Wanting to hire a Roubaix

wildmoustache

Unusual post I know, but here goes ...

I'm doing the P-R sportive next month and I'd like to hire a Specialized Roubaix from someone. It can be either a size 54 or 56.

I will not need the wheels, seatpost, saddle, pedals or bottlecages. Just the frameset, built up with a groupset, bars and stem. Must be in good to very good condition, in very good mechanical working order and obviously safe. I don't mind about the level of the groupset or whether it is Shimano, SRAM or Campagnolo.

Hire period will be a minimum of 4 days so as to ensure i can adjust the bike. It will however only be ridden in anger once - at the P-R sportive.

I'll clean the bike thoroughly after and ensure it is returned in as good mechanical order as it was originally.

If it helps, I could use my own cassette and chain to minimise wear.

I'm 75kg, an experienced rider and not particularly hard on equipment

Can anyone help?

DIESELDOG

Would have done but I've already lent it to a friend. But can I ask why it has to be a spesh? There are places that hire road bikes out but they aren't spesh ones.

PM if you need more info

Love n hugs

DD

ugo.santalucia

May I point out that the Specialized Roubaix is not a frame designed to get you around the french pave?

The same as the Wilier Mortirolo won't make you faster up to slopes of Mortirolo or a Trek Madone was not designed for Lance Armstrong to train up the Col de la Madone?
In fact my Genesis corix de Fer at 12 Kg heavy is hardly the best frame to get me up the Croix de Fer

They are brand names and mean nothing

wildmoustache

ugo.santalucia wrote:

May I point out that the Specialized Roubaix is not a frame designed to get you around the french pave?

The same as the Wilier Mortirolo won't make you faster up to slopes of Mortirolo or a Trek Madone was not designed for Lance Armstrong to train up the Col de la Madone?
In fact my Genesis corix de Fer at 12 Kg heavy is hardly the best frame to get me up the Croix de Fer

They are brand names and mean nothing

you may point it out, but I may in return point out you are wrong. The roubaix has a number of features that make it ideally suited to riding the Paris - Roubaix course aggressively. Its a very good tool for the job.

danowat

wildmoustache wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

May I point out that the Specialized Roubaix is not a frame designed to get you around the french pave?

The same as the Wilier Mortirolo won't make you faster up to slopes of Mortirolo or a Trek Madone was not designed for Lance Armstrong to train up the Col de la Madone?
In fact my Genesis corix de Fer at 12 Kg heavy is hardly the best frame to get me up the Croix de Fer

They are brand names and mean nothing

you may point it out, but I may in return point out you are wrong. The roubaix has a number of features that make it ideally suited to riding the Paris - Roubaix course aggressively. Its a very good tool for the job.

I think the point was, its not the ONLY tool for the job

wildmoustache

danowat wrote:

wildmoustache wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

May I point out that the Specialized Roubaix is not a frame designed to get you around the french pave?

The same as the Wilier Mortirolo won't make you faster up to slopes of Mortirolo or a Trek Madone was not designed for Lance Armstrong to train up the Col de la Madone?
In fact my Genesis corix de Fer at 12 Kg heavy is hardly the best frame to get me up the Croix de Fer

They are brand names and mean nothing

you may point it out, but I may in return point out you are wrong. The roubaix has a number of features that make it ideally suited to riding the Paris - Roubaix course aggressively. Its a very good tool for the job.

I think the point was, its not the ONLY tool for the job

I see ...

I don't think that was the point, and on re-reading the post I find it hard to see how it could have been. While "Madone" is just a model name and is no more or less suitable to climb and descend the eponymous col than any other similarly high-end road bike, the Specialized Roubaix is indeed a bike that has a number of features that make it a perfect tool to ride the Paris-Roubaix course.

On the seperate point regarding the Roubaix not being the only tool for the job, I agree entirely - though as an aside most road bikes are compromised in one way or another, often due to limited clearance for wider tyres. Cross bikes are an option, though overall less suitable for my riding style and experience than the Roubaix.

Kléber

The Roubaix was made to give the pros a bit more comfort, something ideal for the weekend rider on a normal ride. But I wouldn't pick it for the cobbles, these things are brutal and last year's amateur sportive saw breakages galore. I don't know about any particular Specialized frames but plenty had big mishaps.

Anyone lending their bike should ask for a giant deposit!

Note for the upcoming Etape on the Paris-Roubaix route the organisers are recommending people use an old steel frame and indestructible wheels. Unlike the pros there simply won't be enough spare bikes on following cars.

wildmoustache

thanks kleber. I respect your opinion.

it does have to be said though that frame and fork breakages among the pros - who are hitting the cobbles much faster than i will be - are relatively rare. Wheels yes, but few frames actually break. Not unknown, but rare.

Kléber

it's more in the amateurs. Maybe it's some using old bikes. But crashes happen with the amateurs and it's here the breakages can happen.

