Specialized Roubaix '12

Specialized Roubaix

The Specialized Roubaix is generally acknowledged as the original endurance road bike inspired by the needs of the heroes who ride the hugely cobble-stoned 'Hell of the North' road race from Paris to Roubaix.

The Roubaix still stands out for its full carbon frame & fork with Zertz viscoelastic implants which really do a fantastic job of damping shock when you ride cobbles and rutted tracks. The fact that this design is a multiple Paris-Roubaiz race winner confirms the truth of Specialized’s slogan, Smoother = Faster.

Given the less-than-smooth roads we all find ourselves on, it's little wonder that this is Specialized's best-selling full carbon race bike.

The Bike Co-op's Ged tested the 21lb Roubaix by riding it along a sometimes-rutted cyclepath, then through Edinburgh's cobble-stoned New Town. 'I was amazed. Being almost half the weight of my old Specialized Expedition, the Roubaix was way faster - as you would expect. What really astonished me was that the Roubaix absorbed shock better and was more comfortable over cobbles than my old bike with 26x1.95" tyres. Amazing. If I worked for a magazine I would have no hesitation awarding the Roubaix Elite a 10/10 rating.'

• Full FACT carbon Endurance Road geometry frame and fork with shock-damping Zertz.
• Tapered head tube for a fork steerer that tapers from 1 1/8 - 1 3/8" for the perfect blend of strength and stiffness.
• Specialized FACT (Functionally Advanced Composite Technology) fork whose carbon fibre legs are impregnated with Zertz - 'solid jelly' inserts that deliver remarkable shock absorbency without the weight penalty we associate with conventional bicycle suspension.
• The slightly taller head tube and longer wheelbase offers a more forgiving ride than the full performance Specialized Tarmac. This is a boon if you don't enjoy quite the same lower back flexibility as, say, Mark Cavendish.
• Full Shimano Tiagra dual control 2x10-speed compact drivetrain.
• The Shimano Tiagra 34/50 chainset and 12-30 offer a fantastic range of usable gears whether your climbing up a steep mountain pass of racing down the other side.
• Real Shimano Tiagra Dual Control brakes.
• Specialized Espoir Sport 700x23 tyres with double BlackBelt puncture resistance.
• Specialized's own Body Geometry Toupé saddle - regularly rated the most comfortable you can buy.
• The wheels have been upgraded for 2012 with lighter weight DT Axis rims, DT spokes and machined Specialized hubs.
• The Specialized EliteSet stem's 4-position adjustment mechanism makes it easier to position the handlebar as high or as low as you like.

‘The mid-range Shimano Tiagra gruppo gets a massive facelift, gaining the newer STI lever shape, matching everything from 105 upwards. A light-action shifter feel is maintained. External tension adjusters allow on-the-fly adjustment. The new-shape levers move Super SLR brake callipers bringing improved braking power to Tiagra level.’
Cycling Weekly.

'The smoother, faster Roubaix—named after the gruelling Paris-Roubaix race it has won three consecutive times - is a high-performance, endurance-focused bike that's highly stable and efficient. Shimano 10-speed compact gearing and our new DT-Axis 2.0 wheels improve efficiency over any terrain.'
Specialized.

Road Bike Sizing Guide.

Specialized