2017 Specialized Roubaix review
09-12-16, 10:39 AM
#77
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09-12-16, 11:10 AM
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What pain? Its only semi difficult the very first time they are run if you are building up a frameset from scratch. Replacing the cable and housing is a cinch if you know what you are doing.
09-12-16, 11:17 AM
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My understanding is that internal cabling has two benefits:
a) It makes for a clean look.
b) It protects the cables form the elements.
Both a) and b) don't really matter to me given my setting.
Now I do have a PF86 BB Shimano's Ultegra plastic unit and its been wonderful for over a few thousand miles.
09-12-16, 11:28 AM
#82
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Neither have I. But I've heard enough personal accounts to turn me off.
My understanding is that internal cabling has two benefits:
a) It makes for a clean look.
b) It protects the cables form the elements.
Both a) and b) don't really matter to me given my setting.
Now I do have a PF86 BB Shimano's Ultegra plastic unit and its been wonderful for over a few thousand miles.
My understanding is that internal cabling has two benefits:
a) It makes for a clean look.
b) It protects the cables form the elements.
Both a) and b) don't really matter to me given my setting.
Now I do have a PF86 BB Shimano's Ultegra plastic unit and its been wonderful for over a few thousand miles.
09-12-16, 12:00 PM
#83
Vain, But Lacking Talent
Upon further review, if I found myself liking what this bike has to offer, I'd probably buy a Cannondale Slate instead.
09-12-16, 12:32 PM
#84
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I'd like to know more about the rear suspension difference. That is what I have always wanted...a little more cush. I switched from a SL2 to SL4, and the SL4 could use a little more compliance for those long rides. I am comfy till 35-40, after which (after several seats and tires) it does feel a bit too firm and transmits more road hits. The front compliance is fine for me on the SL4, but I also ride pretty smooth roads generally.
09-12-16, 02:23 PM
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The domane gets good reviews, but they're not RAVE reviews. Most note that the suspension robs power and can feel a bit mushy.
I test rode the alu version, and the elastomers rear can get noisy. It didn't feel high end at all.
Every time I test ride a trek these days, either road or off road, I am just left underwhelmed.
I test rode the alu version, and the elastomers rear can get noisy. It didn't feel high end at all.
Every time I test ride a trek these days, either road or off road, I am just left underwhelmed.
I was impressed how compliant the Specialized Sequoia is being an aluminum bike (like the 2010 model or something, not the latest marketing blitz one).
I was *not* impressed with Specialized full carbon road bikes otherwise. They're fine, I just road a regular roubaix a month ago and it was good but nothing I found exceptional.
Trek had (and maybe still has) a tendency to deliberately make their entry level carbon feel rough and unrefined, and their midlevel carbon seems really smooth and put together.
I didn't really like the Domane personally, in either level. Slow turning, really killed all road feel.
But -
The Trek Emonda in the midlevel frame (500 carbon) was really impressive. More road feel than the Domane, though less than say a Tarmac, but it handled everything for me really well. I started deliberately hitting potholes with it, I was running over basketball sized potholes and not only did I barely feel it, but the bike just kept on going straight through it. None of the usual wrenching around of the bars.
Since it sounds like this latest specialized roubaix loses all road feel through the handlebars, I think the Trek Emonda is still my top choice if your priority is no road buzz and smooth predictable handling.
09-12-16, 10:23 PM
#86
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Also, it's standard equipment on several models, so there is no extra charge.
The starting price for future shock is just $2.6K, far south of the $5K starting point for Trek SLR.
09-12-16, 10:31 PM
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I mean opinions differ.
I was impressed how compliant the Specialized Sequoia is being an aluminum bike (like the 2010 model or something, not the latest marketing blitz one).
I was *not* impressed with Specialized full carbon road bikes otherwise. They're fine, I just road a regular roubaix a month ago and it was good but nothing I found exceptional.
Trek had (and maybe still has) a tendency to deliberately make their entry level carbon feel rough and unrefined, and their midlevel carbon seems really smooth and put together.
I didn't really like the Domane personally, in either level. Slow turning, really killed all road feel.
But -
The Trek Emonda in the midlevel frame (500 carbon) was really impressive. More road feel than the Domane, though less than say a Tarmac, but it handled everything for me really well. I started deliberately hitting potholes with it, I was running over basketball sized potholes and not only did I barely feel it, but the bike just kept on going straight through it. None of the usual wrenching around of the bars.
Since it sounds like this latest specialized roubaix loses all road feel through the handlebars, I think the Trek Emonda is still my top choice if your priority is no road buzz and smooth predictable handling.
