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Intro
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
The Next 50
Intro1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020sThe Next 50
1974 - 2024

A 50-Year Tradition of Innovation

Specialized Looks to the Next 50 Years

Looking back so we can Pedal the Planet Forward together.

1970s

The Birth of the Brand

1974

Mike Goes For a Ride, Returns with a Business

Specialized is Born

In 1974, Mike sold his VW bus to ride through Europe. During the ride, he seized the opportunity to import hard-to-get parts into the USA. The rest is history.

“In the beginning I made a conscious decision to focus on the Rider’s need for technically advanced products that provide a performance benefit.”
- Mike Sinyard
1976

“The Most Important Square Inch on the Bicycle”

The Specialized Touring Tire

After two years of R&D, the Specialized Touring Tire was born—the brand’s first product and the first-ever high-performance clincher.

Your Ride Depends On This

The legacy of that first Specialized Touring Tire is powerful, with World Championships, gold medals, and countless other victories.

1980s

Bringing Bikes to the World

1980

Allez Means Go

The First Bicycles

Mike worked with custom builder Tim Neenan to develop Specialized’s first bikes, Sequoia and Allez—innovative, high-performance steel frames made in Japan.

An Icon on the Road

Allez Innovation

From a pinnacle race bike in the ’80s to the young new riders it brings into the sport today, Allez has continued to push the boundaries of alloy.

1981

It's a Whole New Sport

Stumpjumper Debuts

Before the Stumpjumper, mountain biking was an inaccessible fringe. Mike believed that people around the world would love riding off-road. He was right.

1988

Doing the Right Thing

IMBA Launches

When trail closures spiked, Specialized wrote the first check that birthed IMBA—protecting trail access for riders ever since.

1990s

Mountain Bikes Come of Age, Road, & Body Geometry

1990

Specialized Wins First MTB World Championship

Overend Pilots Stumpjumper Epic to Victory

Ned Overend and Thomas Frischknecht’s legendary battle at the first UCI XC Worlds saw Ned prevail on his carbon-tubed, ti-lugged Stumpjumer Epic Ultimate.

Evolution of the Fastest

Since Ned’s first Worlds win, the Specialized Epic has reigned supreme on the XC circuit. Relentless innovation has led to the all-new Epic 8—evolution of the fastest.

1991

Protection Meets Performance

Specialized Helmets

From the first Airforce, to today’s Evade or Gambit, no helmet is better ventilated, lighter weight, or more aerodynamic.

Too Fast For The UCI

S-Works TT 5

Developed with Remco Evenepoel, the world’s fastest time trial rider, the TT 5 debuted in 2022 as the fastest helmet ever created. It was so fast that the UCI banned it in 2024.

1992

The Relentless Pursuit of Performance Beyond Reason

S-Works Debuts

Inspired by motocross “works” motorcycles and committed to creating the ultimate performance advantage for our elite racers, S-Works was born.

Made in Racing

S-Works has enabled more top riders to win more big races than any other brand. We make the same products available to every rider. That’s Made in Racing.

1993

Yeah, it Works!

Full Suspension Leaders

After Debuting FSR, media and riders quickly heralded Specialized as the leaders in full suspension. ‘Specialized Science Club’ is still leading suspension innovation today.

Specialized Science Club for the Win

Evidence-Based Full Suspension Performance

Our Ride Dynamics team holistically develops full-suspension bikes for an unparalleled ride. The result? Countless wins and backcountry peak experiences.

Specialized Science Club for the Win

Evidence-Based Full Suspension Performance

Our Ride Dynamics team holistically develops full-suspension bikes for an unparalleled ride. The result? Countless wins and backcountry peak experiences.

Specialized Science Club for the Win

Evidence-Based Full Suspension Performance

Our Ride Dynamics team holistically develops full-suspension bikes for an unparalleled ride. The result? Countless wins and backcountry peak experiences.

Specialized Science Club for the Win

Evidence-Based Full Suspension Performance

Our Ride Dynamics team holistically develops full-suspension bikes for an unparalleled ride. The result? Countless wins and backcountry peak experiences.

Specialized Science Club for the Win

Evidence-Based Full Suspension Performance

Our Ride Dynamics team holistically develops full-suspension bikes for an unparalleled ride. The result? Countless wins and backcountry peak experiences.

1997

Ergonomically Designed, Scientifically Proven

Body Geometry

When the world learned that riding could make cyclists impotent, we created the Body Geometry saddle – the first saddle proven to protect blood flow and nerves.

Identify a Problem, Solve it with Design, Prove It with Science.

