The Specialized Podcast

Specialized

Going behind the curtain to talk to the riders and creators working hard to make your ride better.

  1. Tarmac SL9 | Engineered to Win

    1d ago

    Tarmac SL9 | Engineered to Win

    The Tarmac SL8 is already the winningest bike in the WorldTour. So how do you make it faster? In this episode, guest host Ben Edwards sits down with members of the Specialized engineering and product team at the global press launch for the new S-Works Tarmac SL9 on the Costa Brava. Ben is joined by Lio Bardina, aero engineer; Denis Kürner, senior design engineer for road performance bikes and lead engineer on Tarmac; and Alex Jerome, category leader for road and gravel products. Together, they go deep inside the development of the new S-Works Tarmac SL9, a bike engineered to be the fastest to the finish in the more aggressive road racing of today and the future. The team explains why the goal was not simply to make the lightest bike or the most aero bike, but the fastest bike to the finish line. That meant using the equation of speed to optimize aerodynamics, weight, rolling resistance, ride quality, handling, stiffness, and real-world rider data to deliver the fastest time to finish and the Tarmac promise: ‘One Bike to Rule Them All’. They discuss how racing has changed since the launch of the Tarmac SL8, with higher speeds, longer breakaways, and decisive race moments happening farther from the finish. Those changes shaped the design of the SL9, including its narrower Speed Sniffer head tube, reshaped Flow Fork with deeper, inwards twisted fork blades, dropped downtube, S-Works Rapide aero seatpost, Win Fin, and refined tube shapes. The team explains why the Tarmac doesn’t need to look like a trending aero bike to be the fastest bike in the world. Rather than designing for appearance or optimizing for the fastest bike without a rider on it, Specialized modeled what actually determines time to finish: WorldTour courses, rider power files, real wind angles, rolling resistance, and data from the velodrome, road, and the WinTunnel, including testing with a moving-leg mannequin. One example makes the impact clear: based on simulation of Demi Vollering’s 2024 Tour de France Femmes performance, the SL9 could have made her 14 seconds faster over the final 83 kilometers of the race. In a Tour decided by four seconds, that is the difference between losing and winning yellow. The episode also goes inside the engineering challenge of improving aerodynamics while preserving the ride quality athletes already loved on the SL8. The S-Works SL9 delivers four watts of aero savings at 45 kilometers per hour, while the frame gains just two grams, coming in at 687 grams. This is the story of how Specialized updated an icon: not by chasing a single number, but by building the fastest Tarmac ever for the moments that decide the biggest races in the world. This episode covers: How modern road racing has become faster and more aggressive Why long-range attacks and solo breakaways influenced the SL9 Why the goal was fastest to the finish, not simply lightest or most aero How the equation of speed shaped the development process Why real-world wind angles matter more than traditional aero assumptions How Specialized uses rider power files and race data in simulation Why the SL9 does not need to look like a traditional aero bike How the team achieved four watts of aero savings at 45 kilometers per hour How the new head tube, fork, seatpost, and Win Fin improve speed Why the moving-leg mannequin changed the way the bike was designed How athlete feedback shaped ride quality, handling, stiffness, and compliance What the SL9 simulation showed from Demi Vollering’s 2024 Tour de France Femmes Why small gains can decide the biggest races in the world Guests: Lio Bardina Denis Kürner Alex Jerome Subscribe to Specialized Bicycles on YouTube for more conversations with the engineers, athletes, and creators shaping the future of cycling. Get More from Specialized TikTok: @specializedbicycles Instagram: @iamspecialized Specialized MTB Instagram @iamspecialized_mtb Specialized Factory Racing Instagram: @specialized_factoryxc Facebook: specializedbicycles Outride: @outride