I was impressed how compliant the Specialized Sequoia is being an aluminum bike (like the 2010 model or something, not the latest marketing blitz one).
I was *not* impressed with Specialized full carbon road bikes otherwise. They're fine, I just road a regular roubaix a month ago and it was good but nothing I found exceptional.
Trek had (and maybe still has) a tendency to deliberately make their entry level carbon feel rough and unrefined, and their midlevel carbon seems really smooth and put together.
I didn't really like the Domane personally, in either level. Slow turning, really killed all road feel.
But -
The Trek Emonda in the midlevel frame (500 carbon) was really impressive. More road feel than the Domane, though less than say a Tarmac, but it handled everything for me really well. I started deliberately hitting potholes with it, I was running over basketball sized potholes and not only did I barely feel it, but the bike just kept on going straight through it. None of the usual wrenching around of the bars.
Since it sounds like this latest specialized roubaix loses all road feel through the handlebars, I think the Trek Emonda is still my top choice if your priority is no road buzz and smooth predictable handling.
No one is forcing future shock down anyone's throat.
Having said that, at least on paper and based upon video of both systems, the future shock system sounds like it is technically superior. The trek relies on splay (the stem splays fore aft as well as up and down), which just sounds like a bad idea for steering accuracy. I would not want my handlebar moving forwards and backwards, however slight the deflection.
The spec. system keeps the steering position stable; vertical suspension is absolutely the technically superior solution.
Now as far as the rear, I really don't know what the 'correct' answer is as far as road bike suspension design. I've ridden giant's defy which relies on seat post deflection and it is very comfortable. Spec's system is similar but allows for even more splay and also adds the seat post deflection at the top of the post as well.
I'm sure it adds comfort. I don't know if something similar to future shock can be implemented in the rear. Whether it's due to cost, weight, or reduced efficiency, splay is the solution for the rear.
I'm not sure if vertical suspension, at least not 20 mm, would work for the rear. It would change your pedaling position too much.
We'll see what the future holds but seat post splay is almost certainly not the final design for rear suspension.
09-12-16, 10:34 PM
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That box they show with the Roubaix looks to me to be the fuel cell, which lists at $75
09-12-16, 11:04 PM
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https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/blog...things-to-know
Geoff
09-13-16, 10:15 AM
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Let's keep this discussion civil and without personal insults.
09-13-16, 11:44 AM
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The trek design is inferior, IMHO. For those who are not already invested in a $10K to $13K Trek SLR, watch this video:
..either at the start or at 4:13. You can see the handlebars moving downward in an arc. The front isospeed relies on splay. It deflects downward in an arc altering the reach and drop simultaneously.
The spec FS design does not rely on splay, but on vertical movement: Both reach and drop are unaffected, but remain constant. Spec realized that altering both reach and drop is an inferior design and chose the correct design to keep them constant. Trek did not.
I'm sure that Trek's design does offer additional comfort, but it is the incorrect approach. Practically speaking, you want to keep drop and reach constant and offer more suspension in the front than in the rear.
There will be further refinements but specialized has taken the correct approach to preserve fit, handling while also introducing more comfort and control.
It's back to the drawing board for trek. And for specialized.
Enjoy your bike bro. It's second best, but it's probably still a nice, comfortable bike.
..either at the start or at 4:13. You can see the handlebars moving downward in an arc. The front isospeed relies on splay. It deflects downward in an arc altering the reach and drop simultaneously.
The spec FS design does not rely on splay, but on vertical movement: Both reach and drop are unaffected, but remain constant. Spec realized that altering both reach and drop is an inferior design and chose the correct design to keep them constant. Trek did not.
I'm sure that Trek's design does offer additional comfort, but it is the incorrect approach. Practically speaking, you want to keep drop and reach constant and offer more suspension in the front than in the rear.
There will be further refinements but specialized has taken the correct approach to preserve fit, handling while also introducing more comfort and control.
It's back to the drawing board for trek. And for specialized.
Enjoy your bike bro. It's second best, but it's probably still a nice, comfortable bike.
Last edited by Homebrew01; 09-13-16 at 07:15 PM.
09-13-16, 12:59 PM
#92
Vain, But Lacking Talent
The trek design is inferior, IMHO. For those who are not already invested in a $10K to $13K Trek SLR, watch this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qdsuzuio14
..either at the start or at 4:13. You can see the handlebars moving downward in an arc. The front isospeed relies on splay. It deflects downward in an arc altering the reach and drop simultaneously.
The spec FS design does not rely on splay, but on vertical movement: Both reach and drop are unaffected, but remain constant. Spec realized that altering both reach and drop is an inferior design and chose the correct design to keep them constant. Trek did not.
