Bacciagalupe

I've used a Specialized Roubaix fairly successfully for the past 2 years. I don't race, I just do a lot of solo and club rides, often over chipseal and the occasional bit of gravel.

My previous road bike is an Allez, which is in good shape but doesn't really fit me anymore. My other bikes are all dirt & tour oriented. So, I need a backup bike.

Any suggestions? My fit works, so I'd want a bike with a stack & reach roughly the same (Roubaix 52, stack 547mm, reach 379mm). I also have a preference for rim brakes, as I have a half-way decent wheelset from the Roubaix, sitting around gathering dust.

ColaJacket

Looking at your Stack/Reach, a Fuji Sportif (49cm) should work. You'd just have to switch the 80mm stem for a 90mm stem. It has a stack/reach of 547/368.

The one that I have (Fuji Sportif 1.3C - 2014) comes with 700x28 tires and disc brakes, so it can handle even bigger tires.



Nashbar is sold out of this size of the one that I bought, but Peformance Bikes has the 2015/2016 models. For online Evans Cycles has the newer models.

GH

Doctor Morbius

How about a used Secteur?

gandrimp

I have a fuji one-1 sportif. Very nice bike. The two-1 is rim brake.

shoota 

Another Roubaix? Also, Scott CR1.

BoSoxYacht

Why buy a backup bike? I would buy something new as a primary bike, and make the Roubaix the backup.

Bacciagalupe

Thanks for the input.

Just FYI - Fuji might be possible, depends on where local dealers are.

Not a Scott fan. I test rode a CR1 years ago, and found it way too stiff.

As to buying a new high-end bike, while that's not a bad suggestion: I like the Roubaix, it's in very good shape, I'd rather spend my money elsewhere or save it.

HazeT

Nashbar had the fuji sportif really cheap, I think every month they have a 20-25% off which makes it a really good deal.
If you look con craigslist you should also be able to find other bikes prices ~500-600, cannondale synapse, giant defy, specialized secteur and so forth.

Campag4life

In that case, hands down get a Secteur if you can find one in your size. Newer is better. Latest model has the rear brake cable running thru the top tube and hydroformed tube shape is virtually identical to carbon fiber Roubaix. I bought aka stole a brand new 2014 Secteur elite off ebay. Rode it stock for a bit...was fine with Tiagra 10s and then decided I liked the frame so much...it honestly rides better than my Roubaix SL3 Pro...that I put all Campy and Fulcrum wheels on it...and new Shimano 105 11s crankset on it which I vastly prefer to the crummy FSA square taper crank that came on the bike. I ride it with platform pedals and even the stock Riva seat which I love as well and never expected to. Put a Topeak quick connect rack and removal panniers on it...and it serves as light tourer and back up rain bike. I loooove this bike....feels like riding a Cadillac. No idea how Spesh got it to ride even better than my Roubaix which is stiffer but it does. It is heavier and of course I prefer the Roubaix for aggressive club riders as the Roubaix is clearly the faster and snappier bike. Al is the new steel only stiffer laterally due to differential tube section widths and lighter of course. Most astounding aspect of the bike is its ride quality. Can't believe how well the bike takes the bumps and never expected to have it ride better than my Roubaix...having run the same wheelset on both as a test.

PS: pretty sure the Secteur has been replaced by the Diverge for 2016 which is only available in disk. I too prefer caliper brakes for road riding...not off road...because to me they are less fiddly and lighter and plenty of braking power. But the Diverge is great bike as well also available in Al and carbon.
I wish they would have kept the non disk Secteur in their product line...but will see what Spesh does in the future. With the evolution of Al, I wouldn't be surprised if they make the Roubaix in an Al smart weld model in the future as most of the top endurance bikes are available in both materials.

Out of the box:


Looks a fair amount different now with Campy driveline and wheelset but a pic of when I first got it together:

ColaJacket

Unfortunately, for his stack/reach, he'd need a 49/52 cm Sportif. And NashBar is down to 56/58 cm on the Tiagra Sportif.

OP, where do you live? Someone might have a suggestion for a LBS.

GH

RPK79

Right? Why not buy a new Roubaix and use the old one as a backup?

shoota 

Please stop making sense.

TrojanHorse

Why do you want a backup? Just to have a backup?

I'd get something different in that case. Just to be different.

I agree about the disks... I have a gaggle of non-disk wheels myself.

danmyersmn

A 52cm Trek 1.1 will be the same stack/reach. Not quite a perfect fit but in the darn close category a 49cm Kona ***** Tonk might be interesting.

calimtb

The secteur's geometry is identical to the roubaix's. At a great price point on craigslist, ebay and other listings, I don't see the point of the thread.

I'm curious as to why specialized didin't promote the secteur more than they did. It was only available for what, 5 or 6 years? Perhaps sales were great and they arbitrarily decided to pursue the gravel bike fad?

I doubt it, sales were probably slower than they had hoped. I know a few specialized reps, so I might ask them.

In any event, get a secteur on a smooth(ish) road, and it rides like a dream. It's not super plush on the roughest roads, though.

I'm not sure what specialized is trying to accomplish with the roubaix. I've test ridden several roubaix's and they tend to ride very stiff and rough. Perhaps it will be nicer riding with their new suspension seatpost.

RPK79

Yeah, but it would be a Trek...

calimtb

Haha! On point!

calimtb

N+1 syndrome in full effect. :-)