Tarmac elite Vs S-Works Roubaix....
OK - so - I am looking for a frameset for a summer 2008 build. It will be built with campag centaur groupset including the new carbon chainset and a set of Campag Eurus wheels along with nice finishing kit. I want a carbon fibre frame.
to give you an idea of what I want the bike for - II ride mainly for personal fitness although did a few longer 'day' rides in the lakes with friends last summer along with the manchester - blackpool charity ride. I have entered the northernrock cyclone for 2008 which I hope will be the first of many sportive rides.
My current bikes are a Trek Pilot 1.2 road bike with tiagra and a specialized Langster fixie. Now, while both bikes are size '54' I have had to spend a bit of time and effort to get the trek to feel comfortable, while the langster was a perfect fit right out of the box. This made me look for the specialized range of frames.
I had thought that the tarmac would be a carbon version of the allez (same geom as langster) but it turns out that it isn't! - Purely on head tube sizes (which I guess determines the upright riding position) the tarmac is slightly shorter than the langster by 10mm while the roubaix is slightly longer by 10mm
However, other than the slightly shorter head tube, the tarmac does appear to be pretty similar to the langster geometry on paper - see sizing geometry details for the 3 bikes below...
I was all prepared to buy the tarmac elite, sell the wheels and groupset on ebay and build the frame back up with the campag parts. I can get the tarmac elite complete bike for £1170 so if I hope to get £200 for the 105 bits and wheels on ebay - then the frame cost is £970 (with free seatpost, toupe saddle, stem and bars)
Now though - just to confuse things, I notice that there are a few places selling off the 2007 model S-Works Roubaix frameset for £995 - which is a £1400 frame and seems very good value.
So - question time - am I reading too much into the extra 10mm on the headset (or 20mm over the tarmac) - will it feel weird and too high? what is it about the dimensions of the langster that make it feel so much fun and make it feel so "sharp" (cos it really does!) will the roubaix feel sharp too? or will it feel more like my trek pilot? (which is pretty heavy and dull) between the tarmac and the roubaix which will be better suited to my riding requirements?
`any owner opinions?
Also - my local specialized dealer is 40 miles away and I don't really want to mess him around so the option to test ride these bikes is a non-starter - I will be ordering one of them online and self building - I just really want a carbon geared version of my langster as I love the fit of that bike!! - so which is it to be.......
Thanks in advance for any opinions and sorry for such a long post...
Graham
Tarmac Elite, Roubaix, Langster
Seat-Tube Length, B-B Center to Top 510mm, 500mm, 500mm
Top-Tube Length, Horizontal 548mm 548mm 548mm
B-B Drop 69mm 71.5mm 69mm
Chain-Stay Length 405mm 415mm 405mm
Seat-Tube Angle 73.5° 73.5 73.5
Head-Tube Angle 73° 72 72.5
Fork Rake 45mm 49mm 45mm
Trail 57mm 59mm 60mm
Front-Center 583mm 595mm 587mm
Wheelbase 978mm 1000mm 982mm
Stand-Over Height 777mm 760mm 764mm
Head-Tube Length 145mm 165mm 155mm
to give you an idea of what I want the bike for - II ride mainly for personal fitness although did a few longer 'day' rides in the lakes with friends last summer along with the manchester - blackpool charity ride. I have entered the northernrock cyclone for 2008 which I hope will be the first of many sportive rides.
My current bikes are a Trek Pilot 1.2 road bike with tiagra and a specialized Langster fixie. Now, while both bikes are size '54' I have had to spend a bit of time and effort to get the trek to feel comfortable, while the langster was a perfect fit right out of the box. This made me look for the specialized range of frames.
I had thought that the tarmac would be a carbon version of the allez (same geom as langster) but it turns out that it isn't! - Purely on head tube sizes (which I guess determines the upright riding position) the tarmac is slightly shorter than the langster by 10mm while the roubaix is slightly longer by 10mm
However, other than the slightly shorter head tube, the tarmac does appear to be pretty similar to the langster geometry on paper - see sizing geometry details for the 3 bikes below...
I was all prepared to buy the tarmac elite, sell the wheels and groupset on ebay and build the frame back up with the campag parts. I can get the tarmac elite complete bike for £1170 so if I hope to get £200 for the 105 bits and wheels on ebay - then the frame cost is £970 (with free seatpost, toupe saddle, stem and bars)
Now though - just to confuse things, I notice that there are a few places selling off the 2007 model S-Works Roubaix frameset for £995 - which is a £1400 frame and seems very good value.
