Is this a good bike?

waraf

Hello all,

firstly I'm not a cyclist myself but a very good friend of mine is buying a new bike and I just wanted to get your opinion of it. It's a Specialized Roubaix: http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/2009-specialized-roubaix-balances-stiffness-comfort-17808 doesn't even have a pump on it ;-)

He generally just cycles to and from work in the city everyday (about 10 kms each way). Anyway, he's definitely gonna buy a flash bike like the one above (I consider 2 grand flash maybe you guys don't) so are there any other similar bikes for similar money that would be better or at least worth considering?

Thanks:)

DirkVoodoo

A roubaix only for commuting?!? Oh dear!

Yes, it's an excellent bike, but to get any value out of it tell him he will have to start putting in some kms at the weekend.

I see a dude on a Ridley Orion sometimes heading out of town. He's not very fast as I can keep up (and go past him if he would stop for lights) on my felt, but it breaks my heart to see it all dirty, drivetrain never had a wash and it looks like it's only used for commuting duty.

Caroline_ie

That's it I am buying a F1 car to go get milk at the spar ...

Most racing cyclist don't even cycle a bike like this.

Your friend is ridiculous ...

Lumen

It's a nice bike. Riding a nice bike is nice.

What's the problem?

DirkVoodoo

Lumen wrote: »

It's a nice bike. Riding a nice bike is nice.

What's the problem?

No one is arguing with that. It may be a bit overkill for what he wants. You can buy very nice commuter bikes, singlespeeds etc.

Or buy a POS and dip it in gold.

If he does buy it, he must fit it with flat bars, a set of zipps, some mudguards and a 10 euro lock

waraf

Caroline_ie wrote: »

That's it I am buying a F1 car to go get milk at the spar ...

Most racing cyclist don't even cycle a bike like this.

Your friend is ridiculous ...

He has been known to get sucked in by salesmen in the past :D

Having said that though, he has the cash and he is allowed to spend it as he sees fit. I just wanted to see if any of you guys would suggest something better around the 2 grand mark.

Lumen

Waraf, the article linked is a review of the SL, which is €4k nor €2k - you'd only get a Roubaix Comp for that.

Specialized are not my cup of tea, I have an pathological aversion to droopy top tubes.

There is lots of choice at this price range. Check out the May edition of Cycling Plus magazine for the Bike of the year roundup.

Personally, I'd pick a Wilier Mortirolo Veloce (or stretch to Centaur), but mostly just to annoy El Tonto.

Budget for a very good lock or two.

CheGuedara

Well, it is a nice bike - I'm guessing its the Roubaix elite (triple). It's a bit OTT for a 10km commute unless he intends to use it to take in a few sportives in the course of the year, really the bike would be over equipped and under utilised otherwise.

IMHO if you buy spesh you end up paying more just for the name, so I would also consider, if I absolutly had to commute on carbon, the planet x pro carbon. Great value for money, cheaper than the spesh and better spec. I know several people that have them and are very pleased and can tell you that they are stiff, light bikes having ridden them. Or he can look at that 03 Giant TCR Composite 0 in R&A cycles i was suggesting in another thread today - but getting that and not racing let alone not sportive cycling on that would be shameful really.

Also I hope his office has a REALLY secure lock up - coz a carbon commuter would definitly be a thief magnet if left in the open.

DirkVoodoo

Also, has he done much cycling before?

Buying a road bike like that might be a bit intimidating for a first timer around town.

Personally I would buy a nice flat bar hybrid for around town, then when he gets into cycling more (inevitable, don't fight the urge!) he can spend money on the roubaix and treat it like the godess it deserves.

Frankly, I like having a bike I don't need to worry too much about for commuting and a bike that I can keep nice and clean for the weekends.

If it's simply about being flash for the sake of it:

CheGuedara

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

If he does buy it, he must fit it with flat bars, a set of zipps, some mudguards and a 10 euro lock

I hate to agree - but yes he must, dont forget the rear view mirrors and a cyclocomputer in addtion to his Garmin 705:)

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

If it's simply about being flash for the sake of it: (pic)

Wow, that's totally awful the coolest bike I ever saw, he should totally, definitively get that.

petethedrummer

If I ever go Carbon, I'm getting a Roubaix.

CheGuedara

So he wants/needs a commuter but wants to throw a load of cash at it - much to the derision of those that might thoroughly put the machine through its paces.

I HAVE THE ANSWER!!!! well here it is http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=106245&cat=52.

Perfect for commuting and if anyone asks was it expensive he can tell them it cost a few pennies....:)

Lumen

Oh yeah, if he wants to be distinctive, he should get a Pashley Guvnor.

Specialized are soo nouveau riche darling.

petethedrummer

Lumen wrote: »

Pashley Guvnor.

That is teh sex.

waraf

CheGuedara wrote: »

So he wants/needs a commuter but wants to throw a load of cash at it - much to the derision of those that might thoroughly put the machine through its paces.

I HAVE THE ANSWER!!!! well here it is http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=106245&cat=52.

Perfect for commuting and if anyone asks was it expensive he can tell them it cost a few pennies....:)

Cheers for that. I assume that's a pretty good bike but unfortunately there isn't a hope in hell of this guy buying a second hand bike.

DirkVoodoo

I am pretty much the opposite of Lumen, not into all that "retro" stuff. I am a bit more of an off the shelf, less of the couture kinda person.

I think this is pretty sweet and flash:



BAM!

or this:



POW!

waraf

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Also, has he done much cycling before?

