SuperSix EVO vs Tarmac SL6

[Kozaki]

I want to ask for an advice on buying new bike. I was searching for that comparison but could not find anything good. I know it is probably not the right forum to ask this but I think there will be some nice guys that will help me.

I am 71kg guy at 183cm, 23 years old. I do not have any long term cycling background. This is my second season on the road bike. Currently I am at around 4.5 W/kg. Last year I raced in some local races and get some nice results. I did 3 short hill climbs and 2 road races with around 100km and 1500 m of elevation. I am planning on doing more races this year. I was riding with my fathers bike which is a little to big for me and now decided that is time to buy my own.

I preatty much like climbing and my normal rides are like 60-100km with 800-1500m of climbing. I normaly do 3-4 solo rides and 1-2 group rides per week.

At first I looked at those bikes(all the newest models and on Ultegra Di2 level):
Tarmac SL6
SuperSix EVO
Venge
Adict RC
Izalco Max
Aeroad

Venge and Aeroad are pure aero machines so I left the out becouse I think that semi aero lightweight bike will suit me better.

Izalco Max is a big mistery to me. I can not find alot of information on aero performanve, ride feel etc. I really like the looks of it but is heavier than other alternatives(300-600g havier that sl6 an EVO)

Adict RC is prety nice bike, But I can not stand those weird handle bars. And I do not know how big is a stepdown from ultimate frame. If someone have an experiance I am willing to heare it.

So preaty much I narrowed my decision to 2 bikes. Tarmac SL6 an SuperSix EVO.

I love both bikes but each of them have something that I do not like. I really like the full integration on SuperSix. The thing I do not know is how good are those knot wheels and I am not shure if I will like racing on 28mm wide tires.

On the other hand the cables on the Tarmac really bother me, but I really like the CL50 rims. Tarmac is allso lighter in the same groupset configuration for around 300g with deeper wheels.

So there is the question. Did I decided well on non fully aero bike? What would more experienced rider
propose based on my cycling profile? Which bike should I go for? Did I leave some bikes out?

[C36]

I am a bit short of time to share details on the frames I tested but here a summary of stiffness measurement that I just shared on the Addict post. happen that most of the frames you ask for are there.
for the Aero numbers they are with stock wheels so numbers have to be taken with a pinch of salt. once equipped with Zipp 404 Addict / Tarmac / Focus are all around 217W so 10-12 W above an Aeroad. To be complete the Focus and Addict appaear to be mounted with aero combo bars that brings them a few watt gains (4-5) compared to the Tarmac.

Being in your position, and ASSUMING THE GEOMETRIES TO PERFECTLY FIT, I would likely choose the the Tarmac in rim-brake option, 200g lighter on the frame-fork (plus the difference on the brakes themselves), 4W faster than disc version and to my taste quite more responsive.

But insisting again in #1 we validate a geometry, #2 we select the frame

[wltz]

You would do yourself a favour by getting a bike fit to get a better understanding of which geometry suits you, and making a call based on that. Tarmac and SuperSix have different geometries. It sounds like you've put in enough miles to be able to find your optimal geometry based on your biomechanical limits.

If you still opt to buy a spec rather than a ride/handling, don't look at the claimed weight, it will likely be off anyways. Get a bike with the better wheelset and gradually upgrade the easier targets like seatpost, saddle and handlebars (assuming your SL6 and Evo are priced similarly).

There sure will be members on this forum who have ridden both bikes, but you are likely to get biased reviews based on what they liked more, it's pretty subjective. I haven't owned either.

[Kazyole]

Honestly I'd get whichever speaks to you more or whichever bike has better geometry for your position.

They're both very solid bikes. And while they're not "aero" frames, basically no modern frameset completely neglects aerodynamics anymore. So the gap isn't necessarily crazy wide. As to whether that's worth it to you or not, that's a personal question. Personally I ride a lightweight/GC oriented frameset, a cervelo RCA, because I'm obviously a weightweenie and because I want to ride the kind of bike that accentuates what I'm best at (which is climbing). It sounds like you have made the same calculation, so it's hard for me to fault you there.

