Specialized Roubaix what size?

dugliss
dugliss Posts: 235
edited January 2014 in Road buying advice
I`ve been looking at a 2013 Specialized Roubaix Sport, it`s available in 2 separate shops in 52 in one and a 54 in another. I`m 5`8" with short legs and I think the 52 would probably be best but both shops recommend the 54. I had a Giant Defy in a medium(50) but found it to be a little too long for me. Any advice?

Comments

  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Difficult to say without pictures of you on a bike.

    Best thing to do would be to get on both and give them a good ride.
    If you have a longer torso and arms then the longer reach of the 54 may suit you better, but that depends if you can get the saddle at a suitable height. The 52 will give you a shorter reach and may also give you a lower drop (saddle to handlebars) although if you were bothered about that then I guess you wouldn't be going for a Roubaix.
  • dugliss
    dugliss Posts: 235
    I do have a longer torso but not the longer arms so this is why I would usually favour a smaller bike. I`ve had lower back problems too so that`s why I went for the Roubaix
  • datasone
    datasone Posts: 35
    I'm 5ft 8, with short legs also. If it helps, I have a specialized Tarmac size 54cm. Its ok but I do wish I went for the 52. Both will 'fit' but it all depends on how you want to feel on the bike. If you haven't got the opportunity to try one, can you try a trek? Their geometry is very similar so will give you an indication.
  • mattv
    mattv Posts: 992
    It's much easier to make a small bike bigger than a big bike smaller. That said, 2 spesh dealers both saying 54 should be telling you something!
  • northpole
    northpole Posts: 1,499
    Can you overlay the manufacturers' geometries of the two frames - the one you have/ had and the 52 Roubaix to see if you are correct. I'd prefer that approach to listening to advice in a shop, unless you have had a bikefit.

    Peter
  • DiscoBoy
    DiscoBoy Posts: 905
    dugliss wrote:
    I do have a longer torso but not the longer arms so this is why I would usually favour a smaller bike. I`ve had lower back problems too so that`s why I went for the Roubaix

    It sounds like you've had issues and have decided that going for a "more comfortable" sportive bike is the way to solve them.

    I think you would be much better off getting a decent bike fit (for example, Retul) and then buying a bike to that fit. Then you'll know what size to get, too ;)
    Red bikes are the fastest.
  • littledove44
    littledove44 Posts: 871
    I have lower back problems too. I am five foot nine and went for the roubaix compact sport 56 with a slightly shorter 90mm stem. The 54 would have been ok, but I felt crunched on it.

    The Tarmac is a different shape so not comparable.

    Interesting that spesh changed their sizing tables from 2013 to 2014. Personal feel and bike fit are what matters. I rented a Boozes Moreas recently and had to get a 52 to give the exact same reach etc as I have on my 56 spesh.

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