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Specialized Santa Cruz Experience Center
415 River St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States
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Specialized Santa Cruz Experience Center

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Ma
Review №1

What a brilliant concept...provide high quality bikes to demo and have well educated, enthusiastic, and nice customer service personnel to educate and share the stoke with customers! I love this place, the concept, the bikes, the experience and most importantly, the crew that runs the place. They are great on the phone and in person! Ive rented 3x and am buying way more bike than I originally planned. I got to try out several and the team helped me understand and test the differences. Fantastic experience for me and the dozen plus others I have taken in to demo bikes. I am now only a Specialized guy. The team in the shop are fabulous!!!

J
Review №2

Rented specialized diverge for 4 hours, 65 dollars. Good bikes, great ride.

An
Review №3

About as easy as it gets! Reserve online, show up and be greeted by an expert to get you dialed in on your rental bike. Thorough walkthrough, help with local trail knowledge, and a seamless check in experience when you get back. Can’t wait to come ride again!

Ci
Review №4

The saddle fitting and trial service is fantastic. Having a comfortable saddle is crucial if you ride a lot, and Ive been experiencing pain while riding lately. Most shops have no idea how to help you determine the right fit or recommended a saddle thatll meet your needs, so I was thrilled that Chad at the Specialized Experience Center was so knowledgeable and helpful. They have a machine to measure where your sit bones hit the saddle, which determines the right size seat for you. Then they get you on a bike to see how tilted the pelvis is when you ride, and ask what kinds of rides you do and preferred distances. Based on all these points of info, they recommend the right saddle for you and let you take it out on loan. The saddle Chad recommended for me is absolutely perfect for me - I rode three days in a row and had no pain whatsoever. He solved my issues and now I have a fabulous new saddle thatll allow me to increase the number of rides I do each week. Really fantastic service!

An
Review №5

Awesome demo experience! The staff were great; very knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. The demo center is well set up and managed, the bike was well-maintained and a fabulous ride. I really enjoyed the process and appreciate the time taken to answer my post-ride questions and talk bikes. The whole experience exceeded my expectations and the bike reignited my love for mountain biking.I’m looking forward to my new Evo!

st
Review №6

The Specialized Santa Cruz Experience is an incredible place and Chad and Ezra were very helpful, knowledgeable and passionate about bikes. I feel very fortunate to have such a resource in my back yard. So many beautiful Specialized bikes are available for a good time in the hills of Santa Cruz. Chad went above and beyond in helping me set up the bikes that I tested to my preference. With his expertise I was able to get the fit correct on both bikes I tested by bringing my personal bike of similar purpose that already had a good fit. I’ve been around bikes for a long time and I honestly couldn’t ask for more. Both sizes (medium and large) of the S-Works Epic Evo I tested were fully ready to rip. Being between sizes on the charts, this really allowed me to focus on the characteristics of each size of this bike so I could choose the one that would best suit my purposes. This is obviously a big chunk of change to throw down when buying a bike so I wanted to have as much information as possible. If I move forward with this purchase it will in large part be due to the service I experienced at this location.

Je
Review №7

The Santa Cruz Specialized Demo Center is so much fun!!! The employees ensure you are going to have a good time by not only fitting your ride on crazy good bikes but also helping choose trails to ensure the most out of your day. Its a super chill facility that is really fun to hang out after your ride and talk bikes. Complimentary drinks and fold out bar stools set a great atmosphere in the demo center. The employees are so personable and care about your whole day there--the whole experience. This was one of the funnest days this summer for myself and my son; I highly recommend the Specialized Demo Center--the employees, bikes, and facility are all top notch. From an avid MTB riders perspective, the Specialized Demo Center absolutely provides the fun-factor experience--5 Stars all the way!

Gl
Review №8

Im in the market for a new mountain bike and really appreciate the Experience center, especially now with no one doing demos. Being able to work my way through the Specialized line with extremely knowledgeable staff near by to answer questions has really helped me zero in my next dream ride. With Sea Otter, and all other races cancelled last year bike travel was sorely missed. Chad and the rest of the crew give me a Downieville experience, every time.

