Tarmac SL7 vs ENVE Melee- These bikes are SOOO Good!

[@user-nu5fx6en9h]

You can’t go wrong with any of this two bikes, both will perform really good with some minor differences. So depends on you which bike look you personally prefer 💨

[@mohamadjamil3164]

S works. Their problem is the bad warranty

[@outdoorbros_]

They’re both fantastic, but different- like a 918 vs P1. I’m glad they’re different and Enve took a different route.

[@cityofnosoul1922]

Awesome video. Very clear. Considering getting the melee as an all rounder bike. Can’t wait for your aethos vs melee input cuz im torn between the two!

[@tossemanden]

Great videos. A note: when speaking about the aesthetics of the bikes: Let the people see the bikes, nice and chilled. Keep the clips longer, more quiet and let people just enjoy the bikes. When using your iPhone and importing the clips into your timeline you need to change the gamut of these videos so that it matches the gamut of your project. Otherwise the highlights will be completely blown out. Change it to "rec 709". Really enjoy your videos!

[@outdoorbros_]

Thanks!

[@carlosb555]

Love the “Up Next” preview 👀

[@outdoorbros_]

🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

[@evanhunterblbier]

Another great review. As a open and admitted S fanboy, it just continues to show that the S group is just doing something different from the rest. Tons of good bikes out there but S continue to add those additional things that continue to push them ahead.

[@outdoorbros_]

Thank you! I think these are both awesome, big S or not. It’ll be interesting to see the new Tarmac next year.

[@MrIsaac-dh3uh]

YAY! You did the 35s on the Melee! Thank you. I'm not surprised that the Melee is twitchy on 30s given that 32mm+ is what it's aiming for. The bigger tires will take out some of that "playfulness." Thanks again!

[@outdoorbros_]

Unfortunately, I haven’t done 35’s on the Melee. I do agree on how the 32’s will change the playfulness- just wanted a normal-size tire for comparison purposes.

[@MrIsaac-dh3uh]

@@outdoorbros_ I thought @ 4:10 you were on light gravel w/35s.

[@outdoorbros_]

@@MrIsaac-dh3uh I didn’t say I was on 35’s. I said, “… throw a pair of 35’s on…” and then I cut to a shot of my riding the Melee on gravel.

[@onenotesolo256]

Hmmm…Need a bit more explanation of ‘playful’, please Chris. PS: SL7 owner here - agree with much of your recorded output on this bike (I love mine for the same reasons). Melee actually puts me in mind of my Aspero in terms of styling and N = 1 road/gravel potential.

[@outdoorbros_]

Hard to describe- snappy, quick, nimble, raw. Comparatively, the SL7 is super refined and well-mannered, similar to how I felt about the Aethos when comparing it to the SL7.

[@robertdevito8928]

Great video as always.. I am coming off the SL7 to the Melee (and have an Aethos) similar to you. I agree, the Melee certainly feels stiffer and as a complete package, a few hundred grams heavier but it is a great bike to ride. To this point, I do not miss my SL7 but maintain the Aethos for climbing days (one of the best bikes). The other ENVE feature I like are the drops that are wider (46cm on a 42.5 cm bars). If I ever do another SL7 build, the ENVE AR bars would be great on the SL7. The other plus for the SL7 is the cockpit and how the brake lines are ran (outside of the stem) to allow for easier transport and stem swapping. ENVE is super super clean, but the line are ran inside the stem. Both are super great bikes and nice to ride the Melee is a sea of SL7s.

[@outdoorbros_]

Thanks and great points! I'm still on the fence about the drops and it might take me while before I'm completely used to it. There were a few things that didn't make the final edit and daily functionality/practicality was one of them. The ability to swap stems or make changes becomes increasingly more difficult with integrated "everything." I saw Competitive Cyclist posted a reel with the internal routing on the Melee- yikes. The other "value" piece that didn't make it was the simple fact that if you have a Melee, you're not on the same bike as EVERYONE else. That's one of the reasons I like/liked the Aethos and the Venge- they're the less popular bikes of the bunch.

