Roubaix - Which model?

rupertpaul

Hi,

I am cycling 600miles in 6 days next year and want the best all day bike - so have settled on the Roubaix.

Now the main question is:

which model?
I am looking at SL3 PRO, SL3 EXPERT, COMP - what changes? I'd like a light bike, with decent spec - Ultegra. I know internal cabling gets involved on the top end bikes?

Also any difference in 2011 vs 2012 bikes? just colouring? or any major upgrades?

Thanks

Rupes

porker33

Have you ridden one?

A mate bought one for long rides, but the length of the top tube didn't suit,he now rides a "compact" frame.

I thought the Roubaix, was supposed to be the ultimate long distance ride, it probably is if it fits you?

noiseboyfeetman

I assume you don't need to carry any stuff?

Have you considered a touring/audax/titanium bike such as:

http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/24417/products/kinesis-granfondo-titanium-road-audax-bike-56cm.aspx
http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/21867/products/lynskey-sportive-ultegra-build-medium-long-road-audax-bike-2011.aspx
http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/21868/products/sabbath-silk-route-105-triple-build-56cm-titanium-road-touring-bike.aspx

For those miles and that price range personally i'd look at ti frames to soak up the bumps a bit more.

speshsteve

Pro and Expert have the higher end 10r frame as well as higher groupo

If your a sram man then go pro, ultegra for the expert.

Don't know much about the wheelsets, again pro I imagine has the better wheels.

Overall there not exactly great value in my mind, I have a 2009 roubaix with full 105 that I bought new at the end of 09 for 1200 quid, 2500 for the comp and up to 3800 for the pro is a lot of cash. You could get a s-works roubaix frame in the sale and put a top end groupset on for that money.

bobgfish

Just got given a 2011 Roubaix Comp frame as a warranty job (paid to upgrade from a broken Secteur). I could have also chosen the 2012 Comp but didn't like the colour. The differences between the 2011 and 2012 are very subtle. The 2012 has a cobra head tube and the top brake cable (on low end models) is intergrated and it also looks a bit better built around the bottem bracket area. The lower models are made with 8R carbon and the Sl3's are made with 10R. The SWORKS gets 11R. The high end models (SL3) have fully intergrated cables everywhere. I've not ridden a 2012 model but very happy with my 2011. Very stiff whilst riding but amazing how compliant over cobbles. I would suggest the 2012 models are only incremental improvents over last years and depanding on discounts may not be worth it.

DrLex

How tall are you, Rupes? There's an XL expert Roubaix SL3 2011 in the classifieds here at a fair price.