Testing the Specialized Roubaix SL8 Expert on the cobblestones of the Hell of the North

A few months after the launch of the new Specialized Roubaix SL8 and our first test of the S-Works top model, we got back in touch with the bike said endurance of the American brand, but this time in its more modern version. affordable Expert, offered at €6500. A substantial sum for a very versatile machine, primarily intended to provide a lot of comfort and to support large tire sections, as we were able to see when riding the Roubaix Expert on the very demanding cobblestones of the North.

By Guillaume Peephole – Photos: ©Etienne Schoeman/Specialized 

The Specialized Roubaix is ​​offered in a full range that extends from €2800 to €14000, with more or less advanced features and components. But the philosophy behind the design of the bike remains the same, namely promote user comfort and offer great versatility of practice, whether on routes more or less well tarmacked, or even on tracks or paths that are not too extremeThe production of the bike is based on a geometry with a higher head tube than traditional racing bikes, a longer rear triangle, a shock absorption system at the front and rear of the bike intended to suspend the cyclist to isolate him from the irregularities of the terrain and a significant clearance of the frame around the wheel arches to allow the mounttagand big tires. This is to provide stable and relaxed riding to promote endurance, and open the bike up to cycle touring, ultra-distance, or even specific routes such as the cobblestone sections of Paris-Roubaix.

The Roubaix takes its name from the famous cobblestones that have marked and continue to mark the history of cycling., a name that symbolizes this ability to face the most demanding conditions. In the middle of the infamous sector of Tree Crossroads, with its curved, disjointed, irregular, greasy and wet cobblestones, but also on other slightly less dangerous and difficult sectors, I was able to see the absorption capacities of the bike as well as the subtle differences brought by the settings of the Future Shock front suspension, and especially the inflation pressure of the tires. Two days immersed on the cobblestones of the North in the company of Peter Sagan and his valuable advice that left no trace of aches or injuries, as proof that the overall concept works perfectly.

Comfort and performance

The Specialized Roubaix Expert is a mid-range bike that therefore favors comfort, without neglecting performance, far from it. The main difference with the Roubaix S-Works already testand six months ago concerns the level of carbon fibers of the frame, here in Fact 10r instead of Fact 12r, according to the nomenclature of the American brand. Concretely, this means a hundred grams more for the frame alone. I did not feel any difference in terms of rigidity and ride quality. In other words, The Roubaix Expert is a bike that remains lively and dynamic when picking up speed and when it comes to shifting up a gear on the flat.. The actions are frank and effective and the machine offers a positive inertia which promotes the maintenance of a good cruising speed. This is also well maintained by aerodynamics studied in a wind tunnel which promises significant gains compared to the old version of the Roubaix. Because after all, there are no small savings, even for endurance practice.

On the rear of the bike, a relatively simple system at the seat post called After Shock improves comfort while being relatively transparent in terms of sensations during pedaling. It is a carbon seat post fixed very low in the frame at the seat tube, with a clamp placed 65 mm lower than a traditional clamping system. The length of the rod and its design promote a slight backward deformation during shocks suffered by the rear triangle of the bike. The vibrations are thus absorbed without altering the rigidity and without causing a pumping sensation.

Up front, the Future Shock suspension system sits between the stem and the head tube. It offers 20 mm of travel and significantly reduces impact and vibration at the driver's stationtage, while keeping the front of the bike rigid to maintain a stable hold. route precise. This is the third version of the Future Shock, which can be easily adapted so that each rider, regardless of their weight or position on the bike, can benefit from optimal comfort, thanks to three different springs that can be adapted in the system. This new version is available in three range levels, and the Roubaix Expert is normally delivered with the intermediate level, which offers hydraulic cushioning in addition to the customizable spring, but without being able to adjust the compression. However, It is possible as here on the bike to test to opt for the highest-end system as an option normally supplied on the S Works, with five-position compression adjustable while pedaling, thanks to a turn of a dial (from fully locked to soft). A €450 option that may be worth it, depending on how you plan to use your bike.

In the locked position, the suspension provides in all cases a totally neutral behavior, without showing the slightest floating during energetic restarts or sprints.. In the softest position, you can feel a slight movement when you stand up on the front of the bike, but the sensations are not altered when riding while remaining seated on the saddle. In terms of comfort, when going over holes or very uneven surfaces, the difference between the two extreme positions is of course very clear. There are much fewer vibrations in the hands and arms, and this is also felt in terms of the degree of fatigue, after several hours in the saddle. However, I find that the softest position slightly reduces the feeling of control of the trajectories. I do not feel totally connected to the direction of the bike, to know exactly where to place my wheels. Finally, I found the best compromise on the cobblestones with position 4/5, that is to say almost the hardest but not quite, associated with larger tires, but I will come back to this later.