    42 min
  2. Mads Würtz Schmidt | How He Won Unbound

    6d ago

    Mads Würtz Schmidt | How He Won Unbound

    Mads Würtz Schmidt came to Unbound with one clear goal: to win. Then he delivered one of the biggest victories of his career. In this episode, host Ben Capron sits down with Mads shortly after the race to hear the story of his Unbound victory in his own words. Mads takes us inside the race, from the early positioning and shifting dynamics at the front to the decisive moments that shaped the finish. He explains what was happening in the lead group, how he managed the pressure and uncertainty of a race this long, and when he began to believe the win was possible. The most dramatic moment came when a mechanical problem threatened to end his day. Teammate Keegan Swenson stopped, offered Mads his wheel, and gave him a simple instruction: take my wheel, then go win. Mads tells the full story of the exchange—including how, in the urgency of the moment, he threw his own wheel onto the ground without considering that Keegan would still need it. Keegan was left behind to sort out the mess while Mads returned to the race. The moment revealed something bigger than tactics. Keegan is one of the greatest gravel racers in the world, but he was willing to sacrifice his own race for the good of the team. Mads explains what that gesture meant to him and why the victory belonged to more than one rider. Mads also talks about the physical and mental demands of Unbound, the importance of staying calm when plans begin to unravel, and how preparation creates the confidence to make clear decisions deep into a long and unpredictable race. They discuss the growing role of teamwork in gravel, how riders balance individual ambition with collective goals, and why racing as a true team can create opportunities that no rider could produce alone. This is the inside story of how Mads Würtz Schmidt won Unbound: a race shaped by preparation, composure, sacrifice, and one teammate telling another to take his wheel and go win. This episode covers: How Mads approached Unbound with the goal of winning What he remembers most clearly from the race How the decisive moments developed at the front The mechanical problem that nearly ended his chances Why Keegan Swenson stopped and gave Mads his wheel What happened during the chaotic wheel exchange How Mads returned to the race after the mechanical Why Keegan’s sacrifice represented true teamwork How Mads managed the pressure and uncertainty of Unbound When he began to believe he could win How preparation creates confidence during a long race Why composure matters when the original plan falls apart How team tactics are changing professional gravel racing The balance between individual ambition and team success Why the Unbound victory belonged to the entire team Guest: Mads Würtz Schmidt Follow Mads: Instagram:  madswurtzschmidt  Subscribe to Specialized Bicycles on YouTube for more conversations with the engineers, athletes, and creators shaping the future of cycling. Get More from Specialized TikTok: @specializedbicycles Instagram: @iamspecialized Specialized MTB Instagram @iamspecialized_mtb Specialized Factory Racing Instagram: @specialized_factoryxc Facebook: specializedbicycles Outride: @outride

    42 min
  3. Lael Wilcox | Around the World, Faster Than Anyone

    Jun 6

    Lael Wilcox | Around the World, Faster Than Anyone

    Lael Wilcox is one of the greatest ultra-endurance cyclists ever. She holds the women’s record for the fastest ride around the world, has set records on the Tour Divide, Trans Am, Baja Divide, and so much more.  She's also helped reshape what is possible in bikepacking, especially for women. This episode was recorded days before Lael's attempt to go around the world a second time, faster than anyone. In this episode, host Ben Capron sits down with Lael to talk about the spirit behind her attempt. Not just the miles, logistics, equipment, or record, but the mindset that lets someone take on a challenge this big and still keep it joyful. Lael shares how ultra-endurance cycling has changed as more women enter the sport and raise the level of competition. She talks about riding to the Tour Divide from Alaska, getting stuck in peanut butter mud, working through dark moments, and learning that not all suffering is useful. Her approach is simple and powerful: if you are doing your best, let it go. If you want to quit, you can always quit later. They also get into her 2024 around-the-world ride, why she turned it into a rolling invitation for people to join. This time the route is faster, the pace is higher, the support crew is bigger, and the goal is clear: ride around the world faster than anyone ever has. Along the way, Lael and Ben talk about comfort as performance, why sleep and fueling make you faster, the role of the Specialized Roubaix in her around-the-world setup, and why women can compete at the highest level in ultra-distance cycling. They also discuss GRIT, the girls’ cycling mentorship program Lael started to help young riders build confidence, adventure, and independence through bikes. This episode covers: Why Lael is going back around the world to chase the overall record How her 2024 ride became a rolling party with everyone invited Why ultra-endurance is changing as more women enter the sport What it means to compete without losing joy Why suffering is not the point How Lael works through dark moments on the bike The meaning behind “you can always quit later” Why comfort is performance in ultra-distance riding How sleep, fueling, and recovery can make riders faster Why Roubaix was the right bike for riding around the world How Lael thinks about equipment, efficiency, and durability Why women can compete at the highest level in ultra-distance cycling How GRIT helps young girls build confidence through bikes Why bikes can expand what people believe is possible Guest: Lael Wilcox Follow Lael: Instagram - @laelwilcox Subscribe to Specialized Bicycles on YouTube for more conversations with the engineers, athletes, and creators shaping the future of cycling. Get More from Specialized TikTok: @specializedbicycles Instagram: @iamspecialized Specialized MTB Instagram @iamspecialized_mtb Specialized Factory Racing Instagram: @specialized_factoryxc Facebook: specializedbicycles Outride: @outride