Je
Review №9

Love this place. I’ve been going here since they opened. Prices to rent have gone up but that’s expected, since the sport has exploded in the past year. Besides, when I think of all the things I’ve spent 65 dollars on (food, gas, etc) I realize it’s money well spent. This place is my go to for introducing friends to the trails. And also when I’m trying to decide between models of a bike I want to purchase in the future.

Jo
Review №10

Great experience renting a bike here. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and go out of their way to make sure you have a great experience. Our family will definitely be renting bikes from here again and we will be telling others about it as well.

Mi
Review №11

Amazing bikes, nice and experienced staff.Will definitely rent another bike soon.

Go
Review №12

Wanted to rent electric mountain bikes in Santa Cruz on short notice and lucked out with this place. It was super easy to rent a bike (assuming there was availability) and it was also very well priced given the amazing bikes we got to ride. All the employees were super nice, but we were mainly helped by Ezra and he is the MAN. Ezra was super friendly and helpful, giving us great tips and answering all of our questions. He truly made our day and he deserves a promotion!!! Amazing experience overall and we’ll definitely be back soon!

Gl
Review №13

I rented bikes yesterday for myself and a friend. Ben set us up with a trail, two locks and even a bag to store our things in for the trip. It was a beautiful day and a great ride. When we returned drinks and recomendations to a nearby restaurant awaited us. Nice customer service and choice of bikes, we will be back again!!!

Cr
Review №14

Fantastic team. I needed help with a bike I ordered at another shop and they went out of their way to get information about the order and resolve the problem. I demo-ed a bike from their and it rode the local trails. Great experience and can’t recommend this shop enough!

Pa
Review №15

So good that came back a second time in a week. The experience itself was great in Wilder Ranch, but Brendan was very helpful, friendly and accommodating. Ill definitely be back in the future whether that be for a chat or a third experience. Cheers!

Br
Review №16

We have demo’d three times from this place and everyone at specialized experience is so passionate and knowledgeable. Along with there great customer service our experience has been nothing but positive. If you want to go to a place with no pressure and just gain knowledge of the right bike for yourself and riding style this is the place to go. Chad and Brendan are awesome but actually everyone is really helpful I just can’t remember there names specialized is really lucky to have this team

el
Review №17

Awesome experience. Got to ride Ucsc trails and Wilder Ranch trails that are really close by. Staff was very attentive. Even gave us beers after our ride.

Ma
Review №18

Bikes and beer, in that order. Awesome! What a great idea, test drive the latest and greatest offerings from specialized bikes. Then enjoy a cold one on the house when your done. The staff really knows the products and can answer any questions not just from some brochure, with actual experience on each bike.

Ja
Review №19

Rented their newest best electric mountain bikes... Super fun, great service, awesome day! Bikes are amazing. 👍👍

St
Review №20

The whole experience was outstanding. I will not only be back but I will be recommending this place to everyone I speak to. Everyone was great with great attitudes. Very professional and pandemic conscious. Everyone wore masks and made the experience a very pleasurable and memorable one. Brenden was the rep that helped me. He was very knowledgeable about the bikes and the trails. He had some great suggestions about trails to ride. I will be back to demo some more bikes. Overall it was a great day and a great product.

Pa
Review №21

The guys at Santa Cruz Experience not only hooked me up with a great bike, they also went out of their way to accommodate a ridiculous scheduling request on my part. Thank you fellas! I Highly recommend this shop if youre looking to demo a sweet bike in Santa Cruz.

Ma
Review №22

Awesome experience! Making a short trip to Santa Cruz and wanted to ride. I was able to try a new Epic. I grabbed it for 24 hours and got two great rides in. Ezra was great and took care of me. I definitely recommend stopping by.

Sp
Review №23

Easy reservation system with receipts and email updates. Great fast service when we picked up the bike and a free nice cold drink when we dropped it off.