[@chriscawley18]

Hey--interesting to see your comment re: brake lines outside the stem making for easier transport. Have you packed an SL7 in a travel case--specifically, in the kind of case where you have to remove the bars and strap them to the fork blades/frame? I have always assumed there's not enough hose available without unwrapping the bars...

[@TheDiegis]

I love my Sworks Venge (last gen) It gets me excited every time I ride it! In all honesty Enve looks tempting

[@mpddiesel]

My 20 Venge Pro Disc upper triangle cracked and Specialized just hooked me up with a 23’ SWorks Tarmac SL7 frame-set. They definitely created a huge fan in this guy.

[@carefullin]

How funny that shot of the guy weighing the rice on the scale is from a commercial in the Dominican Republic from the country that I am

[@outdoorbros_]

Stock footage is everywhere! That’s funny.

[@adamcoppock5018]

Thanks for another great video. I wondered if you had ridden the Ibis Gravel bike and how it compares to the Crux

[@joshschrader4732]

Crushing it Chris! Looking for a great Cali town for a 2 week training camp in Feb- road and gravel bike. bringing the wife so need good food and views as well. Any suggestions? Thx mate

[@werb24]

Ok. Not sure if anyone said this, but glossing over the stem and bars is crazy. The stem on the tarmac is a 50$ POS. You don’t get to pick anything about it and it’s not adjustable. The Enve bar and stem Are customizable, and the stem is adjustable. Not to mention together they cost roughly 800$. This is almost a 20% price difference effectively.

[@outdoorbros_]

Great points! More value toward the Melee.

[@conradleber3247]

Different type of review, I like it, well done

[@outdoorbros_]

Thanks!

[@mohamadjamil3164]

Hi Chris. It is like the aethos tarmac challenge again :))) please do an aethos comparison. Can you please advise if the sl7 will be redesigned in 2023. Like bring back the venge as the tarmac did not achieve much in France this year as compared to cervelo

[@outdoorbros_]

It’s on the list! After seeing what Cervelo did with the S5, I’m excited to see what S does with their flagships bikes for 2023.

[@mohamadjamil3164]

@@outdoorbros_ I also think that the s teams lack climbers and their sprinters are a bit ….. :)

[@batav1a]

Yes, can't wait to see the Melee vs. Aethos comparison

[@outdoorbros_]

@@mohamadjamil3164 seems to be that way recently. Although I’ll be the first to admit I don’t follow much racing.

[@felicianogill7522]

My 2014 Giant TCR Advanced sl rim break 1x13 @ 15.2lbs [real road bike] will crush both of those coffee shop rides gravel bikes !!! I do it every weekend !!! 🤪

[@stephenmorris6202]

Slightly confused. I thought you had moved from.your SL7 to an Aethos, and sold the SL7. This review seemed to suggest otherwise. And I would have thought a comparison between Aethos and Melee would have been expected. That said, behind my confusion I find your reviews extremely good. Thank you.

[@outdoorbros_]

What’s up, Stephen? There’s another video in the series where I decided to keep the SL7 and part ways with the Aethos. SL7 just seems to work well for me- personal preference.

[@Mattytube18]

I would love to see you test the new Cervello S5

[@outdoorbros_]

It’s on my radar and Cervelo’s office aren’t far away… I’ll reach out. Thanks!

[@onyong123]

So what your saying is keep riding my venge…. 😁 great video!

[@outdoorbros_]

Hahaha, I think the Melee is a good mix of SL7 and Venge; it’s a Venge with better handling. A lot of people LOVED the Venge and were sad to see it go- I have one foot in that camp.

[@torvcarlsen7585]

So, here’s the deal-I currently ride an S-Works SL6 and I’m tempted by both the Melee and the SL7. So given that I’m riding an SL6 would you go for the S-Works SL7 or the Melee, especially given the fact that build the cost of the Melee is about $3K less than the Tarmac?

[@keno190a]

keep the SL6. rumors of the SL8 are starting to trickle in and you'll prolly want to lust after that one when that comes in this time next year.