Think about some nice wide tyres, as big as you can get in whatever you are riding. Start with plenty of air but when you get to the first section of cobbles, let some out. Remember that for all the cobbles, there's plenty of tarmac, you don't want a tractor of a bike because it'll make the normal roads so hard you're tired by the time the cobbles come. Plus some sections of cobbles are ok. This isn't to say you use an unadapted road bike, just to a reminder that it's not all cobbled hell.

ugo.santalucia

I don't know what your experience with the french pave is... last year I did ride the full PR course on a cross bike, which I did find suitable, on the grounds that didn't fall apart or let me down. I really don't see how a couple of alleged zertz elastomer dampers can make any difference in Mons En Pevele or Aremberg... honestly, the surface is so bad that tiny differences in frame response are irrelevant. It might make a slight difference having or not having bigger tyres... but mostly it's up to will power and brutal power

Cancellara won it because of the latter, rather than because of his frame

wildmoustache

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I don't know what your experience with the french pave is... last year I did ride the full PR course on a cross bike, which I did find suitable, on the grounds that didn't fall apart or let me down. I really don't see how a couple of alleged zertz elastomer dampers can make any difference in Mons En Pevele or Aremberg... honestly, the surface is so bad that tiny differences in frame response are irrelevant. It might make a slight difference having or not having bigger tyres... but mostly it's up to will power and brutal power

Cancellara won it because of the latter, rather than because of his frame

My NP is c.300 watts so I wouldn't think I'll be riding anything like Cancellara.

The Roubaix frame can take larger tyres than most road bikes, which as you say is a benefit.

On the crashes point raised by kleber - i cldn't agree more. hopefully i'll get seeded near front end of field but that remains to be seen.

ugo.santalucia

wildmoustache wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I don't know what your experience with the french pave is... last year I did ride the full PR course on a cross bike, which I did find suitable, on the grounds that didn't fall apart or let me down. I really don't see how a couple of alleged zertz elastomer dampers can make any difference in Mons En Pevele or Aremberg... honestly, the surface is so bad that tiny differences in frame response are irrelevant. It might make a slight difference having or not having bigger tyres... but mostly it's up to will power and brutal power

Cancellara won it because of the latter, rather than because of his frame

My NP is c.300 watts so I wouldn't think I'll be riding anything like Cancellara.

The Roubaix frame can take larger tyres than most road bikes, which as you say is a benefit.

On the crashes point raised by kleber - i cldn't agree more. hopefully i'll get seeded near front end of field but that remains to be seen.

I wish you good luck, but I very much doubt anyone would want to give away a frame, knowing it will be ridden on the Arenberg cobbles.
If you can fit 27 or 28 mm tyres, go for them, you won't regret it... the 24 mm Vittoria pave' are far too thin, in my view

wildmoustache

ugo.santalucia wrote:

wildmoustache wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I don't know what your experience with the french pave is... last year I did ride the full PR course on a cross bike, which I did find suitable, on the grounds that didn't fall apart or let me down. I really don't see how a couple of alleged zertz elastomer dampers can make any difference in Mons En Pevele or Aremberg... honestly, the surface is so bad that tiny differences in frame response are irrelevant. It might make a slight difference having or not having bigger tyres... but mostly it's up to will power and brutal power

Cancellara won it because of the latter, rather than because of his frame

My NP is c.300 watts so I wouldn't think I'll be riding anything like Cancellara.

The Roubaix frame can take larger tyres than most road bikes, which as you say is a benefit.

On the crashes point raised by kleber - i cldn't agree more. hopefully i'll get seeded near front end of field but that remains to be seen.

I wish you good luck, but I very much doubt anyone would want to give away a frame, knowing it will be ridden on the Arenberg cobbles.
If you can fit 27 or 28 mm tyres, go for them, you won't regret it... the 24 mm Vittoria pave' are far too thin, in my view

Yes, I agree the CGs are too thin. fine for the British winter. Not fine for serious pave. I want something that is 27 or 28mm as you say. AT about 80psi.

Mind if I ask what tyres you rode and your experience?

ugo.santalucia

I used Conti Gatorskins 28 mm at 90 PSI... the size was right, the grip not great, but we had a serious storm on the day and the pave was as bad as it can be.
The Vittoria Pave' come in 27 mm too, but only tubolars, which are the ones PRO use.. the 24 Clinchers are just a waste of money... although they have good grip when they're new.

Kléber

What ever you ride, enjoy it, I hope it goes well.

wildmoustache

Thanks guys!

I'm thinking about Conti 4 seasons in 28mm - would that be a good choice?

I don't want a tractor, and normally err on the side of speed, risking a puncture, rather than a belt and braces type of rider.

I've found a bike with sufficient clearance I think ...

But still seeking a Roubaix if anyone has one lying around!