Specialized Turbo Creo, quite a machine

[gzoom]

So I was lucky enough to pick up my brand new Specialized Turbo Creo on Xmas eve (a treat to my self as a 40th/mid-life crisis present). I've been commuting to work on my Fazua powered Boardman for coming up to 3 years so. Initially I had set my sights on a Trek Domane LT+ running the same Fazua power train to complement the Boardman but life is unpredictable, and when an offer on the Creo came up just before Xmas, it was too good a 'deal' not to pass on.

Initial impressions on picking up is the amazing build quality versus the Boardman.

I've now done about 50 miles on the Creo, taking in on my normal local route, and I cannot find any thing to complain about with the Creo.

Its responsive, quick up the hills, keeps speed on the flat much better than the Boardman when out of assistance.

I used 25% charge to do 20 miles with just over 1000ft of climbing. Given the near zero temps which usually limits battery performance, in the summer 100 miles from a charge should be possible.

When it comes to hills, the Creo absolutely anhilaites them, with the option to add an external battery, this is a fantastic bike!!

 

[Cycleops]

Anything with 'Turbo' in the name has got to be good 🙂

 

[Spiderweb]

Anything with 'Turbo' in the name has got to be good 🙂

Yes, I remember back in the late 80’s putting a ‘Turbo’ sticker on my Mk1 1200e Astra and it went like shoot off a stick!

 

[bonzobanana]

That's a lot of proprietary parts, seems like a bike that will be very expensive to maintain and only have a relatively short life. I'm always curious how much people have to spend on such bikes as the years pass. Someone who had the Specialized suspension stem on their normal road bike had issues getting replacement parts which meant the bike was off the road and when he complained about it Specialized got his youtube channel removed. The only Specialized bike I've ever owned was the Specialized Sirrus and that was when the Sirrus was a road bike nowadays they use the name for hybrids only I think. Still its an amazing looking machine but I always worry about the proprietary nature of such products.

 

[biggs682]

(a treat to my self as a 40th/mid-life crisis present).

Pretty sure I treated myself to some boxers instead of my normal Y fronts for my 40th and who knows what I will do when I have a midlife crisis

 

[richtea]

So I was lucky enough to pick up my brand new Specialized Turbo Creo on Xmas eve ...

Love the accidental Squeeze reference in the ride directions.

Does it have mudguard mounting points? With a gravel groupset I'd hope so, but I couldn't see anything.
Very tidy, very expensive, very nice!

 

[gzoom]

Does it have mudguard mounting points? With a gravel groupset I'd hope so, but I couldn't see anything.
Very tidy, very expensive, very nice!

Yes it does, even have mounts for panniers....

#

I'm in two minds about mounting guards + panniers, as the bike rides so beautifully as it is. However on the commute to work today its hard to see going back to using the Boardman. The bike just feels so much more lively and the road 'buzz' from a good frame is very nice to have back.

Interms of motor support its also very nice, totally unintrusive. Allows me to get to work with a very comfortable amount of work. Lovely machine. I'll keep it 'naked' for another week or so, might take the Boardman next few days for a comparsion, but honestly feels like a crime not to use the Creo when ever I can .

 

[fossyant]

What the heck are those pedals doing on a road bike ? PS you'll soon get hissed off with wet feet and bum commuting without guards. You might not get a sweat on but you'll get wet.

Looks good, just bin the carbuncle pedals.

Is it more a gravel bike - espeially with 1x and a huge cassette.

 

[harlechjoe]

I've been riding the same make and model with front and rear mudguards and love it - steep hills and headwinds are cycled with ease. A few weeks ago I needed to take the front wheel off and discovered what I thought was a quick release skewer was actually a snazzy spanner that unwinds a through bolt. My wife then told me off for not reading the manual - Bon Velo !

 

[gzoom]

I've been riding the same make and model with front and rear mudguards and love it

What mudguards are you using?

 

[gzoom]

What the heck are those pedals doing on a road bike ?

Its what 3500 miles of inner city commuting does to pedals Have some SPDs ordered, but haven't had time to pick up.

 

[fossyant]

Its what 3500 miles of inner city commuting does to pedals Have some SPDs ordered, but haven't had time to pick up.

Get those pedals off it. Needs XT SPD's or else.

 

[harlechjoe]

What mudguards are you using?

Lightweight full length SKS mudguards and also replaced the saddle with the Brooks Cadmium I had been using on my old bike.

 

[gzoom]

@fossyant Does this make you happy

Not enough time today to ride any bikes today apart from a quick check of the new pedals. Cannot complain too much tough, having to choose from these two options for either commute or just fun

 

[Dadam]

Nice bike! I assume the motor is proprietary to Specialized? How does it compare to the Fazua system and have you tried a bike with the Mahle system? I got an Orbea Gain (Mahle system) on the cycle scheme in November, but had been looking at the Fazua bikes from Boardman and Vitus. I couldn’t get a Boardman anyway as they’re exclusive to Halfords who have their own scheme so aren’t available on my employer’s scheme.

I love the Gain but you do need to put some effort in especially on the steeper hills. I’ve not tried a crank motor yet but I’m tempted to get a crank drive gravel or hybrid for next winter commuting and have the Orbea for a pure summer bike.