Specialized Aethos Comp £5,000 | 7.86kg

Specialized’s Aethos launched as a high-end performance road bike that eschews aero styling in place of improved ride quality. It made waves for its ridiculously low weight and classic looks that flew in the face of current trends. Since then Specialized has looked to broaden the bike’s appeal.

The Aethos is now offered in a number of builds with lower price tags and higher weights that still aim to maintain the spirit and performance of the original. The Aethos Comp is the entry-level model; entry level, however, is very much a relative term when the R RP is £5,000.

Construction

The Aethos Comp frameset is made from Specialized’s Fact 10r carbon compared to the 12r used on the S-Works model. In essence it’s just a lower