Fifty Plus (50+) - Nubie looking for advice on new bike.

I turn 60 next week and my wife is buying me a new bike. Coming from a 10 year old CroMo Banichi.
I've narrowed it down between Roubaix Elite triple and Trek Madone 4.5 triple. Both carry full 105 and full carbon. I am 6'1" 200 lbs and ride about 3 times a week 30-50 miles a time on mountain roads in Boone North Carolina. No racing....just comfort with a little speed and and easy climb.
Looking for advice.
Thanks

Ride them both and get the one you like best. If you like them both, get the one that comes from the shop you like best.

I'm showing this to my wife. ;)

Thanks Blues.....that's what i will end up doing......pretty good wife, right??!
Somehow I fear her expectations for her next big B-Day have been raised!!

Thanks Blues.....that's what i will end up doing......pretty good wife, right??!
Somehow I fear her expectations for her next big B-Day have been raised!!

Easy.

Let her buy you one bike for your birthday.

You buy her the other bike for her birthday!!

Thanks Blues.....that's what i will end up doing......pretty good wife, right??!
Somehow I fear her expectations for her next big B-Day have been raised!!

And rightly so. You might want to start saving up for that new Stihl chainsaw or a real nice vacuum cleaner for her.

If you have a deathwish.

Yeah, she sounds like a keeper. Treat her good and enjoy your new ride.

It is fantastic that your wife is looking after you so well.

This post brings back strong memories about my late wife. She bought me a 50th Anniversary Corvette Convertible before she passed away. The NCM people pushed her wheelchair around the Museum when we took delivery. As much as I love that car, I value her memories so much more.

Every time you ride that new bike you can be thankful that you have a wonderful wife.

My wife bought me a weed-eater for my 55th. Hmmmmmmm.

I got the weed wacker for my 50th!!
I actually thin she's getting me the new wheels so I can keep up with her on our rides.
Yes she takes good care of me.

Both bikes are to be recommended and 105 is good gear. Just have to get the final spec sorted----Triple or compact but as you live where hills are- I perhaps would not go for a standard double crank. So time to test ride--- Then sort the few parts like crankset and cassette and then size up and order.

Only thing I would try to upgrade on purchase is the wheels. Apart from that- your wife is making a good choice with her investment.

My 60th was a few years ago and I have no idea what the wife bought me. I probably had to go out and choose it- pay for it and then tell her what she bought me.

Come to think about it- The TCR got bought just before my 60th birthday. Wifes know what we want.

Just wanted to report that I went to my LBS and they were excited to tell me that Specialized just started shipping their 2011 line and added the what appears to be the perfect bike for me: Roubaix Elite SL2 Apex. It's the 2010 SL2 frame that was on the Roubaix S-Works last year with the SRAM compact with an 11-32 cassette. Sounds perfect for my needs. I checked the reviews on the 2011 and it appears to be a major upgrade for a little less $$$.
List price was $2k and I bought it for $1850. I thought that was a pretty good discount on a model that has just started shipping. Less expensive than the 2010 elite triple. I will have it in a week and report back.

Just wanted to report that I went to my LBS and they were excited to tell me that Specialized just started shipping their 2011 line and added the what appears to be the perfect bike for me: Roubaix Elite SL2 Apex. It's the 2010 SL2 frame that was on the Roubaix S-Works last year with the SRAM compact with an 11-32 cassette. Sounds perfect for my needs. I checked the reviews on the 2011 and it appears to be a major upgrade for a little less $$$.
List price was $2k and I bought it for $1850. I thought that was a pretty good discount on a model that has just started shipping. Less expensive than the 2010 elite triple. I will have it in a week and report back.

You done good...is that SRAM Rival? Congrats. :)

No actually it is a new set-up, not the Rival. It's called Apex. Compact on the front and 11-32 on the back.

No actually it is a new set-up, not the Rival. It's called Apex. Compact on the front and 11-32 on the back.

Forget the mountains- You can climb a wall with that gearing

And keep in contact with that LBS. They know how to make a sale and you have a got a good deal on a 2011 bike. Not often you can get a discount on the new models this early in the season.

Be interested in Knowing how the 11/32 works with a compact.

