Craig Lewis of HTC-Highroad has been amassing training miles on a new bike during his team’s training camp on the Spanish island of Mallorca. For 2011 the Greenville, South Carolina resident is aboard the Specialized Tarmac SL3 and for efforts against the clock, the Specialized Shiv.

The Tarmac SL3 has seen a couple of modifications over its SL2 predecessor. The frame’s lay-up is changed and carbon is a construction feature throughout the frame – even the usually steel headset cups are carbon. All of this reduces the frame weight by 115 grams in comparison to the Tarmac SL2. Specialized claims to have stiffened the chassis on the Tarmac, which is an important characteristic for a ProTour rider.

“We have choices from lighter to heavier and soft, stiff or extra-stiff. HTC-Highroad, like Specialized, is never happy running something that is stock,” said Lewis. “(The team is) always looking for an edge or bettering a product.”

The HTC-Highroad riders will be riding their Specialized completely kitted with Shimano’s Di2 electronic group and paired with Shimano’s PRO branded bars, stem and post. “Electric is where it’s at and everyone will be on it one day down the road.”

A minor, but important tweak is Lewis’ saddle choice. The team is still perched on a fi’zi:k but Lewis is riding the Antares model this season rather than the Aliante. From what Lewis told Carolina Cycling News he’s getting in plenty of miles to break in the new saddle. The sunny Spanish weather took the edge off of winter training and as a result the team spent 50 hours on the bike over the course of 11 days.

“We are all fit and ready for another successful season,” reported Lewis.

As is typical of Euro pros Lewis has his saddle pushed back against the rails which positions him 6.5 centimeters behind the bottom bracket. What’s interesting is that instead of cranking his saddle skyward Lewis has gone the other direction. “My seat is lower than previous years,” which now measures at 72.5 centimeters from the saddle to the bottom bracket.

When Lewis isn’t training he’s writing on his own personal blog (craiglewis.us) or giving an insider’s look in a weekly column at Versus.com.

The 411 on Lewis’ Specialized bikes
Small Shiv
54cm Tarmac
172.5 SRM cranks with team matched white computer heads
13.5 stem length