First blast out on the new S-Works Creo 2

 

Today was a local bedding in ride for the new bike. Yes I finished swapping over the parts that I wanted to swap and finished fitting the accessories yesterday on the bike so it was ready for its maiden voyage as they say. I set off from Sunderland Bridge for a short loop - Croxdale, Tudhoe Village, Spennymoor, Bishop Auckland, Brandon and back down to Sunderland Bridge. This loop takes in a couple of short road sections and two of County Durham's old railway lines. The lines were wet and muddy from the heavy overnight rain but some parts were drying out in the patchy sun. They wre not that busy and the weather was a right old mixed bag but kept dry. 

I am running the S-Works Creo 2 with 700c x 40mm tyres as I have fitted my Hunt wheels with 29" x 2.2" tyres on my other Creo 2 to save swapping around wheels sets. Not sure if I will keep the 700c x 47mm tyres on my spare Hunt wheel set or fit some road tyres and try them on the Creo 2. I have never used the 2 model fully on the road as I have my second Creo 1 built up just for the road. 

Below are a few snaps from the 20 mile loop in 1hr 30mins with 800ft of climbing. Enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

Fresh Goodies - Specialized S-Works Creo 2 2025/26, Gloss Carbon, 56cm

 

Well this come as a bit of a surprise to be honest but on the other hand not. I have always looked at the S-Works model every year Specialized release their new colours etc right the way back to when I bought my first Creo 1 six years ago. Specialized have dropped the rrp on the S-Works last year when they released two new colours by £1k. The first colour sold out in 56cm within a month or two then the after a good few months wait the Gloss Carbon colour was in stock in the UK. Now retailers that had old stock of the 23/24 Satin Forest Green and 24/25 Red to Purple Pearl Strata were all discounting. I hung on as I was not really after another Creo 2 and was going to wait until I retire and treat myself. Due to medical circumstances I decided to pull it forward and just as Specialized put this model in sale to sell off remining stock before the new 25/26 colours are released. There was a 56cm in stock at Leicester and two in the UK warehouse. I did a deal with Infinity Cycles at Meadowfield and mine was ordered. 9 days later it was delivered to store and built up and ready to rock n role. 

Creo 1 gravel - removed accessories or the S-Works

Swapped some parts onto my Creo 2 and fitted the 2.2" wheelset

Out of the box with inner tubes 

A few parts swapped and dropped 2lbs off the weight

Now Creo 2 with 29x2.2" tyres and a second with700cx40mm tyres 

More on this in an upcoming Fresh Goods Sunday blog after a few rides. 

A cold, muddy & wet loop to Birtley, Consett, Bearpark on the Creo 2

 

I did not get out yesterday as it was forecasted rain for 24 hours but it dried up mid morning so decided to give the bike a wash, dry, lube and charge up. I also degreased/cleaned the Ritchey spd pedals and adjusted the four tension adjusters. I also removed the axle end caps and inserted fresh grease. This is why I use Ritchey old school spd pedals, re grease them twice a year and they last for years. 

Anyway back to today, I woke up and it had stopped raining so hoped onto the bike and headed to Chester Le Street / Birtley on the cycle track / lane. I joined onto the C2C headed for Consett. This section was mainly mud free and quiet. At the crossroads I turned left and headed to to Baxster's Farm after Bearpark. There was long sections of mud, massive puddles and cold miserable slop. On the plus side the sun did try and  burn through and temperature shot up from 12 to 16 degrees. Then I hit the roads on the way back inc a sprint down Pity Me bypass. By now the bike was dirtier than what it was before I washed it yesterday, not to worry. Below are few snaps from the 35.5mile loop in 2hrs 31min with 1400ft of climbing. enjoy and hopefully more soon inc a Fresh Goodies Blog.