment.
  • Our stiffest and lightest FACT PowerlineTM carbon plate maximises power transfer: Stiffness Index 15.0.
  • Dyneema Mesh is trapped between layers of four-way stretch mesh and TPU to create no-stretch zones for the ultimate connection and comfort.
  • Independent alloy BOA S3-Snap dials for on-the-fly micro-adjustment, backed by the BOA Lifetime Guarantee.
  • PadLockTM heel construction cradles the heel and is proven to improve acceleration.
  • Titanium alloy cleat nuts can rotate to position pedal/cleats 5mm rearward.
  • Non-slip, replaceable heel tread with internally recessed screws for security.
  • Form Fit last with a roomy toe box for the ultimate in connectivity and comfort.
  • Three-bolt cleat pattern fits all major road pedals.
  • Approximate weight: 224g (1/2 pair, Size 42)
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