If you're racing and you're best at climbing, I think that's the right choice. Or at least a justifiable one. You want the bike that's going to give you the biggest advantage in the critical moment when you have a chance to win the race. If you were a sprinter or a breakaway specialist type rider who spends a ton of time eating wind, I'd say go for the aero bike. But if you're doing hill climbs and hilly road races, that moment where you have the best chance to create a separation is going to be uphill. Whether it's more worth it to have the aero bike so that you're putting out a tiny bit less effort the whole race leading up to that moment vs having the bike that's a bigger advantage in the moment gets a bit messier.

Tires I wouldn't get hung up on. they're a very small percentage of the overall cost of the bike, you seldom get actually good tires on a new bike anyway, and are replaceable. If you want to throw 25s on, it costs you ~$75 to make the switch. So for me it would come down to the clean integrated cockpit vs the lighter bike with better wheels.


Personally I'd probably opt for a rim brake tarmac for the not insignificant weight savings, but I haven't ridden the new supersix so I'd take my opinion with a grain of salt.

[DeLuz]

Some years ago I had a Tarmac SL3. I sold after a few years because it rode really rough.
Then I bought a Cannondale EVO and it rides much smoother.
I have no idea if the Tarmac SL6 is a smoother ride comparable to the EVO but something to consider.

[dudemanppl]

Ah yes, an 11 year old bike frame is very relevant to today's offering.

[Kozaki]

I leave in Slovenia, small county in Europe. I will get a bike fitting, but I do not have an option to test ride those bikes since road bike market is smaller here and LBS do not have those bikes to test ride.

[wltz]

Also, have a look at Rose X-Lite Six. You can get amazing spec for the money, especially if you upgrade to DT ARC1100 wheelset. It looks very similar to SL6, but you get better finishing kit for less.

[cerro]

I tried a S-Works SL6 but got a Venge (Pro 2019)instead, quiet light with lower wheels.
Now I changed from the venge to a SuperSIX Evo.
All feels very good, An Evo looks much nicer with the integration until the new Tarmac is released. No matter Roval CL50 and CLX50 is the best wheels I've tried so would recommend them a lot.

[Hexsense]

I tried a S-Works SL6 but got a Venge (Pro 2019)instead, quiet light with lower wheels.
Now I changed from the venge to a SuperSIX Evo.
All feels very good, An Evo looks much nicer with the integration until the new Tarmac is released. No matter Roval CL50 and CLX50 is the best wheels I've tried so would recommend them a lot.

Why did you change from Venge to SS Evo?
Is it something to do with how the bike feel?

[cerro]

Hexsense: The Venge was borrowed thru work (Specialized Concept Store) and then I quit and started to work at Cycling Sports Group (Cannondale). If I would have been at the Spec store I would have got a Roubaix for 2020. Now I thought of getting a Synapse but couldn't get a non aero bike so went with the SuperSIX. Light and aero with being able to take tires up to 35mm is pretty awesome. Rode my Venge with Specialized Roubaix 32mm tires ones and it was super except a little bit too tight.

Both bikes feels fast but the SS Evo feels more comfortable at the rear. On the Venge I had Aerofly II with the Venge stem so superstiff for my 63kg, now I got a Extralite Hyperstem with Deda Superleggero bar which is lighter but not as stiff.

Choose the one you think looks best. Both the Venge and SS Evo are awesome and feels fast, the tarmac I borrowed for a week on Gran Canaria was super too. And all three are aero so that's always good

[Kozaki]

How does Rose X-Lite Six compare to other bikes in aero aspect?

[wltz]

There seems to be a thread on that, and also some Tour Magazine tests which you can probably find with Google: viewtopic.php?t=150012&start=15

I was on the market for a climbing bike at the end of 2019 and was considering Rose, but felt the geometry was too aggressive for me. In the end I went for a light and stiff but non-aero-optimised Felt FR2, because I could get it on an amazing deal and have some spare cash left for immediate upgrades, which when you buy a bike at Ult Di2 level is sort of inevitable.

[WorkonSunday]

while cannondale being a capable bike, but i dont remember there is another bike that generates so much dislike going from one generation to the next. It seems like alot of high performance riders prefer the old one over the new.

[Noctiluxx]

You should seriously consider a rim brake TCR SL. It will climb and handle as good as any bike on the market, super comfortable, and cost less even with dual side power meter. With the many you save, buy a pair of 1265 gram Cadex 42mm tubeless clinchers.