SPECIALIZED ROUBAIX SPORT
£2600 › Equipped with Future Shock for class-leading comfort
The Future Shock-equipped Roubaix is held in high regard amongst our test team. It was our Bike of the Year in 2017 and we’ve had one or more in our long-term test fleet ever since.
This new 2019 Sport model is the priciest bike in this test, but it is also the lightest, and while the components are pretty much on a par with its rivals, it’s the chassis that gives the Roubaix its class. The frame is made from Fact 9r carbon, that’s two tiers below Specialized’s S-Works but it’s still a superb lightweight base for a bike.
On the road, the Roubaix feels incredibly smooth. Yes, all the bikes in this test roll well over rougher surfaces but the Roubaix is on another level, even compared to the Domane, and that’s thanks to Future Shock. Most front ends on endurance bikes rely on ‘splay’ movement: the fork moving fore-and-aft for comfort. Future Shock works on an axial path: up and down like a telescopic mountain bike fork. A pure mountain bike system (where the telescopic action is below the fork crown) means diving and bobbing when riding normally. Mountain bike forks get over this by having a lock-out, but that would negate the benefits for road riders. Specialized cleverly moved the suspension parts above the head tube, which means rather than suspending the whole front of the bike it just suspends you and the cockpit. The technology hasn’t been trouble-free, though. Specialized announced a voluntary safety recall in January for many bikes fitted with Future Shock. Owners of affected models were invited to return their bikes to a Specialized dealer for a free replacement collar and torque adjustment to reduce the risk of stress corrosion cracking. The problem has now been resolved.
We didn’t expect the back end to feel as smooth as pricier models but it
Fact 9r carbon is two tiers below the S-Works but it’s still a superb lightweight base for a bike
was just as polished as we remembered, partly due to the frame design. The seatstays have been dropped approximately 3.5cm below the top tube and the carbon seatpost. The seat clamp has been incorporated into the ends of the seatstays via twin bolts and the tube is significantly bigger than the slender post, allowing for plenty of room to move.
The ride position is designed for endurance, with our 58cm test bike having a 629mm stack and 392mm reach – though like any suspension system it has sag once you’re on the bike so the stack is more like 624mm. The 1011mm wheelbase feels right (and gives the chassis ample tyre clearance) and the parallel steep 73.5° seat and head tube angles give the Roubaix a racier edge than some of its rivals. The 50/34 chainset and 11-34 cassette give a really wide spread that means you’ll never be searching for a bailout gear, even on the steepest inclines. Specialized uses a Praxis Alba chainset in place of 105, which may seem like cost cutting but it’s stiff, light and hard wearing. The stability and grip combine with the 105 hydraulic brakes to provide all the control and stopping power you need.
Overall the Roubaix is one of the best ever endurance bikes, and though this Sport model is on the expensive side for the level of equipment, it does deliver the full-fat full-flavour Roubaix experience.
If comfort, closely followed by exciting handling, are at the top of your new-model wishlist, then the Roubaix could be the bike for you.