2011 Roubaix Expert?
Matt Square
Posts: 54
What's the collective opinion on these? Any particular weakness on them?
Cheers
Matt
Cheers
Matt
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Comments
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Nice bike, nice spec, but with long top tube, they are comfortable....but for me a little uninspiring to ride...I couldn't live with one.0
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porker33 wrote:Nice bike, nice spec, but with long top tube, they are comfortable....but for me a little uninspiring to ride...I couldn't live with one.
Thanks for that. Could you reccomend anything of a similar ilk?0 -
Nice bike, very comfortable but not sure about the wheels for that price! You'd think they'd at least manage Fulcrum3s? In the bike of the year review they also said that the road surface can feel a bit remote at times.
How about something in Titanium? Van Nicholas Euros with Ultegra and Fulcrum 3s would come in at about 400quid less (from Fat Birds) and give you a beautiful quality of ride with excellent feedback. (Also the frame has a lifetime guarantee.)
Regards, EarlyGo0 -
That Van Nicholas does look nice.
Just to clarify, the reason I am looking at Roubaix style bikes as I have a dodgy back.0 -
If you have a dodgy back, a Roubaix may or may not sort your problem...
A friend bought one for the same reason, but long top tube, means stretching out, he has changed the stem and seating position, still not quite right.
If you have a bad back, as a starting point you probably need a decent bike fit geo to see if a Roubaix or something else is suitable. Failing that physio on your back?0 -
I currently ride a 2006 Allez Comp. In the last year I have had to buy a shorter stem and flip it or otherwise I could not use it. With that in mind I have done two 170 mile rides in the last three months. A century is the standard Sunday Ride.
I have a trial ride of a Roubaix in a couple of days and should get an idea on fit then. if it's a much softer ride I might be suitably impressed.
With regard to treatment I have had an MRI which has shown that I have torn a disc and other disc abnormalities. . My problem is skeletal that predisposes me to disc isssues.
I do regular core work and am booked in for steroid injections to manage the pain.0 -
Matt,
The Roubaix will obviously give you a more upright position and I guess that you may well need a shorter than standard stem again. I take it that with your back issues you are getting a proper bike fit?
I have a lesser back problem and do fewer miles than you, but the Van Nicholas has proven ideal. The ride really is smooth and I have an extra 15mm of spacers under the stem which effectively gives a longer head tube and more relaxed position.
Hope the test ride goes well.
EarlyGo0 -
Earlygo,
Thanks for your very considered reply.
In an ideal world I would rock up to the shop and test ride the Van Nicholas, love it and then get it on interest free. Given the time I spend on the bike it might not be a bad idea to do the journey from Central London. I dont have the time at the moment.
The roubaix is on Sale at cycle surgery for £2349 and I guess at limited availability. If I try it on Wednesday and I really like it I may go with it. If it were not on sale I would definitely hang back for a while.
Another thing that I need to consider is that it will also be used for middle and long distance triathlon. It doesn't need to be super fast because I am not but also shouldn't be super slow because I am not.
Matt0 -
Matt,
That's a good price for the Expert, makes it a very appealing package. I don't think you'll find it "super slow", just comfortable and not "super fast"! Fingers crossed though.
Regards, EarlyGo0 -
Just a quick update.
I went for a trial ride yesterday and was underwhelmed and got soaked into the bargain.
I went back today and had the bike set up to match the measurements of my Allez. This test ride went much better, I really liked it. I think that I would need to change the tyres as they did not seem to do the bike justice. Luckily the standard stem only added 5mm to the reach so should be fine.
It's on hold until tomorrow and I am pretty sure I will be going in and buying it.
Cheers
Matt0 -
Matt, what size are you looking for?
My friend has a 54 (2011 expert), bought from the local bike store, he has convinced himself he probably needs a 52 after all, so it will likely be for sale soon....
Totally legit, receipts etc and known to LBS as a regular customer.
Thought it worth mentioning?0 -
It's a 56. Thanks anyway.0
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The Roubaix doesn't have a long top tube. It has a short top tube and long head tube. It's good for a bad back because you're more upright. Give your closest Specialized Concept Store a call and ask them for a test ride.
The Bianchi Infinito has a similar geometry and ride.0 -
The Mad Rapper wrote:The Roubaix doesn't have a long top tube. It has a short top tube and long head tube. It's good for a bad back because you're more upright. Give your closest Specialized Concept Store a call and ask them for a test ride.
The Bianchi Infinito has a similar geometry and ride.
Mad rapper, You would think that would make sense, however experience of the bikes and info from the Specialised site
http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.u ... ix/Roubaix
Actually shows that the Tarmac and Roubaix have the same Top tube lengths in
54 = 548mm
and
56 = 565mm.0 -
I got it today. I have a 75mm(!) stem on order to make it comfortable for me. After my back went bad I swapped the original 100mm stem on my Allez for an 80 with no problems so don't anticipate any here.0
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PICTURES! We need pictures!0
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Q&D from the iPhone
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Are you sure thats the right size for you? Thats a lot of seatpost on show for a bike with that geometry.0
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I am 5"10' so could only have gone smaller. Reach would have been even further otherwise.
Edit: Had I gone smaller the seat would have been even further up but then maybe have gone further back?0 -
I've got a 2011 Roubaix Expert 2011 in 54cm and just cant get comfy on it, I have a 54cm Secteur which I actually prefer to ride. Going for a bike fit in a week or two, if that doesnt sort it, up for sale it will go.
I cant explain the difference, same geometry, same stem, but I feel stretched on the Roubaix, I think a shorter stem than the current 100mm will upset the front end.0 -
AndyK2479 wrote:I've got a 2011 Roubaix Expert 2011 in 54cm and just cant get comfy on it, I have a 54cm Secteur which I actually prefer to ride. Going for a bike fit in a week or two, if that doesnt sort it, up for sale it will go.
