Beautiful bike.

Will be interested in your riding impressions once you've used it more.

What is your current stable -- this replaces the RB-1, and then you have a Salsa Casserrol and a mountain bike as well?

Wow! If it rides half as nice as it looks, it will be an awsome ride.:thumb:

While I would never have a reason to own a bike like this it sure is a mighty sweet looking ride!!

Congrats BD! I love riding plastic, sure you will also.

Wow! Nice looking bike, BD. Congratulations:thumb::thumb:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1.../Roubaix/4.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...Roubaix/A3.jpg

Hey, thanks, Weak Link. You've given me my new pat answer whenever I indulge and am questioned about it. :thumb:

I hope your weather is good so you can get out and ride the "new" off of it before New Years!

You had also wanted SRAM. I think you will love the Ultegra. I wish I could have waited for the 2011 Expert, but I really love my 2010. Let us know about the Fulcrum Racing wheels. Does it have the Avatar saddle? I hated it and swapped it for a Toupe.

You also didn't want the 11-28 cassette. Did you swap it out? I think you will really like the 11-28 if you didn't swap it and give it a chance.

You'll love it! I picked up a new Roubaix Elite this past spring and got it properly fitted before I left the bike shop. It's the most comfortable bike I've ever owned! Made for a great riding season. It's amazing how well the "plastic" absorbs the road shock!

I forgot to ask if you use a Camelbak. I saw no water bottle cages. I hardly use the cages on mine, but have needed them on some occasions. I also put my MagicShine battery in a water bottle and use a cage for it.

Those "comfort" road bikes feel pretty good, don't they? Nice looking ride.

What else is there to say, but PLASTIC IS FANTASTIC!!!

First ride report.

It was a perfect, cool day for a ride. The bike is amazing! I rode 34 miles, grinning like a Cheshire cat the whole time. The Roubaix smooths the rough roads like nothing else I've ridden and it simply sails on smooth roads. I don't think "plush" is the right word to describe the ride. It seems like magic that one bike can be so smooth and yet so stiff at the same time. Not a hint of flex in the bottom bracket when standing on a climb. This could be the start of something big! :D
I goofed up on the route and had to ride 1.5 miles on a dirt road where I had planned to only do about a third of a mile. The bike handled it fine, but it's not something I'll want to do much of on this bike.

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/148028

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluesda...94793819/show/
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5001/...1b542dab_z.jpg
101 by BluesDawg, on Flickr
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5206/...3cc07aeb_z.jpg
103 by BluesDawg, on Flickr
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5164/...a4f5e17f_z.jpg
105 by BluesDawg, on Flickr
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/...ee6d6156_z.jpg
108 by BluesDawg, on Flickr

Awesome bike, BD, and well deserved. Your ride report (along with great pics) makes my heart ache because I have been sidelined (not riding) because of family and home construction issues - combined with snow/ice. My 1990 carbon wrap Miyata bike is one of favorites - while I have a lot of old and modern steel frames, she's still a joy to ride.

Wow, BD, that's a beaut!

Beautiful bike, I'm sure you will have many happy miles together. The local Specialized rep let me ride his Roubaix one day in early '09...life hasn't been the same for me since. :)

Dawg,
Nice bike, what a neat early Christmas gift to yourself. Ride on!

Bill

Congratulations, I just love a black bike!

Does anyone else think it looks like he had beer in that water bottle?

Looks like you made a great choice, BD. Gratz again.

BD, you do realize that it's partly your fault I got my Tarmac. Your Roubaix looked so sexy that when I couldn't find a Felt I decided to raise my sights a little. Thanks for the "push". :beer:

sweet, good stuff...

silly grin says it all... congrats and do enjoy the ride.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluesda...7625494793819/

Beautiful bike. It certainly has that "Darth Vader bad boy" look, which makes me wish it was mine :D. Good luck with it. Do drop some young OCP type.

Congrats on the beauty, Dawg!

Man, that looks great. And my guess is that you'll love it. I know when those around me are complaining about the road surface I feel fine. Maybe it's the carbon (though it is smoother tan my last carbon bike) or maybe Zertz is more than marketing. Something is working though.

Heck, because the thing feels so good I find I descend more confidently and a lot faster.

Enjoy!

Batman would be sooooo jealous! :thumb:

If Ribby has a soul, I'll bet he's (or she's) happy for you.

It was a long break between chances to ride but now I have ridden about 30 miles each of the past two days and I'm planning a 50 mile ride tomorrow. I think I have the fit dialed in pretty well with a 100mm stem to replace the stock 110. I need to take the bike in to have the steerer cut since I have moved all the spacers from below the stem.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...x/DSCF0465.jpg

I am really liking the way the bike rides and how the shifting works. The trim on the front derailleur works very nicely to keep the chain from rubbing as I move through the rear cogs. So far so good with the saddle. I'm not sure if it will be a keeper, but I know I don't hate it.
The cold (by my wimpy standards) air and my lack of regular riding is keeping me kind of slow, especially on hills, but the gearing seems adequate for the local hills. I'll be hitting some of the harder ones around here during Friday's ride, so that will be a better test.

Wish I could drive down and join you. The roads up here are a mess and the trails are covered in snow.