Specialized Turbo Creo SL Comp E5 Electric Road Bike Review

Bill works in our Exeter City store and has been with The Bike Shed for almost 20 years so we can safely say he knows a thing or two. He recently took the plunge and purchased his first e-bike taking advantage of a great deal we have on the Specialized Turbo Creo SL Comp E5.

"I am now the proud owner of a Specialized Creo Comp E5. Purchasing my first e-bike had been on the cards for a while. We are a one car family but often have two cars worth of commitments. Home and work are 16 miles apart, my commutes have been a mix of bike, car, train and bus. They all have their merits, drawbacks and costs but my preferred way to travel is by bike, when I have the time and energy. Bike days had been dwindling, trains have been disrupted, buses are slow and the car is expensive and in demand.

The CREO has solved the problem. On the commutes I have used it so far, I have covered the ground in a predictable time, with three support levels allowing me to tailor the assistance to the terrain, my available strength, and the wind speed.

GRX "one by" 11 speed with a wide range cassette has climbs and descents covered. (No need to stand on climbs anymore) The futureshock makes the roads feel way smoother than they actually are, GRX hydro brakes have loads of power even when the bike is loaded with bags. My favourite Power saddle, turbo tyres and Roubaix tape are standard equipment, so no upgrades needed. My additions of SKS guards, Cateye lights, Bontrager rack and Ortlieb City bags means I'm set for autumn and winter.

Registering the bike, pairing my phone and my Wahoo GPS was easy via the Mission Control app. It allows you to access wattage, cadence and battery status alongside the usual speed and distance metrics. You can also customise power levels and set a destination/distance for smart battery to reach amongst other more advance features.

I've been impressed with the 60 miles or so I can get out of a full charge, considering it's a lightweight 320wh battery and I'm carrying bags. A range extender would make a hilly century possible.

As a bike fitter, and a rider who clips in, I immediately noticed the stance width. It's wider than any of my other bikes. I made a small cleat adjustment to narrow my stance and it now feels totally natural.

For years I have been telling customers that an e-bike will increase the frequency that you ride and decrease the dread that (almost) all of us feel when approaching a killer climb. It's good to see, first hand that it's true. Simply put, it makes 16 miles feel like 10, hills evaporate, and it's one less car."

Interested?