2008 Roubaix Expert vs Focus Cayo

chrisbonnie

need some help here lads

ive been offered a specilized roubaix elite frame, granted a 2008 one, thats in MINT condition for €600, so about £500

im mainly sportive based, but have been toying with the idea of racing,

be it at a very entry level perhaos next year

would the specilized be up to this?

now, the Cayo

i keep reading about the "CABLE RATTLE", does this happen with them all?

and is it as comfortable as the roubaix would be?

any replies would smashing lads

cookiemonster

Hi

The Roubaix will be comfier than the Cayo, but at the cost of some stiffness and sharpness (especially the older model). If you're looking at sportives and distance where you'll be on the bike for three hours up, say, then the Roubaixis the way to go; shorter distances and racing where you want stiffness and sprintability, then the Cayo.

Personally, although they were great for the money a few years back, I found my Cayo pretty unrefined and tending towards brutal on longer stuff, say 5 hours and up. Great crit racer though.

Jon

chrisbonnie

appreicate the reply

i imagine the Roubaix is easily raceable as well, perhaps not super responsive,

but in a peloton made up of eqully talentless goons like me, it couldnt make that much of a difference surely

cookiemonster

hi - I'd rather race on a roubaix than do the marmotte on a cayo

I'm not sure how much difference it actually makes in terms of speed and time on the clock; you'll certainly feel the difference between the two bikes (at least I did - I went for the cervelo rs, which is the cervelo equivalent, rather than the roubaix in the end, btw, after my cayo). I'd think that the only real issue with the roubaix and racing is that you may want to get a lower position on the front than is easily gettable with the long headtube - you may be looking at a -17 degree stem to get a decent drop between bars and saddle.

jon

chrisbonnie

cookiemonster wrote:

hi - I'd rather race on a roubaix than do the marmotte on a cayo

I'm not sure how much difference it actually makes in terms of speed and time on the clock; you'll certainly feel the difference between the two bikes (at least I did - I went for the cervelo rs, which is the cervelo equivalent, rather than the roubaix in the end, btw, after my cayo). I'd think that the only real issue with the roubaix and racing is that you may want to get a lower position on the front than is easily gettable with the long headtube - you may be looking at a -17 degree stem to get a decent drop between bars and saddle.

jon

cervelo Rs, NICE

i see there's a 2 or 3 year old one on ebay at the minute, it'd cost way too much to ship it to Ireland, my dream bike

Seanos

chrisbonnie wrote:

i keep reading about the "CABLE RATTLE", does this happen with them all?

Never had a rattle on mine and I haven't heard that this is an ongoing problem. Probably just a minor issue on the bike that was reviewed. Even if you did get one with a rattle it should be easy to sort.