I'm sure that Trek's design does offer additional comfort, but it is the incorrect approach. Practically speaking, you want to keep drop and reach constant and offer more suspension in the front than in the rear.
There will be further refinements but specialized has taken the correct approach to preserve fit, handling while also introducing more comfort and control.
It's back to the drawing board for trek. And for specialized.
Enjoy your bike bro. It's second best, but it's probably still a nice, comfortable bike.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qdsuzuio14
..either at the start or at 4:13. You can see the handlebars moving downward in an arc. The front isospeed relies on splay. It deflects downward in an arc altering the reach and drop simultaneously.
The spec FS design does not rely on splay, but on vertical movement: Both reach and drop are unaffected, but remain constant. Spec realized that altering both reach and drop is an inferior design and chose the correct design to keep them constant. Trek did not.
I'm sure that Trek's design does offer additional comfort, but it is the incorrect approach. Practically speaking, you want to keep drop and reach constant and offer more suspension in the front than in the rear.
There will be further refinements but specialized has taken the correct approach to preserve fit, handling while also introducing more comfort and control.
It's back to the drawing board for trek. And for specialized.
Enjoy your bike bro. It's second best, but it's probably still a nice, comfortable bike.
09-13-16, 01:19 PM
#94
Vain, But Lacking Talent
Let me attempt a more measured response:
Specialized just "invented" the Cannondale Headshok and people are flipping out as if this is a revolutionary approach. I'm not saying it's a bad bike. I think it will ride fine. I don't think it's superior at all. I do think it's superior to the previous Roubaix, but as I said before, Zertz is not designed to take the kind of hits that the industry suddenly decided (shortly after the introduction of the Domane) endurance bikes should be engineered to take. It eliminated road buzz and that was pretty much it.
I will readily admit that I am unlikely to adopt the new Domane because even if it does work, I like the simplicity of the 1st generation Domane. I don't exactly like the idea of my front end moving around, either back and forth or up and down. I don't think it's at all a superior solution, but I don't think the Specialized is, either. Trek even had the SPA fork back in the day which is closer to the Cannondale Headshok.
And again, if I found myself liking this bike at all, I'd probably go and buy a Cannondale Slate.
Specialized just "invented" the Cannondale Headshok and people are flipping out as if this is a revolutionary approach. I'm not saying it's a bad bike. I think it will ride fine. I don't think it's superior at all. I do think it's superior to the previous Roubaix, but as I said before, Zertz is not designed to take the kind of hits that the industry suddenly decided (shortly after the introduction of the Domane) endurance bikes should be engineered to take. It eliminated road buzz and that was pretty much it.
I will readily admit that I am unlikely to adopt the new Domane because even if it does work, I like the simplicity of the 1st generation Domane. I don't exactly like the idea of my front end moving around, either back and forth or up and down. I don't think it's at all a superior solution, but I don't think the Specialized is, either. Trek even had the SPA fork back in the day which is closer to the Cannondale Headshok.
And again, if I found myself liking this bike at all, I'd probably go and buy a Cannondale Slate.
09-13-16, 01:20 PM
#95
Vain, But Lacking Talent
Aren't we supposed to have noodles for arms like the pros?
09-13-16, 05:50 PM
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09-14-16, 01:46 AM
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The Domane SLR frame is pretty reasonable at $3k. Many of us already own a good set of wheels, preferred saddle and handlebars. Ultegra 6800 runs about $600 online from Ribble, PBK etc so you could build up a nice SLR without dropping $5k for the base complete bike.
09-14-16, 07:40 AM
#98
Vain, But Lacking Talent
1) jumping ...
Last edited by BillyD; 09-14-16 at 07:51 AM.
09-14-16, 07:50 AM
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Enough! Last night ends it! Both of you guys, Walkson2wheels and American Euchre, leave this thread, do not post here any further. Thankyouverymuch!
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09-14-16, 08:05 AM
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I am trying to figure out where I will have a stretch of road like shown in the videos to ride this bike on. If I had bad roads I would ride hybrid with big tires. You gonna buy this new bike just to ride rough roads? Where? Tell me what roads?
What is the allure of riding a road bike on these types of roads? What is this allure of riding a drop bar bike on a gravel road? I wouldn't. That's why we have mountain bikes.
Motorcycles don't ride road bars in the dirt.
What is the allure of riding a road bike on these types of roads? What is this allure of riding a drop bar bike on a gravel road? I wouldn't. That's why we have mountain bikes.
Motorcycles don't ride road bars in the dirt.