Specialized has released a limited edition S-Works Aethos that pays homage to Specialized founder Mike Sinyard’s love of Italy with a Campagnolo Super Record Wireless build.
The bike is said to be limited to a run of 300 globally with a price tag steeper than the roads the Aethos was built to climb.
Costing £15,000 / $15,500, this Aethos has a “hand-dipped paintjob” and it appears to be the same as the test bike Oscar Huckle was lucky enough to ride at the Campagnolo SRW press camp earlier this year.
At the time of publishing, and despite the press release landing in the BikeRadar inbox this morning, the bike is already listed as sold out on Specialized’s website.
A love of riding and Italian craftsmanship
According to the press release for this limited edition climbing bike, Specialized’s origin story involved Sinyard selling his VW camper van and heading to Italy to ride bikes in 1973, inspired by his combined love of cycling and Italian craftsmanship.
This trip is said to have led Sinyard to make it his mission “to bring the same Italian craftsmanship to riders in the US” and to create Specialized Bicycles Components as a result.
The limited edition Specialized S-Works Aethos is said to pay homage to Sinyard’s love of riding, craftsmanship and Italian components.
To this end, the bike is decked out in Campagnolo components.
The bike has the 2x12-speed £4,499 / $5,399 / €5,200 Campagnolo Super Record Wireless groupset. The groupset launched in May this year and promised new ergonomics and shifting logic but saw the Italian manufacturer drop its defining thumb shifter.
To match the groupset, the bike has Campagnolo’s Hyperon Ultra wheels. These road bike wheels are claimed to weigh 1,240g for the pair which Specialized says makes them the perfect match for the Aethos’ climbing ability.
The wheels were launched two months before the new Super Record Wireless groupset, resurrecting the Hyperon name, which had disappeared from Campagnolo’s lineup.
“Hand-dipped paintjob”
One of the most striking features of this Specialized S-Works Aethos – beyond its top-spec, Italian componentry – is the frame’s paintwork.
Specialized says the frame has a “hand-dipped paintjob” giving the bike a marmoreal finish. Each will be numbered.
Underneath the paint is the same 585g S-Works Aethos frame we reviewed in 2020.
Specialized says it broke ‘traditional’ manufacturing rules and reinvented tube shapes to “deliver massive gains in stiffness and balance” with the Aethos.
We saw some of these tube shapes carry over to the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8.
Specialized S-Works Aethos Campagnolo LTD spec and price
- Frameset: Specialized S-Works Aethos FACT 12r Carbon
- Groupset: Campagnolo Super Record Wireless
- Wheels: Campagnolo Hyperon Ultra
- Tyres: Specialized S-Works Turbo 2BR, 700x28mm
- Handlebar: Specialized S-Works SL
- Stem: Specialized S-Works SL, alloy
- Tape: Supacaz Super Sticky Kush
- Saddle: Specialized Body Geometry S-Works Power
- Seatpost: Roval Alpinist Carbon Seatpost
- Price: £15,000 / $15,500
