Price: $5,779.00

Weight: N/A

Components: Shimano DuraAce 20-speed (including wheelset)

Frame and Fork: Specialized FACT carbon-composite frame and fork, with Zertz viscoelastic inserts

Geometry: 72.5º head tube, 73º seat tube, 582mm top tube

Sizes: 52, 54, 56, 58cm (tested)

Comments: Go far, go fast, go comfortably.

www.specialized.com

It was my first ride on the Specialized Roubaix Pro that I remember the most: a coastal cruise after another long day of “work.” The sun was beginning to set toward the Pacific on a sublime summer Saturday in California. I had been ogling the Roubaix Pro earlier that day. There were certainly enough reasons to stare at it””most notably, its full-carbon frame, complete with sexy smooth lines and natural-weave finish. The collection of 20-speed DuraAce components, DuraAce wheelset, carbon accessories, and its race-oriented styling spoke of speed and race-oriented manners. It said little to suggest that this would be one of the most comfortable bikes I’d ever ride.

The Roubaix Pro frame is full carbon, created using Specialized’s new Functional Advanced Composite Technology (FACT), which layers multiple sheets of composite over each other to create strength and directional stiffness where it’s needed, but still causes it to be exceptionally lightweight. FACT is also used in the full carbon fork and the carbon seatpost.

Not coincidently, these are also where you’ll find another unique advantage to the Roubaix: Zertz viscoelastic inserts. These rubber-like inserts actually act as vibration dampers, and are placed in the seatstays, fork blades, and seatpost. According to laboratory tests, they combine to neutralize up to 80% of rear-axle vibrations before reaching the seat, and 85% of front-axle vibrations before reaching the bars. Remarkably, they manage to do so without adding appreciable weight. The end result, by design, is added comfort without any sacrifice of efficiency, weight, or speed.

Add to this the subtle tweaks in geometry: a slightly taller head tube, a slightly lower bottom bracket, and a slightly lengthened wheelbase. The taller head tube creates more stability at speed and improves comfort by reducing pressure on your hands. My 58cm frame had a 215mm head tube, 28mm taller than my current bike. The 1,029mm wheelbase outstretched my current bike by 37mm, improving overall stability and control, and the slightly lower bottom bracket improves cornering prowess and stability by lowering your centre of gravity.

The Roubaix looks like most other drool-inducing race bikes, but also includes a promise of long-ride, bumpy-road comfort “” it’s just cleverly hidden.
Equally well hidden are a few other Specialized-specific comfort features that aid the road-smoothing effort. Bar Phat is a thin gel pad that runs along the handlebars underneath the bartape, which increases the girth and the softness of the bars invisibly. Complementing this contact point, the new Body Geometry Telluride saddle improves even the best of bike shorts without taking away from the race styling of the bike.

Off the line, the Roubaix Pro was as quick and vigorous as one would expect from a race bike. Make no mistake: this is certainly not a touring bike. Mario Cipollini’s Domina Vacanze team agreed, and raced the Roubaix Pro at the cobblestoned 2003 Paris-Roubaix and Vuelta a España. For as little as the geometry and comfort tweaks did to take away from the velocity, they added an immediately appreciable element of comfort and control””just as promised.

Sweeping fast corners were carved with Super-G precision and grace. Road vibrations disappeared and were replaced by a suspended feeling of isolation from the road that doesn’t undermine the ability to turn energy into speed. Climbs, whether gradual or steep, were flattened by the light weight and were unhindered by the taller front end.