Specialized 1-2 at the Tour this year! Contador and Schleck, now that is a smart move by Specialized, and SRAM are taking over the compnents market when it comes to getting podiums at big races, or the whole podium in the case of the Tour.

Whether this is a smart move rather depends on the buying public's perception of the rider and the team. I'm not convinced that Specialized have made a wise decision in being associated with a team likely to contain a rider linked to the Fuentes case, and the bad publicity that appears to have stuck to Astana over the past few years. Time will tell whether they benefit in terms of sales. I suspect that they will live regret the decision, financially. They should have tried harder to get in with the Sky UK team which is likely to be the better brand to be associated with as it should help boost the Sky bike supplier's UK market share by quite a larger percentage (IMHO ... as they say!).

Its been reported in Belgium that Contador has signed for an extra two years with Astana,and Vinokourov quoted as saying that his intended target for 2010 is the Giro while Alberto will be going all out to win the Tour with my help

Thing is though, if Contador is not on drugs (doesn't get caught etc) then Specialized can advertise their arses off that they have the best riders riding their frames (Quickstep, Saxo Bank and Astana, Contador, Schleck, Schleck, Cancellara, Boonen, Devolder, Voigt, Basso and Fulgsang) and will have the top spots on the Tour podium (i can imagine the magazine spread now). If Contador does get caught out then nobody is going to blame Specialized and they just don't mention it, it never even occurs to anyone...Win, win.

Also, it was always going to be either Trek or Pinarello for the Sky sponsorship deal anyway.

More baskets for the eggs

I guess it's true that big companies tend to think that "all publicity is good publicity", but for me, it's more important to have a good, long term reputation, as the risk of becoming linked to "dodgy" riders can have unimagined consequences in the long run. Telecom are I believe, finding this out now, as their brand identity is tarnished by events over the past few years! Just as the public are no longer prepared to tolerate their MPs feeding freely from the trough of taxpayer funded expenses, so the tide is turning against anyone with a hint of dubious behaviour in cycling. Still, Speciaized make a reasonably good range of bikes and hopefully they will use their own influence to help further the cause in fighting the drug cheats, even those riding their own bikes, as these guys will cost them dear if (WHEN) caught!

What type of brake calipers are on the s-works in the photo?

Although I acknowledge that Specialized make great bikes, and that they are probably doing more than anyone when it comes to R&D, I am thoroughly bored of seeing them. They're everywhere on club runs, and now dominating the pro peleton.

I like variety, it's the spice of life!

Specialized does manufacture fairly decent bikes (made in Taiwan) but in no way do they compare to Pinarello bikes. Though Pinarello's are made in part in Taiwan, their Prince and Dogma's are 100% Italian! I believe Pinarello bikes have won more ProTour races than any other brand including the TdF.