copswithguns

Finally got her in

Behold:

50 mile update: I played with the tire pressure a bit and it's perfect. Can't say that I've ever been more confident or comfortable on a bike than this. If you're on the fence about a Roubaix, get off it. It's worth every penny. With the tire pressure dialed in, it takes up most of the road buzz and sucks up bumps and dips as well.

BENZ28

Very nice! Congrats, put some miles on it. Not sure what part of Texas you are from but down here on the coast the weather has been perfect all week.

Long Tom

Nice!!

Axis brakes though, right? Or did you swap 'em?

I've got the Expert on the way.... can't wait....

copswithguns

Oh she's gonna get some miles on her. Yes, I bought the Ultegra 6800 brakes and crank for it. Technically it's missing Ultegra hubs but I have some Mavics on the way with Ultegra hubs on them. I probably could have gone with the Expert, but for $800 more I couldn't justify it. And don't ask me why, but I just can't rest easy with the FSA crank on there. I guess I'm just too OCD.

copswithguns

I'll probably be flipping the stem as well once I get home from work tonight.

zvez

congrats! She's just like mine, I've got about 1200 miles on her already. You'll have a blast.

robbyville

Beautiful, great swap outs the new brakes are pretty incredible. Have fun!

Ghost Ryder

Nice!
Your LBS came through for you big time!

Long Tom

Oh, duh, that's right, I remember from your thread on the crank.

Sweet ride! Think you'll get a Cobble Gobbler?

copswithguns

Not sure on that yet. I have wide sit bones. I've got a few saddles to test right now. The stock Riva that my Allez came with was very uncomfortable after 10 miles.

Dunbar

Nice, is that a 61cm? I'd rotate those bars down. I just got a 2014 Roubaix SL4 Expert frame courtesy of the Specialized warranty department (upgrade from my cracked SL2) . I think I'll eventually install Ultegra 6800 on it.

2 wheeler

Very nice, it's THE bike I would choose if I were in the market for a new bike.

copswithguns

It's a 58cm frame. I like the endurance feel of the bike, but it may be too upright. I'll have to do some extensive testing to be sure Looking forward to fitting myself into the bike

Long Tom

You can tell its not a 61 'cause it doesn't look gawky.

(my incoming Roubaix is a 61... tall bikes just look weird...)

You liking that SL4 Dunbar?

TrojanHorse

Thank goodness. Phew!

Chandne

I have a 58 cm frame as well...just the red/black combo (maybe a 2013 model?) I also had a 2010 S-Works SL2. One stark difference is that I find the rear end (25 mm tires/100 psi/180 lbs) is harsh on gaps and anything that transmits some impact. My SL2 was not like that at all (same tires/psi but in 23 mm). I guess they stiffened it up a lot. The front is fantastic for absorbing gaps, bumps, etc. Interested in what you think.

Campag4life

I have a SL3 Roubaix and the bike is fantastic. That said, there is a chorus developing about the SL4. Don't want to be negative but many...I have also talked to Dunbar about this...are claiming that Specialized over did it on the stiffness of the rear of the new SL4...the bike is harsh on rough roads. Yes a cobble seatpost will help but the SL3 rear triangle is firm but not spine breaking. This is why I am not running to the bike shop to order a SL4. I may in fact look for a back up SL3 The other wild card is the modulus of the carbon used. I wonder if the 8r carbon + SL4 geometry is not only $1K cheaper but overall a friendlier flex without much give up in performance. Would be quite ironic if this is the case.

copswithguns

It's been flipped

Chandne

I think they may have made the rear stays a bit too beefy or somehow lacking in vertical flex. The SL4 feels quicker but definitely not as smooth...especially the rear. The front is decent, though still stiffer than the SL2. It is still a great endurance-type of bike as long as you don't have to deal with constant 2-inch road gaps type of imperfections or harsh protrusions of asphalt. Thankfully, the roads here are good, as are the bike paths. A few sections surprised me though...I am used to my SL2. I am planning a 50-mile ride tomorrow (will go over that same rough section) and am tempted to lower the psi to 95 and see how it feels. I actually think I did 105 last time.

TrojanHorse

My SL3 from 2012 is Fact 10r, whatever that gets me. I'm not running out to get an SL4 because my SL3 is so much better than my 2007 Roubaix.

That knob gobbler seat post SOUNDS intriguing but it looks ... dreadful.

Btw, I saw my exact frame on CL recently for $900. They're out there

Adrianinkc

Good looking bike enjoy it. I've been riding an sl4 expert for the past 5,500 miles and I love it, coming from a sl2 roubaix it is a little bit harsh in the rear but nothing like a tarmac. I do however ride with 25c tires and a setback pro vibe 7 seatpost, I'm sure these two things have upgraded the ride quality.

Long Tom

Yeah, I had a hard time choosing Comp (8r) vs. Expert (10r) for just that reason. The COBL-GOBL (or however they call it) seemed very worthwhile with the SL4. Another wild card is the weight of the rider; as a Clyde I thought perhaps the 10r layup and construction, which differ in more than just the modulus of the carbon,might be a good thing. But I dunno. There certainly seems to be a consensus that the SL4 is a stiff frame.

Dunbar

I agree coming from a 2013 SL2 8r Roubaix frame. Although I don't think it's seat stays since they look identical on the SL4. I think Specialized was responding to criticisms about the the Roubaix not being enough like a Tarmac (duh) and made it too stiff. The SL2 is not a noodly bike by any stretch and the added some much appreciated compliance over rough pavement. FWIW, Specialized says the SL4 Roubaix has the same vertical deflection as the SL3 but is more laterally stiff. I've only had my SL4 Expert frame for 1 1/2 weeks and I'm still getting the fit dialed in. It remains to be seen if I can adapt to the stiffer ride. My theory is that if you can get 10-15psi out of the rear tire with wider rims, or a wider tire, the ride will be comparable to the SL2. I'm currently running a seat with minimal padding. I'm planning to try a saddle with a bit more cushioning which I was planning to do on my SL2 but was in no hurry to try due to the smoother ride.

Long Tom

I'm coming from a Sequoia so they all feel stiff to me <g>.

The only Roubaix I rode was a 61cm Comp from 2013. That's what, SL3? It felt plenty stiff.

I am somewhat going on faith that Spesh wouldn't make their flagship comfort bike UNcomfortable. And sandbagging that with the cobble gobbler.

The pavement in my AO is generally pretty good. We don't have the frost heave issues that some of you have.

copswithguns

I've only done about 15 miles on it but I suspect you may be right. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this bike. It's a great upgrade from my Allez. The front end felt plush, the back end not as much. I did about 20mph over a 2 mile stretch of flat brick road. Not horrible, but not as amazing as I was thinking it might be. I may need to play with the tire pressure a bit.