La
Review №24

So happy with my experience picking out a new saddle! Super knowledgeable, helpful and friendly staff that helped me pick the perfect fit. Beyond the conversation, testing and sizing of the saddle specifically they helped me find a better fit on my bike overall, which has really increased my capabilities and enjoyment out on the trails.

Da
Review №25

We rented trail bikes here, and the service was exceptional. They custom adjusted the bikes to ensure they performed optimally for our size. We rode the nearby mountain which had lots of hairpin turns, tree roots and rocks and the bikes totally handled it even at fast speeds. Didnt fall once. Highly recommended if you wish to ride SC over the weekend.

Va
Review №26

Everything was so well organized and easy. We had a great ride and afternoon. Would highly recommend for all riding levels!

Lu
Review №27

This place provided a fantastic experience for the group we went with. We ended up having a portion of our group show up 2 hours late to return the bikes, and Chad (managing the shop) hung back with us waiting for the rest of the group to return. He was a very chill guy and super cool about it as were the rest of the crew there. Super solid customer service right there!

Da
Review №28

Jay and Chad.... aka the purveyors of stoke will get you dialed and ready to roll for an epic ride day! If youre looking for an exceptional cycling experience and want to ride some of the best bikes on the planet.....look no further than the Specialized Santa Cruz Experience Center! Perfectly located near downtown and just a short spin to some of the best singletrack Santa Cruz has to offer

Ch
Review №29

Had a fantastic experience. Not only did they set me up with a bike but they gave me great suggestions for where to ride.

Dy
Review №30

This place is so rad! A friend of mine told me to check it out while in the area..So when I was up there to ride I did.Not one do they have all the newest Specialized bikes and gear to demo the staff is super friendly and helpful.Brendan shared some killer local trail with us, and helped us determine the proper seat sizing for our existing bikes via the Retul fit measure. He even loaned us a seat to try.He suggested we rent an Range exdender battery to try for my Levo SL. its something I never planned on purchasing. After using it ive decided toby one. This place is a dont miss if youre in santa cruz to ride! The only bummer is there isnt a specialized experience center in Southern California !

T
Review №31

What an amazing way to help you deicide on the right bike. If this were buying a car, was like shopping for a car with the product experts, then getting to take the car(s) out for a test drive and comparison. This was a great opportunity to find and experience the subtle differences between the bikes and get to making the right choice quickly. Ezra and Chad were amazing, great product knowledge, friendly service!

Za
Review №32

Great shop genuinely interested in setting you up for a great ride. Customer focused and went the extra mile for our group to accommodate our needs! Friendly staff - easy to talk with as either an experienced or unexperienced rider. They focused on our ride and making sure it was one to remember!

Ro
Review №33

Brandon and Chad we’re unbelievably helpful and really knowledgeable about their products. They cared about my demo experience and were supportive about helping me find what I wanted. I can’t recommend them, and this location, highly enough. Excellent experience!

Ch
Review №34

So much sweeter than just renting an mtb. You get top shelf bikes to ride in a low stress environment... they even provided us some tasty post ride refreshments. 5 effing 🌟 girls!P.S. there is a microbrewery right around the corner. Just sayin......

Jo
Review №35

Hi iam J 👍🏾 store is in fact a welcome family store since I walk in super helpful people is my second time renting a ebike there and I will say I dont need to look for other rental store in santacruz

Bo
Review №36

Folks at the shop are super accommodating and know their stuff. Refreshments at the end was a nice bonus to the end of our ride. Great experience! 🚵

An
Review №37

This experience center is pretty amazing. TLDR: I rented a bicycle from the team and was sold on the experience offered by the team; the experience helped inform my decision to purchase a new E-MTB from Specialized at a local dealer.In a little more detail, I rented a Kenevo SL from the crew. They had it charged up for me and ready to go when I arrived at the shop when it opened. They carefully explained how to use the controls of the bike and they also dialed in the suspension for my weight and riding style before I took off. They even encouraged me to rip the bike down some staircases to get a feel for how it handled before sending me on my way.I had a fantastic riding experience. The bike was flawless and I could write a separate review on that alone, but suffice to say that the bike was well maintained / set-up.When I got back to the experience center, I was greeted warmly and we had a nice chat about the bike and how it handled on various terrain. They offered me some nice electrolyte-filled beverages to help recover from a strenuous ride. It truly was quite the Experience, as advertised in the name of the business.I wouldnt hesitate to go back again and rent another bicycle. Either for fun, or to help inform a purchase decision. This Experience Center is an absolutely fantastic way to get people on bikes they wouldnt get a chance to ride otherwise. Thank you to the local team for putting on a great experience, and to Specialized for offering this type of shop in the first place. Truly unique.

