Bike Build: Specialized Shiv Elite A1... with some mods.

While waiting to get back on a stealthy Shiv TT rig again after my ''van Summeren" moment on Richmond Boulevard, I pulled the trigger on a budget TT bike, a Specialized Shiv Elite A1 Apex.

The budget-minded Shiv Elite features a lightweight alloy frame with UCI-legal airfoil tubing, a stiff carbon fork, and our Hydroformed Alloy Aerobar for wind-cheating speed and solid handling. The SRAM Apex 10-speed drivetrain adds reliability and efficiency.

Out-of-the-box pretty.... A good starting canvas.

These bikes hit the market somewhere around the $1500 mark, then dropped to $999, and if you're lucky you'll find one lower than that. I've pointed a few people towards these rigs in the past and they've been happily TTing away on them.

Everything comes in one massive box, wheels and all, partially assembled. Thanks to the guys at The Ride Cycles, the first thing I did in the workshop was to disassemble everything to start the build from scratch with my own parts. I had a plan to squeeze more speed from the budget-beast.

I'm very happy with the result. I was able to set this up with the exact measurements from the Shiv. The basebar is a little higher, but the arm pads are spot on for height.

Done!

Swapped out parts:

Groupset: SRAM Apex -> Shimano Dura-Ace 7800/7900 mix.
Cranks: SRAM S150 -> SRM Wireless Ant+ 175mm.
Brakes: Tektro -> Shimano Ultegra Rear, TRP T925 Front.
Brake Levers: TRP TL720 Aero lever -> Shimano Dura-Ace BL-TT79 Carbon.
Saddle: Romin Evo Comp -> Specialized Sitero.
Stem: Specialized EliteSet -> 3T -17degree 110mm.
Headset: 20mm spacer cone -> Replaced with low profile spacer.

Modifications:

Basebar: Kicks removed from outside/brake levers to flatten the front end.
TT bars:  Shortened to meet 2014 UCI regulations (80cm from tip of lever to center BB). Mounted underneath the basebar. 
TT pads: Slammed on top of base bar. Secured with longer bolt into the TT bars on the underside.