So - question time - am I reading too much into the extra 10mm on the headset (or 20mm over the tarmac) - will it feel weird and too high? what is it about the dimensions of the langster that make it feel so much fun and make it feel so "sharp" (cos it really does!) will the roubaix feel sharp too? or will it feel more like my trek pilot? (which is pretty heavy and dull) between the tarmac and the roubaix which will be better suited to my riding requirements?
`any owner opinions?
Also - my local specialized dealer is 40 miles away and I don't really want to mess him around so the option to test ride these bikes is a non-starter - I will be ordering one of them online and self building - I just really want a carbon geared version of my langster as I love the fit of that bike!! - so which is it to be.......
Thanks in advance for any opinions and sorry for such a long post...
Graham
Tarmac Elite, Roubaix, Langster
Seat-Tube Length, B-B Center to Top 510mm, 500mm, 500mm
Top-Tube Length, Horizontal 548mm 548mm 548mm
B-B Drop 69mm 71.5mm 69mm
Chain-Stay Length 405mm 415mm 405mm
Seat-Tube Angle 73.5° 73.5 73.5
Head-Tube Angle 73° 72 72.5
Fork Rake 45mm 49mm 45mm
Trail 57mm 59mm 60mm
Front-Center 583mm 595mm 587mm
Wheelbase 978mm 1000mm 982mm
Stand-Over Height 777mm 760mm 764mm
Head-Tube Length 145mm 165mm 155mm
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Comments
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how about a 07 54cm tarmac s works for 995 ???0
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I don't think that exists does it?
Besides the 07 s-works tarmac (and the 08 tarmac SL) is much racier than the 08 Tarmac elite - they have 130mm headtubes.0 -
no-one else got any thoughts on this?0
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I have a Roubaix, bought ex-demo from a shop at the end of last year.
All the magazine reviews talk about how long the headtube on a Roubaix is, how you get a fairly upright position, ideal for longer rides or sportives, but the Tarmac is a more 'racy' position.
Well yes, the Roubaix has a longish headtube - but on top of it it also has two or three spacers plus a great big semi-spherical one : this lot together must add 1.5" to the stem height.
The shop had cut the steerer down on mine, removed all these spacers, and it's not that silly or upright a position at all.
What you'll also notice however, looking at the detailed geometries, is the headtube angle and fork rake, the chainstay length - the Roubaix is a little more relaxed.0 -
thanks - everyone who has a roubaix seems to think a lot of it - i've not heard anyone disappointed with it yet.
what made you buy the Roubaix - was it just for for the relaxed geometry?0 -
I went to the LBS today. They had the 2007 Tarmac Expert in the LBS for £1700 (although it seemed to have Ultegra and DA rather than 105) and if they had had it for the price you mention (£1170) I would have walked out with it there and then.
Is it the 2008 Elite you mean, I can't see a 2007 Elite?[/img]0 -
I've got the 07 Roubaix expert and my mate has the 07 Tarmac expert, both great bikes but at the end of a long day out I'm pleased I went for the Roubaix.0
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redddraggon wrote:I went to the LBS today. They had the 2007 Tarmac Expert in the LBS for £1700 (although it seemed to have Ultegra and DA rather than 105) and if they had had it for the price you mention (£1170) I would have walked out with it there and then.
Is it the 2008 Elite you mean, I can't see a 2007 Elite?[/img]
Sorry - it's the 2008 elite model I can get for that - list is £1299 an I have a 10% voucher for the evans store at Manchester.
2008 elite vs 2007 s-works Roubaix
Trashcanman - thats interesting - see, mostly my riding is shorter stuff - 2 to 3 hours, but I don't want a bike that will kill me if I decide to do a sportive type event either.
I think that the design of the tarmac appeals to me more, but I probably should go for the roubaix...0 -
I have an 06 S works Roubaix which is an incredible all rounder. The only changes I have made are to the stem, which I have shortened and the gearing which I have changed from a 50/36 to a 53/36 for a bit more top end speed.
I have spent 6 hours in the saddle with ease and trained with the local club in APR's and it has coped with all disciplines.
Great bike and great ride quality.
Go for one !!!
Rgds, Bill0 -
I haven't seen an 08 Specialized brochure so I could be wrong on this point but if the 08 tarmac elite is a Fact 6r frame and the 07 s-works Roubaix is the Fact 8r then if the prices are similar then this must be a big plus for the Roubaix ?0
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yep - the elite is a 6R and the Roubaix is a 10R - to be honest I don't really know what tha means though....
i saw them both together at the specialized concept store in Birmingham - didn't ride them (although managed to drop one of them - oops....) in the flesh the appearance of the frame doesn't look that much different...
Think I will make some calls about the roubaix...0 -
I know the R8 frame is stiffer and lighter than the R6, so I presume the R10 is even stiffer and lighter than the R8, more points for the Roubaix ?0
