The race bike with a hidden suspensionsuspension

A bump in the road drains your speed by y converting your momentum from forward to upward. Specializedpecialized Bicycles minimised this effect in its new Roubaix x (starting at R56 500) with a novel technology it callss the Future Shock. Most road-bike forks absorb forceses by bending backwards, but joint research with Mclarenaren Applied Technologies found that a vertical front shock was the most efficient way to soak up rough roads. ds. A mountainbike-style telescoping fork adds too muchch weight and dulls the handling as the fork bobs. So to create ate the Future Shock, Specialized zed boiledb down the technology to three concentric springs gs above theth head tube of its Roubaix x frame. This gives the handlebars 20 millimetres of vertical travel and isolates the he rider from road vibrations so that only the bike moves vertically. Even better:etter: though Specialized sought a faster bike – and

it is – thet Future Shock ck also gives the Roubaix beach- cruiser comfort.