I’ve ridden quite a few endurance road bikes over the years, but I have never ridden a bike like the Specialized 2017 Roubaix.
Specialized has released the newest – some say revolutionary – 2017 Roubaix and Ruby. I was granted the honor of giving it a test ride and I was blown away! Why? Because Smoother is Faster!
The first thing that I noticed is the Future Shock Suspension in the cockpit. This is a shock for your handlebars! While at first, I was skeptical, as soon as I went for a ride and went over that first speed bump, I was a believer. This little 20mms of suspension keeps the front wheel on the ground while at the same time eating up those bumps that can go through the bike and get to your arms, shoulders, and neck and really wear you out during a ride. I noticed that the bike was easier to control in rough conditions too! By keeping that front wheel on the ground, you are much more stable.
The second thing that I noticed was how smooth the back wheel felt. The Specialized engineers really nailed this as well! By using the new drop clamp system and the CG-R seat post, Specialized placed the seat clamp low into the frame allowing the seat post to deflect a lot more of the bumps and vibrations. This gives the rear of the bike 20 degrees of rearward arc while still keeping the seat height consistent. Not only is this bike smooth in the front, but it is comfortable in the back as well!
So, WHERE ARE THE ZERTZ? (Zertz was vibration-damping technology in the seat stays and forks of previous Roubaix models.) Since the new Roubaix uses the Future Shock Cockpit and the CG-R post and Drop clamp there isn’t a need for the elastomers of previous Roubaix models. By dropping the Zertz (along with a lot of other engineering feats), Specialized was able to produce some of the lightest road frames they have ever produced.
The last thing that I really liked about the newest Roubaix is the new SWAT Road Kit. Specialized moved this box down to the bottom bracket area to keep the center of gravity low and make storage more aero. This is an optional feature that can be removed if you prefer to carry your gear in a different way. I ride a Stumpjumper FSR with the SWAT Door and I REALLY like the simple and convenient storage. I can just get on my bike and not have to remember to bring my emergency kit or fill my jersey pockets with stuff.
Specialized has raised the bar for endurance road bikes. They have created a shock system that is smooth and fast. They have lowered the seat camp to absorb more of the bumps in the road. And they created a new, out of the way, SWAT Road Kit to eliminate the need for a seat bag.
Want to learn more? Ride over to your local ERIK’S to check out the new 2017 Specialized Roubaix and take it for a test ride. I think that you will be as blown away as I was!