I love a good Zone 2 ride. There’s nothing like getting on the bike, settling into a groove, and letting the miles (and hours) flow by. But sometimes when I hopped on the Specialized Tarmac SL9 S-Level, Zone 2 would turn into a tempo ride. It was like having a little imp—the stereotype dressed in red with the pitchfork—on my left shoulder whispering into my ear: “Go fast. This bike was built to go fast. Speed is good. You can do a Zone 2 ride tomorrow.” Normally, I'd count on the good imp—the dude with the harp and wings—on my right shoulder to restrain these urges. But the Tarmac is so seductive that he would just shrug and say “he’s got a point.” And in a moment of weakness, I would drop the hammer and head into the red, just because the SL9 makes that so rewarding.