[@outdoorbros_]

Not challenging your logic here, but why buy both? They’re both awesome, but very similar.

[@outdoorbros_]

Kind of agree here. If you’ve waited this long, might as well wait for the SL8.

[@lsgutah]

What would be better for heavier riders (200+ lbs)?

[@flavforpar]

Great review

[@outdoorbros_]

Thank you!

[@johntrussell7228]

Great video. The SL7 is quite old at this point, I can't wait to see what the SL8 will bring to the table.

[@yonglingng5640]

Two years old is old? What a joke.

[@davidgoon2399]

Stiffer, handles better, looks better.. In a short.. SL7 is way better except for the pricing

[@mohamadjamil3164]

Hey. Are you saying that the sl7 is lazy/not that agile?

[@outdoorbros_]

Not at all. Just saying that the Melee feels more playful and nimble, the SL7 more refined.

[@daviddang82]

Is there gonna be a melee rim brake version?

[@outdoorbros_]

I hear they might make one, JUST for you.... see you tomorrow?

[@daviddang82]

@@outdoorbros_ i won't be at CC tmr unfortunately

[@Lyledagz]

What size is the aethos?

[@outdoorbros_]

56

[@neilmckenna236]

@@outdoorbros_ how much?

[@terencekee270270]

Can u do a melee versus sl8 review

[@outdoorbros_]

I’m hoping to jump back onto a Melee soon. Standby.

[@christianverry4878]

@@outdoorbros_ Id love to see this too. I am considering both. I'm surprised you described the Melee as more nimble than the SL7. It has such a wide wheel base I would think it would be less nimble and require substantially more input into the steering/cornering to react. Flip side is I would expect the Melee to be less "twitchy" in fast corners, and feel a bit more planted and confidence inspiring. You did not speak directly to this but I inferred you felt otherwise - that the SL7 was the better bike for reassurance in fast corners.

[@littlevo9]

le tarmac sl7 est un best seller simplement car c'est le meilleur,je viens de m'en offrir un full dura ace 12 il est clairement au dessus du lot,il filtre les mauvais revetement,accelere sans fin,il a une coupe indemodable et racée,ce n'est pas le choix le plus exotique mais c'est le meilleur choix!

[@outdoorbros_]

Great bike!

[@miomitoq]

Melee VS Aethos plz

[@outdoorbros_]

I'm on it- thanks.

[@brianbrenton]

how i wish both used the same drivetrain

[@outdoorbros_]

If only. Although I don't think it would change my opinion on the bikes.

[@brianbrenton]

@@outdoorbros_ thats interesting and at the same time understandable. i was just curious because ive always found myself going faster on dura ace vs red. i have since strictly gone shimano on all my bikes... the newly acquired melee, the aethos (both), allez sprint and a bunch of Open bikes. not hating on sram. just have a preference for shimano at this point. loving the videos. keep em coming. cheers and always wishing you safe rides!

[@jamesmoore513]

It's two versions of a reacto 9000e with a 'endurance' sloping top tube, and twice the price. taiwanese factory peeps are pissing themselves over this video no doubt.

[@immikemx]

...and so expensive!!

[@outdoorbros_]

... that's the story of most bikes in 2022.

[@martinherrmann5319]

What exactly is this review supposed to do? chain together some marketing slang? What does "more playful" even tf mean? It's like you go to a car dealer, they hide the spec sheet and rational data from you and just use buzz words to try to describe the horsepower.. 8:10 of just copy&paste spoken out loud marketing shilling. Boring

[@outdoorbros_]

Martin, I found your comment to be quite boring. What exactly is this comment supposed to do? This review is supposed to give you an idea of what it’s like to ride these bikes and how they compare. Alternatively, you can go read the “marketing slang” and “marketing shilling” from the brand websites. I’d venture to guess that will be even more boring. Either way, thanks for watching and thanks for algorithm boost.

[@rayc9793]

Thank you for answering the million dollar question!

[@outdoorbros_]

Only took me 500 miles to come to a conclusion...