G
Review №38

Had a free day while the girls shopped and rented a Levo. Convenient, easy to trails, great personal service and advice. Definitely an easy day and good value. Ezra took great care of me.

No
Review №39

The bikes are just incredible as is the staff. I highly recommend renting a bike here and enjoying the beautiful mountains or the coast. It just doesnt get any better.

Gr
Review №40

If you want a great day riding Santa Cruz. check out these folks at Specialized and pay them money for a demo ride. Its worth every last penny! trust me. -The breeze-

An
Review №41

They let me ride a $10k bike for the day for just $100 and helped set it up. This is one of the very few places to test a mountain bike in the bay area these days. Staff were knowledgeable about the bikes and friendly. Would definitely test another bike in the future here and recommend to my friends.

Al
Review №42

Easily the best place to demo bikes in the Santa Cruz area. Great selection of high end bikes, knowledgeable and friendly staff.

Do
Review №43

Awesome place. Great people. Great service. No better place to see, feel and try their products. I’ll be back.

Br
Review №44

We were visiting from Santa Rosa and decided to rent some electric bicycles that they have. Not only were the bikes a blast to ride, but the staff was amazing. We were greeted when we arrived and they brought the bikes up for us, showed us how to work the bikes, got us helmets, and we were on our way. I HIGHLY suggest coming here to rent or even buy. The staff was highly knowledgeable and when I’m ready for my our bike, I’ll make the drive just based on my experience here. Very friendly, knowledgeable, and reasonably priced. This is the best way to explore the city without it feeing like a grueling workout with the electrically assisted bicycles. Thanks again for such a memorable experience and answering all my questions about the different bikes! Will be coming here again.

Ma
Review №45

Had a great ride on a fantastic bike. All the employees were friendly and enthusiastic. All in all, a great experience.

Fa
Review №46

Came in to the store to rent a bike for a few hours and had a great experience. Friendly staff and great service. Will definitely be back!!

Jo
Review №47

We test rode the Levo and Levo SL all day on the Wilder Ranch trails & Emma McCrary trails. The crew at Specialized Experience was very accommodating and the shop dog was very lovable! Thank you for a great experience and thank you Bike Therapy in Morgan Hill for comping the experience!

Ry
Review №48

This is a great place to try before you buy. The guys were super helpful with my setup and were flexible with me returning a little after 5pm due to traffic and rushing down the hill to meet the cutoff.My bike was the StumpJumper Comp. very nice bike for my level of riding.

ju
Review №49

Wow. What an experience. I cannot thank the specialized experience center and the wonderful folks that work there enough. The level of knowledge and detail that is demonstrated combined with the most professional customer service skills are by far incomparable to any other bike shop I’ve ever been to. Thank you to Chad Kriz who not only explained everything I needed to know about mountain bikes (I had no previous experience) and took time out of his busy day to take me on a trail and show me the ropes so I wouldn’t hurt myself, but who also spent 6 hours on the phone trying to locate a store that had the bike I wanted in stock. He didn’t have to do that, but he did, because he is obviously fiercely dedicated to his customers. and their experience. Now I have the sickest stumpy ever and it’s all thanks to this upstanding employee!! Thank you, Chad! I also want to thank Clay who went above and beyond when my bike wasn’t shifting correctly. He took time to not only wash my bike down (learned the hard way you have to wash your bike every so often:/) but also explained exactly what was happening and went above and beyond to make sure my bike was working properly. Thank you, Clay! Both Chad and Clay have put in the time to help me understand how to take care of my bike and helped answer any questions I had in a non judge mental way. I can’t thank them enough and will 10/10 be recommending the experience center to anyone and everyone in the market for a bike. THANK YOU!!