I plan to use the bike for the first time at the end of the month so I will certainly give you a review after that.
It is scheduled to arrive nest Friday.

I plan to use the bike for the first time next Friday so I will certainly give you a review after that.
It is scheduled to arrive nest Friday.

fixed it for you

Congrats -- I think the new SRAM Apex group is super-interesting for folks who want to ride in the hills.

There have been dozens of threads here about compact doubles vs. triples, and I think the Apex group with an 11-32 rear cassette is going to grab lots of riders who previously would have tilted towards triples.

So I just returned from 2 weeks in the mountains of NC around Beech Mountain/ Banner elk/ Boone on the new Roubaix Apex and loved it. It was sure nice having the 11-32 on some of the climbs and the SL2 frame is a comfortable ride. The great looking black carbon frame go a lot of looks. Coming off of a 105 triple and really felt a difference whern I needed it. Not much about the 2011 model that I can find to complain about. Can't wait to get back up there the end of the month.

:thumb:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/worthless_thread_wo_pics.gif

Seriously. Would like to see lots of pictures and hear any more impressions of your new Roubaix. I am giving a lot of thought to getting either the Elite like yours or the Comp with SRAM Rival.

Thank goodness you don't have a white Roubaix. I hear they are subversive.

Congrats -- I think the new SRAM Apex group is super-interesting for folks who want to ride in the hills.

There have been dozens of threads here about compact doubles vs. triples, and I think the Apex group with an 11-32 rear cassette is going to grab lots of riders who previously would have tilted towards triples.

Yeah, I have a Campagnolo 13-29 to go with my 50 & 34 chainrings ( the 29 cog isn't officially compatible with a short cage deraileur, but it happens to fit my bike OK). I can slow way down on steep grades (10% plus) and still use a fairly easy pedal stroke. So, your 32 low gear will be good when the road gets steep.

Thank goodness you don't have a white Roubaix. I hear they are subversive.

You guys think every thing that doesn't agree with you is subversive! Take a pill!

I don't have the specs in front of me but I am not sure what you gain by spending the extra$$ on the comp for 2011. If you are planning to ride hills I believe the Apex fits the bill. Now that Specializes went to the SL2 frame for the Elite I think the entire package gives the biggest bang for the buck with no downside. The SL2 was last years S-Works frame.
I'll post photos when I get back to Beech where the bike resides.

You let that new bike out of your sight?

"Shame, shame, shame..." Randy Newman from the Bad Love CD

Yeah, not easy but I live in Miami and spend most of the summer up in the NC mountains and have no need for the Apex gearing in flat South Florida where the biggest hill is the Rickenbacker Bridge in Key Biscayne so that's where she'll be living. Nice heated garage in the winter.
I ride my old Bianchi with Campy that serves me well down here.

I have never ridden either bike. But I have heard good things about both. Same components, carbon frames, both triples, I would say that objectively it is a coin flip. Ride them both. Maybe that will not help. I would just suggest that you go with the one that looks the "nicest". In facts, going with a bike that you like the looks of is ALWAYS a good idea. It is your bike. You have to look at it. You might as well enjoy it. I don't see riding a bike that I "know" is superb but I really think is plain or homely.

I don't have the specs in front of me but I am not sure what you gain by spending the extra$$ on the comp for 2011. If you are planning to ride hills I believe the Apex fits the bill. Now that Specializes went to the SL2 frame for the Elite I think the entire package gives the biggest bang for the buck with no downside. The SL2 was last years S-Works frame.
I'll post photos when I get back to Beech where the bike resides.

Not exactly the same frame as last year's S-Works, but the same design and probably using the same molds. At a minimum, the level of the material is different, 8R for the '11 Elite and Comp vs. 10R for the '10 S-Works. Possibly there could be other manufacturing differences. But it should be a great frame and a step up from the earlier Elite and Comp frames.

The differences between the Elite and Comp are Apex vs. Rival components, CXP-22 wheels vs. Fulcrum 6, and different handlebars, seat and seatpost. Both look like great bikes with the Elite being a real bargain. I am leaning toward the Comp because I think I would be able to delay the compulsion to upgrade components a little longer than with the Elite. I'll be mulling this over for a while and may change my mind several times before I pull the trigger, if I even do it.

Looking forward to seeing those pics.:thumb: