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Specialized Roubaix (Comp or Elite) or Tarmac Comp or Pro (road bikes) - owners opinions?
Hello
I would like to hear opinions of owners (or test riders) of Specialized Roubaix (Comp or Elite) or Specialized Tarmac (Comp or Pro) road bicycles. I am looking to buy one of those bikes (2005 model) in a few months time and also wondering if I should be spending money elsewhere...... Good? Bad? Ugly? Value for money? Warranty? Reliability? Comfort? thanks! |
#2
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Yuri Budilov wrote:
Hello I would like to hear opinions of owners (or test riders) of Specialized Roubaix (Comp or Elite) or Specialized Tarmac (Comp or Pro) road bicycles. I am looking to buy one of those bikes (2005 model) in a few months time and also wondering if I should be spending money elsewhere...... Good? Bad? Ugly? Value for money? Warranty? Reliability? Comfort? thanks! It's about the Pro, not Comp or Elite, but better than nothing: http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?...ed_roubaix_pro |
#3
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I would like to hear opinions of owners (or test riders) of Specialized Roubaix (Comp or Elite) or Specialized Tarmac (Comp or Pro) road bicycles. I am looking to buy one of those bikes (2005 model) in a few months time and also wondering if I should be spending money elsewhere...... Good? Bad? Ugly? Value for money? Warranty? Reliability? Comfort? Have a couple thousand miles on Roubaix 105 alu, and at first the geometry was a little hard to get use to. Took a while to figure out how high my seat should be, because of the compact design. Now that I'm getting use to it, I really like it. But I'm planning to use it for long distance riding (125 201 miles) about that range. It has a longer wheel base, and is slower steering, but it is extremely stable, and you can really sit in for miles on end. Comparing it to a Trek 5200, the Trek takes alot more attention while riding. One thing that might give you a problem is the tall head tube. Expect to have your handlebars an inch higher, even with all the spacers out. Might add a little wind resistance in that area, but it doesn't seem to bother me too much. The bike will also feel "bigger", don't ask me why. Someone told me it has the geometry that old tour de france bikes had years ago, before they turned them all into crit bikes. |
#4
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Thank you to all who have replied!
I am looking to try the all-carbon 2005 Roubaix Elite so I am hoping for a very comfortable ride. The up-right position is something I find attractive anyhow. But I also really like the look of 2005 Tarmac Comp (also all carbon) which seems to have the *same price* as 2005 Roubaix Elite. It will be hard to decide between these two bikes given they are basically the same price and even group-set and wheels appear to be the same. Must be the frame choice.... Cheers all "Callistus Valerius" wrote in message link.net... I would like to hear opinions of owners (or test riders) of Specialized Roubaix (Comp or Elite) or Specialized Tarmac (Comp or Pro) road bicycles. I am looking to buy one of those bikes (2005 model) in a few months time and also wondering if I should be spending money elsewhere...... Good? Bad? Ugly? Value for money? Warranty? Reliability? Comfort? Have a couple thousand miles on Roubaix 105 alu, and at first the geometry was a little hard to get use to. Took a while to figure out how high my seat should be, because of the compact design. Now that I'm getting use to it, I really like it. But I'm planning to use it for long distance riding (125 201 miles) about that range. It has a longer wheel base, and is slower steering, but it is extremely stable, and you can really sit in for miles on end. Comparing it to a Trek 5200, the Trek takes alot more attention while riding. One thing that might give you a problem is the tall head tube. Expect to have your handlebars an inch higher, even with all the spacers out. Might add a little wind resistance in that area, but it doesn't seem to bother me too much. The bike will also feel "bigger", don't ask me why. Someone told me it has the geometry that old tour de france bikes had years ago, before they turned them all into crit bikes. |
#5
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I believe I test rode the Aluminum and the Pro, and for me the
shallower head tube angle on the Pro was more comfortable. I like to stand up and climb hills and lean quite a bit forward when I do and the 72 vs 73 felt more stable to me. I think the head tube angle may be one of those things where they shift it o 73 or more and it's not best for a lot of people but a lot of ppl don't know because there's hardly anything else on the market anymore. |
#6