Versatility through tire choice

On this side precisely, The Roubaix SL8 (whatever the range level) is compatible with tires up to 38 or even 40 mm with light studs. It also depends on the wheels used and the balloon formed by the tire depending on the internal width of the rim, but what you need to remember is that Cycling can take you beyond the routes bitumen, on sections of Gravel that are neither exceptionally muddy nor too stony, in any case different from the routes traditional. Thanks to the progress made in the field in recent years, the versatility of the bicycle can only be accentuated, and these are also capabilities sought by more and more users. A modern vision of cycle tourism in a way. Or of the bicycle Swiss knife, equally at home on tarmac as on a slippery surface. It should also be noted that since the new Roubaix is ​​equipped with the necessary mountings for panniers on the top of the frame or for mudguards or luggage racks, it can of course be transformed into a bikepacking for multi-day adventures.

Comes originally with S-Works Mondo tires in 32 mm section, the Roubaix Expert therefore has some margin. With these tires, I did not however show off during the first passage on a wet cobblestone section: despite this already substantial section and a pressure of 3,5 bar at the front and rear, I had the impression of riding on smooth tires on a layer of ice. Not enough speed and confidence, no doubt, despite the advice of the ridertagand by Peter Sagan himself, but the champion must weigh 20 kg more than me. And to not get tossed around too much and to hold the upper hand, that's something that counts. In this configuration, vibration absorption is not even really an issue, especially since the Future Shock suspension plays its role perfectly.

It's mostly a question of grip here, an area where the Mondo can sometimes surprise in terms of tread, with significantly less grip than on the shoulders of the tire. This is the price to pay for good performance on the tarmac and good longevity, but on the wet cobblestones of the Arbre crossroads, it requires a bit of confidence. Still, it is still This is exactly the configuration chosen by all the pros equipped by Specialized in the women's and men's races of Paris-Roubaix.. And it was with these tires that Lotte Kopecky won the women's race.

For the inflation pressure, the Specialized technician advised me 2,7 at the back and 2,5 at the front. Another world.

For my part, I went back through the stands and I testIt's another configuration, still allowed by the Roubaix. S-Works Mondo again, but this time in 35 mm section, or a good 36 of real width on the already quite wide Roval Terra wheels. And for the inflation pressure, the Specialized technician advised me 2,7 at the back and 2,5 at the front. Another world. On tarmac, I can't really say that I felt a clear difference in terms of performance.. It hyphen a little more, certainly, and you must surely lose two or three watts at 40 km/h because of less favorable air penetration. On the other hand, on the wet pavement, I was able to gain confidence. I felt less shaken and above all I found more grip. I lost less speed in the turns on the pavements, and the restarts were therefore less demanding. And on gravel sections, I almost thought I was on tarmac.

Thanks to this mytage – and therefore to the Roubaix's capabilities in this area – I no longer had to constantly modify the Future Shock suspension settings, adopting once and for all a compression flexibility that seemed to me to be a good compromise during the asphalt-cobblestone-asphalt sequences, etc. The 32 section is probably perfect for pros in racing condition, but for me the 35 section is much better suited to this type of terrain.. Even the day after this first contact, approaching the cobblestones on dry ground this time, with just as much cushioning, but above all more speed and more confidence.

The Specialized Roubaix Expert: a good choice?

On the Roubaix Expert, I found a position identical to that of the Roubaix S-Works. On the flat, the two bikes are very close in terms of behavior, with a signature that is truly unique to this model. The efficiency is really surprising for a bike of this category., probably due to a perfectly studied lateral rigidity, and only slightly attenuated by the flexibility of the large tires which gives the impression of constantly moving on a felted carpet.

I noted during my test of the Roubaix S-Works that the weight was really good, with 7,6 kg ready to ride, taking into account the 32 mm tires and the weight of the Future Shock system (around 400 g). But we are talking here about the S-Works model at €14, which costs more than double that of the Roubaix Expert. An Expert who weighs 9 kg all inclusive, and maybe even a little bit more with the 35 tires. The frame is only about a hundred grams heavier, but the groupset (Sram Rival instead of the Red), the wheels (Roval Terra C instead of the Terra CLX), the saddle, the handlebars are also heavier. The overall operation of the bike is identical in both versions, but the Expert does everything while carrying a little more weight.

Obviously, only competitors or KOM hunters on Strava will really feel the difference. Long-distance riders, ultra-distance enthusiasts or cycle tourists looking for a bike to do everything will not complain about a price/weight ratio that is far from favorable. Because the strong point of the Roubaix, whether in Sport, Expert, Pro or S-Works version, is its ability to tackle almost any routesThe cobblestones of the North are a perfect example of this.

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