specialized s-works carbon

You are looking at a 1993 Specialized S-Works Carbon, and it is maybe the most enjoyable single speed I've ever built.

I've built more single speeds than I remember - here's nine of them. There's a Tech missing though - just can't find pics of it.

Anyway, the Vertex (bottom middle) is the only one that I rode for any appreciable length of time. The rest just didn't work for reasons I just don't remember. And I sure wouldn't mind that '92 Rocky Altitude back (bottom left) - it was serial number RM666. Sometimes I really wonder what the hell was up with young me.

Anyway, the old S-Works here took a few iterations before I was happy. I started it with a TREK suspension fork and gears, and didn't like it. Then I tried an SS setup with whatever was lying around, and found it rode very nicely. I could climb some hills even thanks to its low weight and super low rolling resistance from the Innova Pro tires.

The Latest update is a longer stem and a RooX bar with the weirdo downturns at the grips. This reminds me of Count Dooku's lightsabers for some reason. We've also got a terrific Specialized seat, 3DV Top line cranks, a Misfit Cycles cog (19T), and a full Ritchey Logic brakeset. I swear I was trying to edgy by running an oval ring on this SS bike, but the 38T Sugino ring was the only one I could find to fit that crank that gave me the 2:1 gear ratio. Of course I did some research on that ring and set it up in the same way that modern oval setups have it, which I think is 90 degrees off of the way Biopace did it. Don't quote me on that though.

All together this makes for a very nice ride. It weighs in at just over 21 pounds, and having recently discovered the featherlight wonders that are TPU tubes, it's going to get lighter. I'm not really strong enough to climb stuff with this gear ratio, so I don't know how long I'll hang onto this, but it is fun to experience such a light bike.