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I believe I test rode the Aluminum and the Pro, and for me the shallower head tube angle on the Pro was more comfortable. I like to stand up and climb hills and lean quite a bit forward when I do and the 72 vs 73 felt more stable to me. I think the head tube angle may be one of those things where they shift it o 73 or more and it's not best for a lot of people but a lot of ppl don't know because there's hardly anything else on the market anymore. I've got an '04, but you're saying the carbon version head tube is more shallow than the alu version? I think mine was a 72 also. Makes steep descents not as hairy, being more upright, with the shallow head tube angle. It does take some getting use to. I didn't like the wheels my Roubaix 105 alu came with. I put my wagon wheel rolf wheels on it, and it really started sailing. The other wheels seemed sluggish to me, don't know why. |
#7
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Callistus Valerius wrote: I would like to hear opinions of owners (or test riders) of Specialized Roubaix (Comp or Elite) or Specialized Tarmac (Comp or Pro) road bicycles. I am looking to buy one of those bikes (2005 model) in a few months time and also wondering if I should be spending money elsewhere...... Good? Bad? Ugly? Value for money? Warranty? Reliability? Comfort? Have a couple thousand miles on Roubaix 105 alu, and at first the geometry was a little hard to get use to. Took a while to figure out how high my seat should be, because of the compact design. Now that I'm getting use to it, I really like it. But I'm planning to use it for long distance riding (125 201 miles) about that range. It has a longer wheel base, and is slower steering, but it is extremely stable, and you can really sit in for miles on end. Comparing it to a Trek 5200, the Trek takes alot more attention while riding. One thing that might give you a problem is the tall head tube. Expect to have your handlebars an inch higher, even with all the spacers out. Might add a little wind resistance in that area, but it doesn't seem to bother me too much. The bike will also feel "bigger", don't ask me why. Someone told me it has the geometry that old tour de france bikes had years ago, before they turned them all into crit bikes. I put about 7000kils on a Roubaix 105 alu this summer. The bike is fast and very comfortable and I only had problem with the original specialized stock tires. I don't know if the Zertz stuff do something, however the carbon seatstays damps the road quite effectively. I used to do 150 kils ride quite often and there is no more fatigue than the 5 hours of bike. The setup is more effective and faster than my old steel bike with a damped saddle. If the specialized all carbon bikes are better, they certainly are something!!! For the price, I would also look at the new Giants full carbon. There is an OCR and plenty of TCR that are cheaper this year than the specialized. If you want to race criterium the roubaix is probably not the bike of choice since the geometry make it a bit slow steering. For sprints I don't if it is stiff enough. The bike is very good and I love it. Now that I have finished my season I just can't wait until april (end) to return to cycling. If you want to make long distance get one of these before it is too late. Last year Specialized has had difficulty to provide enough bike. For the Tarmac I cant say much it looks as a competition oriented bike especially for crits which the roubaiix isn't. |
#8
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I put about 7000kils on a Roubaix 105 alu this summer. The bike is fast and very comfortable and I only had problem with the original specialized stock tires. What trouble did you have with the tires? I never used them, just hung them up in the closet. Just curious about the tires, also your opinion on the wheels. I didn't give the wheels must of a chance, so it's hard for me to evaluate them. I just put my Rolf wheels on it. |
#9
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"Yuri Budilov" wrote in
: I would like to hear opinions of owners (or test riders) of Specialized Roubaix (Comp or Elite) or Specialized Tarmac (Comp or Pro) road bicycles. Roubaix is more of a touring bike with an upright riding position. Tarmac is a pure racing bike with a more aggressive riding position. Take some test rides and buy the one that fits you best. |
#10
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I would like to hear opinions of owners (or test riders) of Specialized
Roubaix (Comp or Elite) or Specialized Tarmac (Comp or Pro) road bicycles. I am looking to buy one of those bikes (2005 model) in a few months time and also wondering if I should be spending money elsewhere...... Good? Bad? Ugly? Value for money? Warranty? Reliability? Comfort? If it's going to be a few months, you'll have some new choices as well- the Trek "Pilot" series will be out by then. Similar approach in terms of a higher handlebar position, different approach in terms of how they damp buzz (Specialized applies stuff to the outside of the tubes to damp road buzz, while the Trek will have tubes with extra buzz-damping qualities built into them). Haven't ridden one yet so can't tell you how it feels. Best "comfort" performance road bike I've ridden to date is the new Klein Reve. That was a real eye-opener; perhaps it *is* possible to have a bike that climbs great and kills the bumps. If only they'd put that technology into a carbon frame, I think you'd have the ultimate Paris Roubaix bike. --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReactionBicycles.com |
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