Team Sky to switch from Pinarello to Specialized, reports L'Equipe

I know I am late to comment on this but I am very happy as a Spesh fan! I missed this story as I was on holiday so it was a pleasant read this morning when it was pointed out!

Wiggins was once asked in an interview what his fav bike was ?

His reply - "whatever my team are using".

Whether Sky use Specialized or Pinarello i dont think it matters to the riders as long as the bikes are reliable which at their level all bike suppliers will be.

Yeah, I used to like them, but my new favourite is the Mavic Plasma SLR in Black.

Birthday soon.

Mmmm

Personally I couldn't care less if they rode british bikes or not...
I just hope they don't have to wear those pig ugly (probably unfair on the pig) specialized helmets... I just can't stand them

Presumably you're talking about the recent deal between Specialized and the Tour of Britain organisers for them to provide neutral service for the next three years.

In which case, I highly tip Yanto Barker, the British rider.

Not sure that raleigh, planet x, ribble etc are british. They may have a british history but the bikes arent made or developed here.

Who is going to win Le Tour de Spesh next year?

and seriously some of you think cav has influenced or demanded specialized? really i dont think so. unless he had a particular personal sponsorship package with them. probably find most pros will have a bike made to suit them so the pina he is running is likely to be exactly the same geometry as his old spesh anyway.

cav is good but he is not the team owner. as people have rightly posted the most likely reason they will take spesh is the 6 million reasons not a desire to ride them.

money talks

personally think manufacturers should be restricted like formula one engine supply.

i dont want to see the entire peleton on one brand.

Vespa have been secretly working on a one-off for Wiggo but the UCI didn't like all the mirrors.

Love the idea of a Pinarello/Specialized hybrid. Pinalized? Speciarello?

Can't believe it'll make much difference though.

Neither Condor nor Dolan have the muscle to supply at that level. Look at Merckx, they simply dropped out as it was too big a strain and thats on a Company owned by Pinarello. The big S simply has the wonga and luckily make pretty good bikes as results seem to prove so far.

whilst we at suggesting British bikes for SKY how about Moultons they would look and do great in the team time trail. For the marginal gain geeks there less aerodynamic drag from the smaller wheels and better cornering on descents what's not to like about them. AH! bugger just remembered the UCI banned them.

Oh well back to riding Specialized and 6 million euros in the bank!

Behind the scenes some would say that Cav never stopped training on SWorks so it's hardly a surprise. I'd lIke to see a British manufacturer stepping up to that level - but it's either more than some UK manufacturers could achieve and/or more than others would find necessary for future success. Condor have a good thing going with Rapha and Sharp: with their Brit development squad why double the hassle for double the cash if you don't need the cash? Dolan supply Sean Kelly's AnPost but don't need the extra exposure of Grand Tour status either.

Specialized have done brilliantly with OPQS, with Tom Boonen dominating the early Classics using both the Tarmac and Venge and then using the new Roubaix to win Paris-Roubaix.

Now if they add in Bradley on a Shiv and Cav stomping everyone on a McLaren Venge then that's pretty much everything covered in Road Racing.

Next, Chris Hoy on a Langster...

Big Spesh fanboy here, so I'm delighted. I'm sure it'll be an advantage for the team too; Spesh certainly have more than a bit of the Midas touch about them!

i'm a mamil (currently lycra formally leather...), I ride a plant-x and wear endura!,
doesn't strain that much - honest!. So I won't be offended when team sky change bikes. Stereo typing aside...
... Money talks, also - its a compliment and a reward for success this year. No doubt
we'll see a hoard of sky replicas in the specialized concept stores shortly, funny that.

Condors, Dolans, Raleighs, Boardmans, Enigmas (first pro team to use Ti, that would be cool), Falcons, Pashleys, Pinnacles, Planet X's, Ribble, Qoros.

ANYTHING BRITISH PLEASE MR. BRAILSFORD!!

oh god, more saturation of specialized. i used to like them but they are now like man utd fans, your never more than 5 metres away from an over priced specialized.

i agree with raleigh, get em on condors

Not surprised. Cav obviously wanted this and the money isn't exactly a reason to turn it down.

Wiggins on the P5.

Mmmm

maybe missing the point but Wiggo on a Shiv. Also, when Saxo Bank become a Pro-Conti team next year can you seriously say that Specialized will be throwing gear at them???
So that'll be Astana & Saxo Bank off the roster...

At least it's not bleedin Trek

I guess they'll do a Sora equipped Allez in Sky colours and call it a replica

No one will care, except the fat Mamils who have spent their bonuses on a Pina to go with their straining Assos

Congratulations, someone get PedalPowerDC a medal.

I recall predicting this very change on a thread when Cav signed with Sky. -The oracle has spoken.

Yeah, but it's all about how much revenue the bike manufacturers make.

That's why 'The big S' where annoyed.

surely for the top pros it shouldnt matter that much what they ride as they all probably weigh the same