The all-new Rapide way to the finish line, the Rapide Cockpit puts aero gains in the clean air, where they matter most and shaves four watts off the already ultra-quick two piece Rapide Bar and Tarmac SL7 Stem. To deliver a leading edge that provides a winning edge takes more than pure aero. The Rapide Cockpit needs to be the fastest bar Specialized have ever made, with no compromises. It’s aero, light, stiff, and designed hand-in-hand with the best riders in the world and Retül fit experts so you can get a grip on victory.
Removing the cluster of hardware (where stem and handlebar connect) allowed Specialized to design the bar’s leading edge a single airfoil. This airfoil was optimised to provide a maximum advantage in clean air at speeds seen from long solo breakaways to full gas World Tour sprints. While a four watt improvement may seem small, it adds up to a 32cm lead over a 250m final sprint. When races are won by bike throws, this is a winning difference.
By removing the stem’s hardware cluster the Rapide Cockpit is 50g lighter (100mm x 420mm) than a two piece Rapide bar and Tarmac SL7 combo. Made from premium high-modulus carbon fibre, that delivers ideal stiffness for the biggest, fastest sprinters on the World Tour, the Rapide Cockpit has a higher stiffness-to-weight ratio than any two piece system Specialized have ever made.
The downside of one-piece cockpits has long been fit, but partnering with Retül fit professionals and the best riders in the world ensured almost every rider can find their fit. Specialized offer 15 different stem and bar combos, all at -6 degree, so Specialized have got your race day position covered. The radius from tops to drops has been sculpted for wrist clearance whether out of the saddle in a final sprint or tucked in an aero position, while bend and flare reflect the favourite Rapide bar.