Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Sequoia or Roubaix?

Hi Everyone,

I'm selling my Pinarello Angliru (sniff, sniff) and opting to replace with a bike that's much more suited for the long haul, say 50-100 mile rides.

Now I don't want to make the same mistake in getting a too aggressive position bike - my back just can't handle it - so I'm looking into the Sequoia and Roubaix, both aluminum versions. Carbon is nice, but i don't know if it's worth the extra bling.

Excluding the components and focusing on pure long haul comfort, which would you choose?

Thanks in advance
Mike

I don't think you can go wrong with either bike. I believe the Sequoia has rack and fender mounts. Looks like the Roubaix doesn't. The Sequoia looks more upright also. Probably cheaper as well. I'd go with the Sequoia.

I believe the Sequoia has rack and fender mounts.

Yes it does

Keep the Angliru anyway! :D

The Sequoia is sort of a light touring bike, hence the rack and fender mounts. My only issue with the 2008 Sequoia is aesthetic, I don't like the look of the frame.

Keep in mind that the low-end Roubaix (the triple) is not a carbon frame, you'll have to spend close to $2000 to get a full carbon bike these days.

You should also make your decision based on what your emphasis will be and what other uses you have for the bike. E.g. do you plan to do light tours, commute, do fast group rides, go offroad and so forth.

Specialized makes good bikes, by the way, but I don't see why you need to restrict yourself to one manufacturer.

I have an '06 Roubaix Expert (which is carbon fiber).I have done several centuries on it in the past year. After some pain I replaced the seat with a Brooks Team Professional. I have experimented with tires also and found that there is a real difference in comfort and vibration levels between 23c and 25c.

I suppose the main thing that translates from my experience is the geometry which I find quite suitable for long rides. I have several bikes which I ride centuries on and find that the lighter bikes leave me feeling less tired at the end of the ride. So, the comfort factor being equal. I would choose the lighter bike.

Keep the Angliru anyway! :D

The Sequoia is sort of a light touring bike, hence the rack and fender mounts. My only issue with the 2008 Sequoia is aesthetic, I don't like the look of the frame.

Keep in mind that the low-end Roubaix (the triple) is not a carbon frame, you'll have to spend close to $2000 to get a full carbon bike these days.

You should also make your decision based on what your emphasis will be and what other uses you have for the bike. E.g. do you plan to do light tours, commute, do fast group rides, go offroad and so forth.

Specialized makes good bikes, by the way, but I don't see why you need to restrict yourself to one manufacturer.

The only use I have now for the Pinarello is if I want to through my back out. :o

I've chosen Specialized as my research in these forums is showing that when it comes to comfort bikes, the names Roubaix and Sequoia tend to come up quite often, more so than Giant OCR1 or Trek Pilot.

If anyone sees differently, I'm all ears. :)

My dad loves his carbon Roubaix. I'm quite taken with my aluminum Cannondale Synapse, which is their entry in this genre. I'm fairly new to road riding and only got it in January, so I can't speak to its qualities over "the long haul" yet (ask me again after the Nat'l 24-hour Challenge...) but I've felt pretty good at the end of the 3 metric centuries I've done on it.

Excluding the components and focusing on pure long haul comfort, which would you choose? I would choose the bike that had the best fit to my body.

Go test ride both. Take them on 30 miles through the crappiest streets that you know and see which one beats you up the least.

Fender mounts are certainly valuable to have if you live somewhere wet/cold like the northern part of either of the North American coasts, but they're not a dealbreaker if you live in, say, Arizona. If you aren't planning on touring and just want it for centuries and extended day rides, you can also forego the rack mounts and invest in a large seat bag from Carradice or Ortlieb

Thanks everyone for your feeback; I chose the Roubaix. :)

Good choice.

I rode a demo, although it was the high end version on a day on RAGBRAI, it was then fastest I've ever done 75 miles and it wasn't hard. I found with the more upright position I never got a sore back, which allowed me to continue to pedal strong. One of my riding friends bout a Sequoia last year and she really doesn't care for it. I rode it for a club ride and could see why. The geometry might be okay, but the bike just felt sluggish. We traded back after 25 miles and I got back on my Giant TCR and was amazed at how much better my bike felt. Kind of like an old glove. Anyways she has the bike for sale. She's now on a Orbea Orca which is a great bike too.