American Euchre

Hey, thanks for the writeup, dwing. We're looking to more reviews and ride impressions in the weeks and months to come.

Dunbar

How did you find the the rear end compliance? I do get what you're saying about too much isolation. The Domane 6 series I test road was excellent at isolating you from the road but it definitely mutes the riding experience to an extent. I like the new Domane SLR approach where it can be adjusted as stiff as an Emonda or 12% more compliant than the regular Domane.

At least the front end shock is adjustable with different springs. And the rear end takes a standard seat post so you could install one of the Ergon seat posts if you want something more compliant than the CG-R.

Best soft-riding rigid seatposts for road, dirt, and gravel - BikeRadar Australia

dwing

I wasn't thinking too much about the back end compliance when i rode it so i cant speak to the effectiveness of the SP and clamp design. I'll pay attention to it next time i ride it, and maybe i'll take my 2016 along to swap back and forth for an hour.
Today i purposely rode hard and fast over sewer covers and drain grates quite afew times concentrating on the shock design. These manhole covers had several inch drops and i know they would be significant hits on my 2016...Enough that it would rattle me and possibly wrench my steering. So the first time i rode through one i slowed to what i would normally do. The hit was so subdued it surprised me. So i just started picking up the speed and running thru each of these covers and over grates and anything with sizeable bumps and the steering didnt jerk out of control .. It just pushed right through it. Very impressive.

I dont want to sound overly positive so here's some balancing feedback. The bike felt slow.. Maybe better words would be it felt too soft with little road feel. It was an elite 102 group with praxis crank and i think 28 tires. Was it really slow, most likely not , but it felt sluggish. I tried diving into a corner a few times and i was fooled.. It didnt corner as tight as I expected. There would be a learning curve like most bike changes.

Also, it put me in a more aggressive position on tops than my 2016. I'd be interested to know if it could be adjusted to get me upright enough to be comfortable for longer rides given the hardware thats in my neck. Sounds like the geo is moving toward Tarmac which i couldnt handle. I'd also be interested to see what happens on climbs.. Particulary when leaning on the bars and working them hard.

Can anyone explain the beavertail piece of the shock system? There's a tongue attached to the headset facing toward the seatpost and integrated into the design of the frame that swivels back and forth with the steering. When the wheel is straight the beavertail meshes into to the top of the frame. It sticks out side to side when steering left or right. Weird.

trailangel

Hey, maybe they can use this on motorcycles.... forget about suspension and spring load the handle bars.......should work good.

Ya, that's it... make the frames stiffer and smaller, start selling diapers for your @ss, and then come up with a springer bike to sell as well.

Spadmike

I have a Cannondale Slate, which has a suspension fork, and I really think it is overkill. Most of the magic is due to tires. Wider tires and supple tires are the way to go. Fairly cost effective and there are many choices. You want a road bike, put on skinny tires, want a gravel bike? Put wider tires. Companies need to find a way to make a splash to entice buyers. No offense to specialized or Cannondale, but I think there are simpler solutions.

ckindt

I thought you weren't supposed to put much weight on the bars. You know - a strong core to support your upper body weight with a light grip on the bars.
This design requires you to put more of your weight on the bars to be noticeable.

American Euchre

The reviews clearly state that this is a stiction free design which doesn't require the rider to weight the bike differently when riding seated.

Even with standing climbing or sprinting, the movement does not rob efficiency.

Your claim is clearly erroneous. Please read up before commenting.

American Euchre

You can't possibly know that. At least test ride the bike first. You can't generalize from the slate to the specialized.

Wider tires can be less efficient and more squirrelly with narrower rims.

Spadmike

I do know as I own a Cannondale slate. And the rims on the slate are not narrow. Gravel riders have seemed to figure it out. I also think you need to take your own advice. Ride it and then judge.

ckindt

So how effective is the front suspension if you don't put any weight on the bars?

American Euchre

You've never ridden the 17 roubaix. You're just talking out of your rear end. If you haven't realized by now, this is a thread on the new roubaix.

Spadmike

Of course I do. I at least have spent time on a suspension road bike. I at least have some empirical evidence to base my opinion on. I'm just saying.

gsa103

They have 3 spring options to presumably match with the weight your putting on the bars. Given that it's Specialized, I suspect they're tuned for the weight people actually put on the bars.

When the front end hits a bump, the handlebars move up, and so you would get a significant force, even if your hand were floating above the bars just prior to impact.

American Euchre

Of course you what?

A yugo and porsche both have suspension. Therefore they must be the same. That's a dumb argument.

American Euchre

That's just totally wrong. Why doesn't anyone bother to read even a single review before posting this type of drivel?

Specialized design the front sus based upon road conditions, not rider weight.

Lanceoldstrong

Specialized Roubaix 2017 review - BikeRadar

Linked it for 'ya

Spadmike

Enjoy!

a94501er

Perfect timing ... I was looking to upgrade!

NYMXer

While I am excited to see (and read about) new developments in our sport and to the bikes, I am always a bit skeptical at most new designs, and this is no different.

The newly designed Roubaix has some interesting concepts that might make a believer out of me but I will reserve my opinion until I see (and ride) one in person.

I firmly believe that rider comfort goes hand in hand with efficiency and more miles so this design does hold my interest.

dr_lha

Our long nightmare is finally over.

Inpd

I couldn't what out what standard. Do you mean the old 68mm standard or some other threaded (but wider) standard.

Inpd

Once they get ride of internal cabling (or at least offer it only an option) then the nightmare will be over. For those of us who live and ride only in the dry climate the benefits of internal cabling are minimal at best and the pain of servicing them not worth it.

dr_lha

OK, I've never actually owned a bike with internal cabling, so I can't relate to this issue personally.

My BB30 bike is going on Craigslist today.

badger1

Couldn't say; here is what the review I linked said:

"One very interesting change is the switch to a traditional external threaded bottom bracket. Press-fit has lost a lot of fans over the years with customers and are manufacturers now listening? Could this be the start of the end for press-fit?"

I'm assuming, for now, that this means the new frame has a traditional 68mm threaded b/b. Picture below the quoted bit shows the bike with a standard Ultegra chainset, so I'm assuming 'normal' Shimano external b/b cups. I, for one, certainly hope so.

Dan333SP

@topslop1 I think we found your new bike! Didn't you just sell your 'dale anyway?

Slop in the stem = topslop. Couldn't be more clear.