Pakiwi

So I am in my second year of riding and the local bike store that I have a great relationship with offered me the opportunity to get a Bike Fit completed at half price. They just started offering this service after one of their employees got trained at Specialized.
So I got the bike fit this week and something that has been in the back of my mind was confirmed. The bike I got when I returned to riding was from a friend, but turns out to be too big. Even though I have been riding it for a over a year and completed a century on it, even with the minimal steerer, the reach is just too long. I am getting pain in my neck and shoulder and even though I can adjust my position, I am not as comfortable as I should be and I do get tingling in my arms under certain conditions.
So it looks like I will be getting rid of my 51cm Jamis frame and looking at getting a 49cm frame.

If you are starting out, I encourage you to get a good fit from a local place. It is well worth it. I even got inserts for my specialized shoes.

And so the conundrum.
I am really happy with the components and wheelset on the bike. Its 5800 105 11 speed with a Fulcrum 1 wheelset. So with money being a limiting factor I am looking at either just getting a frame (either new or used) or the bottom end Specialized Roubaix and moving the components over. I do see a Roubaix frame 49cm on Ebay.

So thoughts comments. Anybody looking for a good carbon 51 cm frame.
As a Clyde how is the Roubaix?
Two weeks to my first Century so I either wait or pull the trigger shortly.

Allan

Black wallnut 

I think it was starting with model year 2014 that Specialized switched all their Roubiax frames to SL4 so there is merit in buying a frame only, if you can get one in your size 2014 or newer. Also if you can find a last years closeout in your size with the entry level groupset that might be a good option as well.

Pakiwi

Thanks Sir for your response. Which year do you ride and have you been happy with it. Would you change it for something else?
By the miles you have been doing and speed, it is obviously doing a grand job.

Allan

obed7

have you ridden a roubaix to see how you like the ride? They are great bikes, but "feel" is sort of subjective and each of us has our own taste... a friend and i were looking at bikes at the same time... we each rode all of the locally available brands of endurance performance bikes...he chose the roubaix and I went for a Trek Domane...both of us love our bikes, each liked the ones we bought better than the others....

IBOHUNT

BB-30 on the Jamis?

I had a fit done for the first time last year. During the fit the guy said.... you broke your left leg at some point in time.
Amazed me. Also told me my bike was to large but I am still on it and will race it in 2 weeks.

Good fitters can help release free watts as well as relieve any pains that you may have

It may be too late for the change to do the first century on as it may induce other changes that could come back to bite you but if you think it will be something you will do in the near future I'd start looking for a steal.

LGHT

Great advice on getting a fit early on or at least finding out the bike frame size. I had the same problem early on after getting an amazing deal on a used Roubiax. I rode the bike for a month or so and while in a group ride a few riders quickly pointed out that the bike was too big for me. I was riding at 58 and should have been on a 54-55. The next bike was a 54 and a few weeks after getting it I got fitted and it made a huge difference.

dagray

Absolutely get a bike fit.

As to your conundrum ask if he has last year's models and see if he will give you a trade in on your bike. Take your wheels and swap with the new bike.

Last year's model may well have the 105 groupset as some manufacturers have upgraded to the Ultegra or some form of SRAM.

Black wallnut 

Sir Allan mine is a model year 2011 or 2012, I'm not sure which. I have been happy with it. I credit it and my fit to it for giving me some of the gains I have had mainly due to my comfort in riding it for extended periods of time. The ride is night and day better than it was on my aluminum Secteur that it replaced (due to fate, not choice). The SL4 frameset is beefed up near the bottom bracket and has a bit stiffer ride from what I've been told. I've not rode one of those. I did ride an S-Works Tarmac for just over 20 miles last fall and by all accounts that is a real stiff frameset and I found that the ride feel on that was just as good as my Roubiax although much more aggressive. I've not met anyone that does not like the Roubaix that has ridden one however there are many that having ridden them like a different one, like the Domane @obed7 rides. Fit and what feels comfortable to each rider is much more important than the name on the downtube.

Pakiwi

All great information. The BB on the Jamis is standard screw thread 68mm. It was 2008 a year before the BB30. Its a great bike. It was an upgrade from my 20 year old Steel, but the comfort is just not there. I can do a century on it, but to do three back to back, may be interesting to say the least.
I get to ride an S Works Roubaix 49 cm in two weeks. They are having the Specialized Van and the owner made sure there will be a 49cm Roubaix for me to test. I could ride other bikes and the local LBS where if I bought new sells Trek, Giant and Specialized, but I have heard so many good things about the Roubaix, so I will test ride that first.
He said he would set up the new bike as per the bike fit.

Allan

jsigone

what kind of fitting? If electric GURU style. They should have all of the models in the fitting PC. Should be easy to change from one bike to another.

my local trek store size up everyone on the machine before they even get them on a bike. Easy way to the rider to get different feel sizes and model differences between say a tarmac or a Roubaix vs Domane or Madone.

Pakiwi

Bike fitting was Specialized. I know I can try out the bikes my size, though 49cm they didn't have much to try. That's why when the Bike Truck comes to town, I will try the 49cm S Works Roubaix. Though way out of my price range.

Glad I got the fit, and I would recommend anybody doing distance riding or lots of miles to get one done. Though if you can afford it, get one done when you first get your bike, because you are more likely to get on it if you are comfortable and ride further.

Allan

ColaJacket

I can sympathize with you. There weren't many 49cm-52cm in my area to ride. I did find some, to at least see which bikes fit me. I ended up ordering the specific bike (Fuji Sportif 1.3 C - 2014) that I wanted, that had the same frame/geometry as one that I did get to ride.

GH

IBOHUNT

Sir Allan,

Is they have a 52 S-Works Venge go ahead and pick it up for me. I'll send you a check.
Doesn't even need to be the Di2 Venge, regular ol mechanical one is fine I'll give you the short 90 mm stem

If they don't have one of those a S S Works TT module will suffice.

TrojanHorse

I move components from frame to frame semi-regularly, it's cheaper than buying a whole new bike. My latest groupset is on its third frame (a 2012 SL3 Roubaix) and I like it so much I haven't even considered swapping it out again. I bought both of my last two Roubaix frames used on fleabay.

If you're looking at Roubaix, there is a ground swell of public opinion that they really got the bike right with the SL3 version. The SL4 version is so much stiffer they had to invent that ludicrous looking seat post to compensate (this is not meant to denigrate the SL4, but the SL3 are damn fine frames). Another advantage of the slightly older frames is that I was able to get an English threaded BB instead of whatever wunder-standard specialized is coming up with.

Sullalto

If it's a reach issue why not just use a shorter stem? Or shorter reach handlebar?

Pakiwi

Trojan that's some great info thanks. I can't get a shorter reach stem. I have a 44 degree angle stem about 1.5 inches long.