Anyone ridden a new Roubaix yet?
Discussion
So I got out on the Roubaix yesterday, 47 miles about 1000m of climbing in and around Bath.
The picture above shows the bike setup for me, I normally ride a 57cm tt but do also own a 58cm Tarmac SL4.
I felt a little hunched on the Roubaix, a 110mm stem and dropping 2 of the 3 spacers would help that, the combination of the riser bar and spacers puts the bars 5.5cm higher than my Tarmac and other bikes so it was quite upright.
Mid ride I put the saddle up 5mm, with the 2 bolt seat clamp it's a bit fiddly, designed as such so that the seat bolts attach directly to the seat stays in their new lowered position.
It's hard to describe the ride, it's smooth yet also harsh.
The frame is stiff, FACT10R with a FACT11R fork and the 12mm thru-axles I think this is where some of the harshness comes from.
The future shock is ok, you have to ride with a lose grip else you'll find yourself bobbing along rhythmically, it also compress slightly as you turn in to a bend but one you've had that the bike holds its line nicely.
It's hard to fully test the comfort over rough terrain but I did 'aim' for as much rough stuff as I could. As I said it does smooth a lot out but it doesn't seem to do it in a very sympathetic way, once you've taken all the comfort the Roubaix can offer you're still left with a bike that feels much like any other CFRP bike I've ridden.
It does have a raised level of comfort with the 20mm shock up front and the compliance in the seat post, on normal UK roads it does just glide along, would I buy one? No, I can't see the value in it but it was good to give it a go.
I've spent a bit of time on an 2016 Roubaix and would possibly say I preferred it.
The picture above shows the bike setup for me, I normally ride a 57cm tt but do also own a 58cm Tarmac SL4.
I felt a little hunched on the Roubaix, a 110mm stem and dropping 2 of the 3 spacers would help that, the combination of the riser bar and spacers puts the bars 5.5cm higher than my Tarmac and other bikes so it was quite upright.
Mid ride I put the saddle up 5mm, with the 2 bolt seat clamp it's a bit fiddly, designed as such so that the seat bolts attach directly to the seat stays in their new lowered position.
It's hard to describe the ride, it's smooth yet also harsh.
The frame is stiff, FACT10R with a FACT11R fork and the 12mm thru-axles I think this is where some of the harshness comes from.
The future shock is ok, you have to ride with a lose grip else you'll find yourself bobbing along rhythmically, it also compress slightly as you turn in to a bend but one you've had that the bike holds its line nicely.
It's hard to fully test the comfort over rough terrain but I did 'aim' for as much rough stuff as I could. As I said it does smooth a lot out but it doesn't seem to do it in a very sympathetic way, once you've taken all the comfort the Roubaix can offer you're still left with a bike that feels much like any other CFRP bike I've ridden.
It does have a raised level of comfort with the 20mm shock up front and the compliance in the seat post, on normal UK roads it does just glide along, would I buy one? No, I can't see the value in it but it was good to give it a go.
I've spent a bit of time on an 2016 Roubaix and would possibly say I preferred it.
Matt_N said:
So I got out on the Roubaix yesterday, 47 miles about 1000m of climbing in and around Bath.
The picture above shows the bike setup for me, I normally ride a 57cm tt but do also own a 58cm Tarmac SL4.
I felt a little hunched on the Roubaix, a 110mm stem and dropping 2 of the 3 spacers would help that, the combination of the riser bar and spacers puts the bars 5.5cm higher than my Tarmac and other bikes so it was quite upright.
Mid ride I put the saddle up 5mm, with the 2 bolt seat clamp it's a bit fiddly, designed as such so that the seat bolts attach directly to the seat stays in their new lowered position.
It's hard to describe the ride, it's smooth yet also harsh.
The frame is stiff, FACT10R with a FACT11R fork and the 12mm thru-axles I think this is where some of the harshness comes from.
The future shock is ok, you have to ride with a lose grip else you'll find yourself bobbing along rhythmically, it also compress slightly as you turn in to a bend but one you've had that the bike holds its line nicely.
It's hard to fully test the comfort over rough terrain but I did 'aim' for as much rough stuff as I could. As I said it does smooth a lot out but it doesn't seem to do it in a very sympathetic way, once you've taken all the comfort the Roubaix can offer you're still left with a bike that feels much like any other CFRP bike I've ridden.
It does have a raised level of comfort with the 20mm shock up front and the compliance in the seat post, on normal UK roads it does just glide along, would I buy one? No, I can't see the value in it but it was good to give it a go.
I've spent a bit of time on an 2016 Roubaix and would possibly say I preferred it.
Interesting reading. Had one of these on my radar for a winter bike but was struggling to get over the slightly quirky looks. Not quite the game changer the press are making it out to be then!The picture above shows the bike setup for me, I normally ride a 57cm tt but do also own a 58cm Tarmac SL4.
I felt a little hunched on the Roubaix, a 110mm stem and dropping 2 of the 3 spacers would help that, the combination of the riser bar and spacers puts the bars 5.5cm higher than my Tarmac and other bikes so it was quite upright.
Mid ride I put the saddle up 5mm, with the 2 bolt seat clamp it's a bit fiddly, designed as such so that the seat bolts attach directly to the seat stays in their new lowered position.
It's hard to describe the ride, it's smooth yet also harsh.
The frame is stiff, FACT10R with a FACT11R fork and the 12mm thru-axles I think this is where some of the harshness comes from.
The future shock is ok, you have to ride with a lose grip else you'll find yourself bobbing along rhythmically, it also compress slightly as you turn in to a bend but one you've had that the bike holds its line nicely.
It's hard to fully test the comfort over rough terrain but I did 'aim' for as much rough stuff as I could. As I said it does smooth a lot out but it doesn't seem to do it in a very sympathetic way, once you've taken all the comfort the Roubaix can offer you're still left with a bike that feels much like any other CFRP bike I've ridden.
It does have a raised level of comfort with the 20mm shock up front and the compliance in the seat post, on normal UK roads it does just glide along, would I buy one? No, I can't see the value in it but it was good to give it a go.
I've spent a bit of time on an 2016 Roubaix and would possibly say I preferred it.
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