ji
Review №50

I was interested in doing a demo ride on the Specialized Levo SL Expert ebike. I called the experience center to get details on reserving a bike. Jay answered the phone and filled me in on the process. He also gave me a detailed review of the bike I planned to ride. Picking up the bike was a quick and painless experience. The bike suspension and seat height was correctly set up for me and Jay went over the recharging process. Returning the bike was just as easy. Chad asked me about my ride experience and showed me the new 2021 model and covered the positive enhancements Specialized had made the the Expert model. He also related his personal experiences with this bike as he had just recently rode it himself. By the time I got home I had an email from Clay thanking me for coming in and provided links with the bike specs and also how to order one online. He also offered to help me find shops in my area that have the model in stock. What a great experience. The people at the shop are definitely riders and are very customer focused. You should definitely check this place out if you want to demo a Specialized road or mountain bike...you won’t regret it.

Sc
Review №51

Rented 4 COMO E-bikes over the holiday weekend and had a fantastic time. The bikes were a PERFECT to cruise around the city - the assist allows you to adjust workload at various levels. Chad and the staff at the center were super helpful in getting us lined up on short notice, super friendly and very knowledgeable. Chad was also able to give provide some info on my Rockhopper that I ride back home as well. Greatly appreciate the info and great experience!

Er
Review №52

Went in to demo a bike and had the best experience. Chad and Clay are very knowledgeable and sweet! They answered all my questions, taught me everything I needed to know and gave me recommendations on the bikes. They also helped my friend and made sure we would have a safe and fun time riding. I continue to go back because the bikes are rad and the service and atmosphere is the best! Highly recommended 🙌

Gi
Review №53

If google allowed 10 stars we would try to leave 11! Chad and The team was super nice, accommodating and set us up with 5 bikes for the day and some amazing single tracks. We where a mix of a couple first timers and a few more experienced people, but with the electric bikes everyone could keep up. Highly recommend making a day out of this place. Also going to try and buy a bike this week through them.

Ki
Review №54

If your gonna drop some coin on a new mtn bike, I highly recommend going to Specialized Santa Cruz Experience first. Brandin, Chad, and the dude with the British voice were great. Set my bike up prior to showing up and even called to make sure I was coming. I was hesitant at first but no Hard sales with these guys. They actually didnt talk bad about competitors bikes and were super knowledgeable about all bikes that I had been thinking of purchasing. I have been riding in them there hills of Santa cruz since 1985. got my first Tom Richie back then, then got the stump jumper one of the first generations designed by my fathers good friend Tim Neenan who built a few road bikes for my old man. under his brand name Lighthouse. Once I got hooked I got a full suspension Gary Fisher. then about 4 years ago went back to a Camber which I purchased for 4 grand and sold for 3 after 4 years of riding. It held its value. Getting Older, I didnt want to give up yet and I was told to try out an Ebike. I have been looking and test riding in parking lots for months. Coming here was a game changer. You can take the bikes out for a long ride. they set them up for your height and Weight. When I was finished, they found the bike I wanted at the bike shop I had visited and boom. Done. Go see them if your serious.

Io
Review №55

Awesome service from Chad. Spontaneously walked in with my dad and was welcomed by great recommendations and great equipment. Seriously! You will not find service and great gear at such a reasonable price. If you are in Santa Cruz and even have tiny interest in bicycles or bike riding you will not regret stopping by. Did I mention free beers after the ride???

th
Review №56

Awesome experience the staff is super friendly well organized very helpful. Really couldnt ask for anything better. And the bikes are super fun too!

J
Review №57

The four of us came down and rented some Ebikes to check out and it was so worth it. $65 for four hours. The set the bike up for your specific body type and you can feel it during the ride. Anyone in the market should definitely come down and ride one.