    49 min
  4. Crux 5 | The Equation of Gravel Speed

    May 28

    Crux 5 | The Equation of Gravel Speed

    Gravel racing has changed. What used to feel like an endurance event has become a full-speed race, with stronger athletes, higher speeds, sharper tactics, and bigger consequences for every equipment choice. Crux has always been loved for its light weight, lively ride, and pure race feel. But as gravel racing got faster, Specialized had to answer a harder question: how do you make Crux faster without losing what riders already love about it? In this episode, guest host Ben Edwards sits down with Leo Cadena, Doug Russell, and Alex Jerome just north of Barcelona to go inside the creation of Crux 5. They discuss the evolution of gravel racing, the shift from cyclocross roots to a dedicated gravel race platform, and the engineering work behind making a bike that is not simply light or aero, but faster against the only metric that matters: time to finish. They get into Specialized’s equation of speed, Formula 1 style simulation, moving-leg mannequin wind tunnel testing, race-course telemetry, tire rolling resistance, 55 mm tire clearance, the new Terra cockpit, Terra wheels, and the challenge of preserving the Crux ride feel while building a faster bike for modern gravel racing. This episode covers: How gravel evolved from an event into a race Why Crux 5 was built as a dedicated gravel race bike The equation of speed and why time to finish matters most How Specialized balances aero, weight, rolling resistance, and ride quality Why bike-only aero testing does not tell the full story How moving-leg mannequins make wind tunnel testing more realistic How race telemetry from Unbound and other courses shapes product decisions Why tire choice and tire clearance can decide a race The role of 50 mm and 55 mm tires in modern gravel performance How Crux 5 became 15.2 watts faster than Crux 4 Why the new Terra cockpit matters for comfort, control, and aero efficiency How Crux 5 keeps the light, lively ride that made Crux so loved What simulated Unbound time savings reveal about real race performance Why the future of gravel race bikes is about systems, not isolated numbers Guests: Leo Cadena, Doug Russell, Alex Jerome Get More from Specialized TikTok: @specializedbicycles Instagram: @iamspecialized Specialized MTB Instagram @iamspecialized_mtb Specialized Factory Racing Instagram: @specialized_factoryxc Facebook: specializedbicycles Outride: @outride

    43 min
  5. Outride | Science Says Ride to Think Better and Feel Better

    May 14

    Outride | Science Says Ride to Think Better and Feel Better

    What if science proved what riders already know? That riding clears your head. Sharpens your focus. Improves your mood. Connects you to yourself, to others, and to the world around you. In this episode of the Specialized Podcast, host Ben Capron sits down with Esther Walker, Executive Director of the Outride Foundation, to explore the growing body of research showing how riding bikes positively impacts brain health, mental well-being, cognitive performance, and human connection. Outride began with a simple question inspired by Specialized founder Mike Sinyard after reading an article titled Cycling Is My Ritalin: could riding a bike measurably improve focus and cognitive function, particularly for people with ADHD? That question launched years of scientific research in partnership with institutions like Stanford University and helped spark programs that have now reached more than 400 schools and impacted more than 500,000 students across North America. Rather than hype or speculation, this episode offers a human and science-backed look at why riding helps us think, feel, and flourish,covering: How riding improves focus, executive function, mood, and stress regulation Why consistency matters more than intensity when it comes to brain health How Stanford researchers measured real-time brain activity while riding The connection between cycling, neuroplasticity, memory, and reduced dementia risk How Riding for Focus brings bikes, helmets, curriculum, and teacher training into schools The power of confidence, skill building, and joy in helping students flourish Stories from communities like the Navajo Nation, where bikes are opening new pathways for health, connection, and opportunity How programs like Silver Stallion Bicycle & Coffee Works help sustain cycling culture through service, skills, and community Why athletes like Demi Vollering, Christopher Blevins, and Haley Batten help amplify the Outride mission How riders, schools, communities, brands, and volunteers can all help more people experience the benefits of cycling Whether you ride every day, support young riders, work in education, or simply believe bikes can change lives, this conversation is a reminder that riding is more than fitness or speed. It is a powerful tool for focus, connection, confidence, and well-being. Follow Outride: @outride  Subscribe to Specialized Bicycles on YouTube for more conversations with the engineers, athletes, and creators shaping the future of cycling. Get More from Specialized TikTok: @specializedbicycles Instagram: @iamspecialized Specialized MTB Instagram @iamspecialized_mtb Specialized Factory Racing Instagram: @specialized_factoryxc Facebook: specializedbicycles Outride: @outride