Since ’97, we’ve been applying the Body Geometry methodology to solve rider problems anywhere you and your bike become one—shoes, saddles, bars.

2000s

Coming of Age as a Leader in Road

2000

Innovate or Die

Racing to Win in Europe

In 2000, our road bikes just weren’t good enough, so we went to Europe to join the pro peloton and learn from the best. This is innovate or die in action.

Earning Rainbows

We learned fast, winning our first Elite World Championship in 2002. We’ve now won it 15 times, a record unmatched in the modern era.

Earning Rainbows

We learned fast, winning our first Elite World Championship in 2002. We’ve now won it 15 times, a record unmatched in the modern era.

Earning Rainbows

We learned fast, winning our first Elite World Championship in 2002. We’ve now won it 15 times, a record unmatched in the modern era.

Earning Rainbows

We learned fast, winning our first Elite World Championship in 2002. We’ve now won it 15 times, a record unmatched in the modern era.

2003

One Bike to Rule Them All

The Tarmac is Born

An icon was born in 2003 when the first Tarmac hit the road—the S-Works Tarmac E5. Today, the Tarmac SL8 is undisputedly the fastest race bike in the world.

2004

Smoother is Faster

First Roubaix

As bikes got stiffer and racier, Specialized saw the need for a new kind of bike - the Specialized Roubaix - proving that high ergonomics meant high performance.

Future Shock

Our pursuit of “smoother is faster” has led to ground-breaking innovations like the Future Shock, and seven wins at the legendary Paris Roubaix.

2009

Strong Body, Strong Mind, Strong Character

Founding Partner NICA

Because of NICA, high schools across the USA now have mountain bike teams. Specialized wrote the first check that led to NICA’s formation.

NICA Alum to Worlds Podium

NICA has produced countless passionate riders and several UCI World Cup Winners and World Champs, including Christopher Blevins, Haley Batten, and Kate Courtney.

2010s

Setting the Stage for the Future of Cycling

2010

A Victory Ten Years in the Making

First Tour de France Victory

In 2000, Specialized committed to making the best road bikes in the world and winning the Tour de France. In 2010, it happened on a Tarmac.

2011

50 Years of Blowing Away Barriers

Aero is Everything

We’ve been fighting aerodynamic resistance for almost 50 years, and in 2011, we changed the direction of road cycling forever with the very first Venge.

The Win Tunnel

We built our own Win Tunnel in 2013 to make our riders, bikes, and equipment faster and more efficient than ever. It’s our laboratory for fast.

2012

Its You, Only Faster

Turbo Launches

When we electrified the bicycle, we called it Turbo, and it was the most powerful, super-naturally smooth, and decidedly high-performance bike on the planet.

The Future Is Now, and It’s Electric

Media and riders have lauded the Turbo electric bike as best in class. With models for trail, road, transportation, and gravel, there’s a Turbo electric bike to elevate every ride.

2014

Helping Humans Thrive by Bike

Outride Founded

Mike Sinyard, self-diagnosed with ADHD, found solace in cycling. He started Outride in 2014 to bring cycling's social, emotional, and cognitive benefits to everyone.

Riding For Focus

Outride's Riding for Focus program promotes youth well-being through school cycling. It's partnered with 300+ schools, impacting 50,000+ young people every year.

Raising Awareness

Outride's pioneering research proves cycling's neurological benefits for young people in the face of a growing mental health crisis. Outride’s next chapter will be expanding its research to understand the power of cycling to reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s in aging individuals, and sharing its research and methods worldwide to inspire more people to improve their lives, no matter their age, through the power of pedaling.

2015

Beyond Gender

Women of Specialized

From Team Stumpjumper riders like Sara Ballantyne to Tour de France and Worlds winners Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky, women on Specialized have led the way.

2019

Cycling’s Global Superstar

Peter Sagan: 3 World Championships and Seven Green Jerseys

Beyond the incredible victories, Peter Sagan brings an infectious irreverence and personality to cycling that makes him cycling’s ambassador to the world.

2020s

Innovate or Die

The Kids are Alright

Creating the Next Generation

Over 50 years, we’ve had the great fortune to partner with iconic riders. Today, a new generation is ready to take up the mantle of inspiring the next.

2024 - 2074

The Bike Saves the World

Pedal the Planet Forward

There is no problem the bicycle can not solve—mental health, physical well-being, sustainability. That’s why we’re committed to getting 1 million bikes back on the road by the end of 2025 through our ‘Reduce, Reuse, ReSpecialized’ initiative launching October, 2024.

We don’t care what kind of bike you ride—just ride.

It Took Us 50 Years to Get Ready for This Moment.

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