Br
Review №58

Great ebikes and great people

Na
Review №59

I made an appointment to ride a Specialized e-bike and although I arrived early the pro staff had me set up and ready to go right away. Clay set me up with a bike that was dialed, it fit like a glove and he ran me through the bikes set up, adjusted my suspension and I was out riding trails 10 minutes later. The professionals at this location were great and I can’t wait for the next Specialized Experience. I highly recommend that everyone experience the stoke for themselves. Thank you everyone at the Specialized Experience for your knowledge, professionalism and great energy.

Mi
Review №60

Just a great group of associates that assisted me in having a awesome riding experience

mo
Review №61

We had a great time renting e-bikes for the day and riding around the trails in Santa Cruz. It was a great value and when we were done, we could turn in the bikes in they took care of everything.

Ja
Review №62

Staff is super helpful. Im getting back into riding after a 5+ year layoff. Chad got me setup up on a sweet enduro. The bike he got me on feels way more confidence inspiring than any bike Ive ridden before even though the bars a wider than my aunt Dolores waist after a family dinner. It eats rocks like she polishes off corn on the cob. They need to change the name to the great experience center

An
Review №63

The crew at this shop is top notch! Pricing is unbeatable and the customer service is the best I have ever experienced. Rented 10 e-bikes and the process was seamless. If you are looking into getting a specialized, this is the place to go!

Br
Review №64

This shop is a brilliant concept! The location is perfect and the staff is amazing. Chad went above and beyond, answering tons of questions and taking time to learn about my history as a rider. I decided to Demo the Levo Turbo and I cannot even begin to describe how much of a game-changer this bike is! Instead of dreading uphills, I found myself charging ahead looking for the next climb. Thank you for all of your help, I will definitely be coming back.

Ad
Review №65

Excellent service, great experience on this place, for sure i will come back and recomend this place to all my friends, West and Zid are very professional and they gave me a great service.

Vi
Review №66

Friendly service and a great bike.

sl
Review №67

Great place and very helpful and friendly workers

se
Review №68

West and zid are awesome, great experience awesome staff, super easy no BS. Thank you guys

Al
Review №69

Love this place. Staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Make sure to have a reservation.

St
Review №70

A really great place to find out whether a Specialized bike is right for you by taking one out for a few hours instead of just a test ride around town. Chad and Cray work for Specialized so they really know their products, they are ambassadors rather than salespeople. Roomy, comfy, welcoming place for a relaxed conversation about bikes.

mo
Review №71

Clay and Chad were super helpful in answering our questions and making sure we were comfortably setup on our eBikes. Fun rides! I highly recommend the experience here.

Ju
Review №72

Excellent service and amazing bikes! Shout out to Cognition Cycles for the referral I had a blast and will probably get an EVO Sttumpjumper! Super Plush

Wi
Review №73

Absolutely awesome experience! This place is genius in terms of marketing. To be honest I had no plans on purchasing a bike from Specialized. There were two other brands that I had my eye on. After hearing about the demo shop on River St. I decided to give it a try. Chad and his team made this a very comfortable and enjoyable experience. So much that I returned multiple times to try different bikes. They are extremely knowledgeable and more than happy to take the time to share that knowledge with their customers. Long story short I ended up purchasing a Levo SL Expert because of this shop. Awesome place! I still plan to demo bikes there regardless of my recent purchase.

An
Review №74

So, let’s start with the experience. As soon as you walk in the door, it’s amazing, excellent and friendly staff will answer any and all questions you have. Chad was incredible, I wanted to try out the new Enduro, he and Jules took care of everything. Had the bike set up for my weight in the blink of an eye.Now, let’s talk about the enduro! What a bike! Usually I tend To ride around the rocks and bumps, but this thing glided over all of them, it was tough to give it back. I will definitely be buying one as soon as possible. Specialized, you did an amazing job with designing this bike.

Br
Review №75

Chad and crew really went above and beyond. They treated me like I was part of their crew and answered any questions I had about their lineup of bikes. When I figure out which bike I wanted to purchase he not only located one from a local retailer for me, but also gave me some beta on setup as I was getting the bike from the shop. Really cant thank them enough!