I cant explain the difference, same geometry, same stem, but I feel stretched on the Roubaix, I think a shorter stem than the current 100mm will upset the front end.
How does the seatpost compare? Mine is laid back in comparison to the one on my Allez so adds to the stretch. .
Interested to hear how you get on with the bike fit.0 -
Same here, I got it at a good price, but without a bike fit from my LBS. Seems more stretched than the Secteur and no end of fiddling gets it as comfortable as it should be.
Will let you know if the bike fit is a success, although I've got my eyes on a Bianchi Infinito already
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I'm 5'10" and also ride a 54cm Roubaix with about the same amount of seatpost showing (ignore the stem etc - I bought it 2nd hand and it came like that):
The fit on mine seems pretty good, although I do need to change that stem to something a bit shorter.0 -
Welcome to the Roubaix Club pal!! I've had mine since last year and love it!! Just brought some profile design 52altairs off wiggle for it, I'll post a pic when they are on! Just to let you know I've swapped my tyres and run durano rs on it now and it runs sweet with the fulcrums just wanted to pimp it up a bit!! I'm 5.10 and ride a 56 also great bike and I'm also Savin to put Di2 on it next!! Enjoy the ride!!!0
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Holy thread revival!
Oddly enough I just did an Ultegra Di2 build on my Roubaix today. Well I say on my Roubaix but its not the 2011 one I originally bought. That one was replaced by Specialized when the shop couldn't solve the shifting problem. It was replaced with a 2012 that ended up with the same problem hence me fitting the Di2. I haven't had a a chance to take it for a spin yet but am very much looking forward to it.
Incidentally if you do decide to build get an sm-jc41 junction box for it. Specialized told me that the sm-jc40 would be fine but once all the cables are connected it won't fit in the hole below the BB.0 -
Thanks for the advice, wheels arrived today,awaiting tyres and fingers crossed Di in the next week or so!!0
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Matt Square wrote:Holy thread revival!
Oddly enough I just did an Ultegra Di2 build on my Roubaix today. Well I say on my Roubaix but its not the 2011 one I originally bought. That one was replaced by Specialized when the shop couldn't solve the shifting problem. It was replaced with a 2012 that ended up with the same problem hence me fitting the Di2. I haven't had a a chance to take it for a spin yet but am very much looking forward to it.
Incidentally if you do decide to build get an sm-jc41 junction box for it. Specialized told me that the sm-jc40 would be fine but once all the cables are connected it won't fit in the hole below the BB.
Hi There,
Not sure if you still read this, but I am interested to know how you got on with Di2. I have had many problems with 2011 roubaix expert shifting. First the bike was build incorrectly, poor shifting. Got all the parts from spesh and refitted...slight improvement. Had the frame replaced earlier this year under paintwork problem...still had shifting issues. Just had the bike recabled by Specialized UK and there is a bit of improvement but it is not as good as I would expect. shimano have screwed up with the 6700 shifter I think. Last resort is to sell bike or try Di2 but dont want to waste anymore money on this bike! Had it 2 years and never worked properly!0 -
jaydot wrote:Matt Square wrote:Holy thread revival!
Oddly enough I just did an Ultegra Di2 build on my Roubaix today. Well I say on my Roubaix but its not the 2011 one I originally bought. That one was replaced by Specialized when the shop couldn't solve the shifting problem. It was replaced with a 2012 that ended up with the same problem hence me fitting the Di2. I haven't had a a chance to take it for a spin yet but am very much looking forward to it.
Incidentally if you do decide to build get an sm-jc41 junction box for it. Specialized told me that the sm-jc40 would be fine but once all the cables are connected it won't fit in the hole below the BB.
Hi There,
Not sure if you still read this, but I am interested to know how you got on with Di2. I have had many problems with 2011 roubaix expert shifting. First the bike was build incorrectly, poor shifting. Got all the parts from spesh and refitted...slight improvement. Had the frame replaced earlier this year under paintwork problem...still had shifting issues. Just had the bike recabled by Specialized UK and there is a bit of improvement but it is not as good as I would expect. shimano have screwed up with the 6700 shifter I think. Last resort is to sell bike or try Di2 but dont want to waste anymore money on this bike! Had it 2 years and never worked properly!
The Di2 has made the bike for me. It's an expensive solution to a problem that shouldn't exist but I was looking to moving to Di2 at some point anyway.
The gear change on the Di2 is so smooth and effortless. You will get people saying they prefer the feel of mechanical and I can understand that. I found that it took a short time to get into the feel of Di2 because there is none. What I love about that is that you don't have to think about the gear change or manipulate it, you just press a button/shifter and it happens. A bit like thought control Add a satellite shifter to the flats and you have it made.
It's a real shame that we didn't get a bike that worked properly in the first place. If I wasn't in a position to buy the new groupset I would have asked for a complete refund.0 -
Matt Square wrote:
Q&D from the iPhone
Id say there are definite frame sizing issues going on there, hoods sticking up like that and a saddle so far back on the rails it looks like its nearly slipping off, cant help thinking the next size smaller would suit you much better.2012 Cannondale CAAD 8 1050 -
Raffles wrote:Matt Square wrote:
Q&D from the iPhone
Id say there are definite frame sizing issues going on there, hoods sticking up like that and a saddle so far back on the rails it looks like its nearly slipping off, cant help thinking the next size smaller would suit you much better.
I do appreciate the input. I could have gone smaller on the frame but it was six of one half a dozen of the other. That picture was taken in 2011 while I was in the process of paying for it/picking it up, you can see all of the stickers still on it. It had not been set up yet. In its current configuration I have done over 2000 miles on it so far this year.0
