Specialized Roubaix test ride

vorsprung
vorsprung Posts: 1,953
edited September 2010 in Road buying advice
My thoughts on the Specialized long distance wonder bike are on the blog now

"Roubaix Tuesday"

Comments

  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Thanks for posting this. I have often wondered if the geometry / materials did actually deliver the promised mile-munching comfort. I'm not as bendy as I used to be, and if I get any kind of bonus next year (don't shoot, I'm not a banker!) I might be looking for something carbon-based with a taller head tube. Logically the Roubaix and Scott CR1 are on my list.

    Anything else you considered apart from the Mercx?
  • vorsprung
    vorsprung Posts: 1,953
    keef66 wrote:

    Anything else you considered apart from the Mercx?

    I was looking for bikes with a suitable riding position for long distance. There are several bikes designed for "sportive" use that seem to actually have an interestingly different geometry

    My short list also included

    Bianchi Infinito
    Look 566
    Giant Defy Advanced
    Colnago Ace
    Hewitt Alpine

    I had arranged a test ride of the Bianchi and the Look at Epic Cycles ( http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/ ) near Kidderminister but bought the Specialized before the appointment...

    The Giant Defy Advanced seems to be sold out for this year and the 2011 models are due in "soon"

    The Colnago Ace is sold cheaply by chainreaction but I couldn't find anywhere that did a test ride. Maybe I could have tried harder..
    http://www.windwave.co.uk/colnago_dealers.html lists all the dealers

    The Hewitt Alpine is from http://www.hewittbikefitting.co.uk/inde ... age=hewitt and I hear good things about it word of mouth. The geometry of this isn't so great but it can take 28mm tyres

    Incidently the headtube on the Scott CR1 doesn't look that long to me.
  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    vorsprung wrote:
    My thoughts on the Specialized long distance wonder bike are on the blog now

    "Roubaix Tuesday"

    bit short on specifics, in my opinion. Incidentally, assuming they are correctly put together, 100% of bikes should track straight when you lift your hands off the bars - I wouldn't suggest this was any particular guarantee of a stable bike in every situation....
  • vorsprung
    vorsprung Posts: 1,953
    softlad wrote:
    vorsprung wrote:
    My thoughts on the Specialized long distance wonder bike are on the blog now

    "Roubaix Tuesday"

    bit short on specifics, in my opinion.

    It's not a review, it's a writeup of "jamie goes to the bike shop and tries out a bike"

    There are some incidental details of the bike included with my impressions, which are very subjective. Some stuff that most riders aren't interested in is covered. For example I have a 10 megapixel photo of the rear bridge clearance to show that mudguards are possible. Not top priority for many riders
    Incidentally, assuming they are correctly put together, 100% of bikes should track straight when you lift your hands off the bars - I wouldn't suggest this was any particular guarantee of a stable bike in every situation....

    The bit you are talking about is

    When I got off the A road I tried riding no hands. If the bike is balanced and stable this should be easy. It is, good!

    Perhaps I could have put this a bit better. I have an Orbea racing bike which is slightly the wrong size for me. The tracking is excellent, it can be pushed (not pedalled) by the saddle and steered through the saddle without touching the bars. But riding it hands free is difficult because the balance is wrong, as the size is wrong. So being able to ride hands free is a minor indicator of a good fit for a stable ride.
  • keef66 wrote:
    Thanks for posting this. I have often wondered if the geometry / materials did actually deliver the promised mile-munching comfort. I'm not as bendy as I used to be, and if I get any kind of bonus next year (don't shoot, I'm not a banker!) I might be looking for something carbon-based with a taller head tube. Logically the Roubaix and Scott CR1 are on my list.

    Anything else you considered apart from the Mercx?
    Cervelo RS
    Pegoretti
    Colnago
    Cervelo
    Campagnolo
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Unfortunately I don't think I'll be getting that big a bonus!