Li
Review №76

Everyone at the shop is helpful, kind and very knowledgeable!

Da
Review №77

Chad was very helpful with both the demo rides, and tracking down the bike that I wanted to buy afterward. Great experience overall!

Hr
Review №78

Got to try the specialized diverge expert and it was an amazing experience. Definitely recommend it.

Sh
Review №79

Great service! AMAZING experience. Havent rode a bike in 20 years and tried the eBike. BLOWN AWAY. I can get the full experience while not over exerting myself. Cruise control for bikes in Santa Cruz :) I will return!

Ti
Review №80

Great setup

Ca
Review №81

Demo-ed the S-Works Turbo Levo. The new Specialized Experience Center is next to Patagonia on River st. near the Golf Course Dr. trailhead to Emma McCrary in Santa Cruz, so after a ride I dropped by the day before my reservation. I was impressed by the design of the place: open space, wood, many bikes on display. Chad was wearing a mask and invited me in to pre-pay and get the seatpost height and suspension dialed in so I wouldnt have to wait during my precious 4 hours I would have the bike the next morning.I arrived a few minutes before the place opened--though probably this is more important on a weekend as it wasnt crowded--and after a quick tutorial in the parking lot of the e-Bike controls I was off. Across the street and down one block is access to the bike path on the levy of the San Lorenzo, and the trailhead is less than 5 minute ride away. The 410% boost mode was frankly more than I needed, so I only used eco and the middle setting on the way up.The first thing I noticed was that, unlike other e-bikes I have ridden the S-works Turbo did not continue to provide power for a bit after I stopped pedalling. This had made me surge before I had come out of a turn, and overshoot a stop, in the past--but this new tech is so responsive I could do slow technical root stair climbs, which required stopping and pivoting, or clocking my pedals to avoid a pedal strike, and the bike stayed just wear I meant it to be. In fact, for a DH MTB weighing in the upper 40s (and I am over 200 lbs) I couldnt believe how nimble and well-balanced it was when coming almost to a complete stop to get the bars between trees, or to hop onto a different better descent angle at a switchback on the steep trails down from upper UC. Chad said that the battery was inside the lower part of the downtube, right in front of the motor, so their weight is below axle giving the S-works a planted sure-footed feel, especially when negotiating slow techy stuff.The Turbo Levo ALSO excels at speed, particularly on descents, so I found myself increasingly confident and returning to downhill runs I had not taken in a couple years. The suspension removes all the break ruts on flowy berms and, perhaps because I am also heavy, seemed to follow me better in jumps so without thinking about it I never feared that I would lose my footing on a flat in mid-air. I discovered the main use for the Power Boost mode during a long fire road climb back up to the top of a run: it turned a 25 minute workout into a 10 minute joy ride, where you could get air uphill and had to consider a line at speed on corners. So fun!My own mountain bike is a lighter taller closer to xc bike and I am going to try to the Turbo Levo SL on my next demo, as I probably dont need the power, if I am only using it to fly uphill. My impression was that eco was like the middle setting on other bikes I had ridden, and middle was like boost. All the power you could ever want from an e-bike...but dont think you cant get a workout. I rode straight the whole 4 hours and looped 3 different downhill runs, plus all the small techy stuff in between. If you ascend 4K ft and go over 30 miles you will be plenty sweaty and panting afterwards and sore the next day. Instead of coasting, the beast drives you to just hit everything that much harder.

Am
Review №82

Awesome day !!!

Information
69 Photos
82 Comments
5 Rating
  • Address:415 River St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States
  • Site:https://specializedsantacruz.com/
  • Phone:+1 831-331-4827
Categories
  • Bicycle rental service
Working hours
  • Monday:10am–5pm
  • Tuesday:10am–5pm
  • Wednesday:Closed
  • Thursday:Closed
  • Friday:10am–5pm
  • Saturday:10am–5pm
  • Sunday:10am–5pm
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