    42 min
  6. Body Geometry | Remco’s Secret to More Power and Less Pain.

    May 8

    Body Geometry | Remco’s Secret to More Power and Less Pain.

    How do top pros like Remco Evenepoel and Demi Vollering stay powerful, efficient, and pain-free for hours at race intensity? They do not leave fit to chance. They rely on ergonomically designed, scientifically proven Body Geometry bike fit and products built to increase performance and comfort. In this conversation about power, pain, fit, science, and the ergonomic advantage behind the fastest riders in the world, guests Jason Williams and Ashley Sult explain how Body Geometry became one of Specialized’s biggest performance advantages. They get into the origin of Body Geometry, why Specialized started studying the rider as much as the bike, and how fit data drives the product development of saddles, shoes, gloves, handlebars, and frame geometry. Ashley explains what happens when contact points are wrong, how small problems compound over time, and why the right support and adjusting the bike to fit the body improves comfort, reduces injury risk, and help riders produce power more efficiently by being more comfortable. Together, they call b******t on old adages like “no pain, no gain”, and they make complex science understandable to identify and solve common problems like pain in the posterior, feet, neck and hands, and losing power through poor fit. They also cover the process Specialized uses to design products around the human body. This episode covers: Why virtually every rider loses power through poor fit Why better comfort translated to better performance How rider data informs product development What professional athletes reveal about fit at the highest level, and what that means to you Why the best equipment helps the bike disappear beneath the rider How Body Geometry helps riders reduce pain and improve performance Why Remco, Demi, and many top pros rely on precise fit and ergonomic products Why rider pain is not something to suffer through   How Body Geometry started and why it became core to Specialized Why fit, product, and performance have to work together What the varus wedge does and why foot alignment matters How longitudinal arch support and the metatarsal button improve foot stability Why saddle width, shape, and pressure mapping matter for real riders GUESTS: Jason Williams and Ashley Sult Subscribe to Specialized Bicycles on YouTube for more conversations with the engineers, athletes, and creators shaping the future of cycling. Get More from Specialized TikTok: @specializedbicycles Instagram: @iamspecialized Specialized MTB Instagram @iamspecialized_mtb Specialized Factory Racing Instagram: @specialized_factoryxc Facebook: specializedbicycles Outride: @outride

    1h 4m
  7. Epic 9 | Creating the Fastest XC Bike Ever

    Apr 28

    Epic 9 | Creating the Fastest XC Bike Ever

    You know Christopher Blevins from his record-breaking 2025 season, where he finished #1 in UCI XC points, claimed both the XCO and XCC overall titles, and helped the Specialized Factory XC Team sweep the World Cup podium twice aboard Epic 8. So why change the bike? Because lead engineer Jason McDonald and the rest of the Specialized Science Club knew they could make it faster. In this episode, Jason explains how the team started with Epic 8’s world-beating benchmark, then removed what held it back: 206 grams gone, making Epic 9 the lightest full-suspension XC race bike on the planet. Then he gets into how suspension friction was cut by 11%, how kinematics were optimized, and how it all adds up to unmatched efficiency, capability, and speed per watt. Christopher shares what modern World Cup XC racing demands at full speed, how Epic 9 feels on course, and why control, confidence, and composure now matter as much as efficiency and weight. This episode covers: • Why Specialized built Epic 9 after Epic 8’s dominant season • What actually slows riders down in modern XC racing • What “Made In Racing” actually means: turning data, rider feedback, and engineering into speed • The engineering behind the 1,589 g frame • Why lighter only matters if the bike stays fast, controlled, and composed • How Epic 9 blends Epic World Cup crispness with Epic 8 capability • The role of 11% lower pivot friction in ride feel and traction • How Wide Open, Magic Middle, and Sprint-On-Lock damping settings work in real racing • Why efficiency is more than stiffness and weight • How Body Geometry data shaped Epic 9 fit and handling • What Christopher feels when the bike disappears and flow takes over It is a conversation about speed, science, flow, and devotion beyond reason to making the fastest XC bike in the world even faster. GUESTS: Christopher Blevins and Jason McDonald Get More from Specialized   TikTok:   / specializedbicycles  Instagram:   / iamspecialized  Facebook: https://www.fb.com/specializedbicycles Outride:   / outride

    55 min
  8. Finn Iles | Ride To Redemption

    Apr 22

    Finn Iles | Ride To Redemption

    Setbacks do not always stop the story. If we have the grit, they become the path to become better than ever. For downhill phenom Finn Iles, the past couple seasons have been painful, frustrating, and shaped by an invisible back injury that forced him to rethink how he trains, prepares, races, and lives. And that is exactly what makes this moment so compelling. He is healthier, hungrier, and faster than ever and ready to send it in 2026 with purpose. In this episode of the Specialized Bicycles Podcast, Ben Capron sits down with Iles for a direct conversation about the love of riding, freedom, flow, the long road back, and why he enters 2026 humble, hungry, and ready to win. The story moves from growing up in British Columbia, chasing his brother through some of the best riding on earth, to becoming a Junior World Champion, a World Cup winner, and one of the most thoughtful riders in downhill racing. But more than results, this conversation reveals what drives him. Riding is where the noise disappears. It is where the mind clears and the feeling of freedom takes over. But this is not just about talent. It is about devotion to process. Finn makes it clear that process is everything. The work behind the scenes. The routine. The repetition. The discipline to check every box so that when the gate drops, the mind is free. For him, preparation is not separate from performance. It is the thing that makes performance possible. That is what makes this episode hit harder. The obstacle became the path. Injury forced patience. Pain forced awareness. And the comeback has been built the same way Finn approaches racing itself: deliberately, honestly, and one step at a time. He talks openly about learning to trust the process, trust the people around him, and rebuild without rushing, all so he can come back stronger. The conversation also goes inside the development of the new Demo 11, a project Finn has helped shape over multiple seasons. From prototype bikes to production bike, from endless testing to finally having a stable platform to build from, he describes the process as one of the most amazing things he’s done in his career. That matters here, too. It is another expression of the same mindset: keep building, keep refining, keep earning speed. And now the focus sharpens. Val di Sole. A decade after winning Junior Worlds there, Finn heads toward 2026 motivated, healthier, and with a track that suits him in his sights. After everything he dealt with in 2025, he sounds like a rider who has done the work, learned from the setback, and is ready to win. This episode goes beyond racing, covering: Why downhill feels like freedomHow to clear the mind for ultimate performanceWhy preparation is the foundation of speedWhat really happens in the start gateHow injury changed his body, mindset, and processWhy the obstacle became the pathWhat 2025 taught him through pain and setbacksWhy Val di Sole matters so much in 2026The role Finn has played in developing Demo 11Why redemption is earned through the workIt is a conversation about freedom, preparation, resilience, and the road back to winning. Get More from Specialized TikTok: @specializedbicycles Instagram: @iamspecialized Specialized MTB Instagram @iamspecialized_mtb Specialized Factory Racing Instagram: @specialized_factoryxc Facebook: specializedbicycles Outride: @outride

    1h 17m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Going behind the curtain to talk to the riders and creators working hard to make your ride better.

Information

  • Creator
    Specialized
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Specialized Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Specialized Podcast

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