Well he cycles in and out to work everyday at the moment. I think he has a Trek bike that he bought last year for about 600 euro.

DirkVoodoo

waraf wrote: »

Well he cycles in and out to work everyday at the moment. I think he has a Trek bike that he bought last year for about 600 euro.

Cool, do you know is it a flat bar hybrid like the ones I linked above or is it a drop bar roadbike?

Does he lock it up outside? Any idea of his route?

I think that if he can afford it, as seems to be the case, and he has the space (dunno) then he is better off buying 2 bikes. Because unless he plans on doing some extra spins at the weekends, and it is purely as a commuter, there is little point in buying the roubaix. I don't believe it will have mounts for racks, mudguards, etc. It's not really setup for winter commutes in Dublin if you get me?

CheGuedara

waraf wrote: »

Cheers for that. I assume that's a pretty good bike but unfortunately there isn't a hope in hell of this guy buying a second hand bike.

But the opening price is a mere E450,500 - the bragging rights he'll have will be EPIC.

In all seriousness though - the planet x would get him on a bit of carbon bling at a good price, and leave him enough spare to join a cycling club, enter a few sportives, buy a supply of energy gels etc and travel to them so he'd actually use-use the bike.

waraf

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Cool, do you know is it a flat bar hybrid like the ones I linked above or is it a drop bar roadbike?

Does he lock it up outside? Any idea of his route?

I think that if he can afford it, as seems to be the case, and he has the space (dunno) then he is better off buying 2 bikes. Because unless he plans on doing some extra spins at the weekends, and it is purely as a commuter, there is little point in buying the roubaix. I don't believe it will have mounts for racks, mudguards, etc. It's not really setup for winter commutes in Dublin if you get me?

Yeah the Trek bike that he has at the mo has straight handlebars and skinny wheels like on a racing bike.
He keeps it in his hallway so I think having two bikes wouldn't really be practical. He cycles from Dublin 6 into the IFSC everyday (and back again obviously).
AFAIK he doesn't use a rack on the current bike but I'll mention the mudguard thing to him as that may be a factor.
IMO the main thing with this guy buying this bike is the flashness so he probably won't even consider any alternative that isn't carbon fibre as it wouldn't be as flash

waraf

CheGuedara wrote: »

But the opening price is a mere E450,500 - the bragging rights he'll have will be EPIC.

In all seriousness though - the planet x would get him on a bit of carbon bling at a good price, and leave him enough spare to join a cycling club, enter a few sportives, buy a supply of energy gels etc and travel to them so he'd actually use-use the bike.

I hadn't noticed the (almost) half a million price tag :D

I'll certainly mention the Planet X to him but there is no chance of him joining a club. He doesn't like sport I'm afraid (I've tried to convince him otherwise. Believe me I've tried :P)

DirkVoodoo

Tell him to head into cycleways and check out the roubaix and the tarmac. Just to see if he is comfortable with the position.

waraf

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Tell him to head into cycleways and check out the roubaix and the tarmac. Just to see if he is comfortable with the position.

What's the tarmac?

edit: sorry it's another specialized (google is handy sometimes)

Ciaran500

waraf wrote: »

He doesn't like sport I'm afraid (I've tried to convince him otherwise. Believe me I've tried :P)

Does he have nothing he does like so he can spend €2000 on that?

ROK ON

If I had the money would buy it (but maybe not commute on it).

Sloping top tubes are great IMO (sorry Lumen).

It is a beautiful bike, and sure if he has the money go for it. However, it is a waste of the bike. This bike is meant to be raced. It's like (as Caroline said) buying a ferrari to go to the shops. But hey, a neighbour of mine does that (not joking).

If he wants to spend, tell him buy a Mercian frame and have it custom painted. With the spare change he could spend a fortune on some great cycling clothes.

http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/

waraf

Ciaran500 wrote: »

Does he have nothing he does like so he can spend €2000 on that?

I know!! I was only talking to him during the week asking him if he wanted to come over to Scotland for the Heineken cup final (approx 350 euro including beer money) and he said he couldn't afford it. Then he sends me the email about the bike today :rolleyes:

Anyway, as I said before, it's his money and he can spend it as he likes

waraf

ROK ON wrote: »

If he wants to spend, tell him buy a Mercian frame and have it custom painted. With the spare change he could spend a fortune on some great cycling clothes.

http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/

Had a quick look at the mercian website. Can't see him being too impressed with this

Lumen

waraf wrote: »

IMO the main thing with this guy buying this bike is the flashness so he probably won't even consider any alternative that isn't carbon fibre as it wouldn't be as flash

He wants a carbon racer because it's flash, but doesn't want to ride it properly because he "doesn't like sport". Hmmm, my empathy is waning.

Reality check: a €2k Spec Roubaix is no doubt a nice bike, but is not definitely not flash.

If you take the view (as I do) that you're not rich in a historical sense until you can afford your own private army large enough to pose a threat to the sovereignty of a few small African states, you need to be spending at least €10k on a bike to be properly flash.

FFS, Alan Sugar has a Pinarello Prince, and he's barely scraping by.

waraf

Lumen wrote: »

Reality check: a €2k Spec Roubaix is no doubt a nice bike, but is not definitely not flash.

Holy moly!! :eek::eek: I've bought cars & motorbikes for less than 2 grand (less than one grand if I'm being honest). They definitely weren't flash

Seriously though, I take your point that it's all relative. The people he'll be showing this bike off to will be people like myself (i.e. non-cyclists or people that only ever rode super deluxes or raleigh grifters back in the day) who will undoubtedly think it's flash.

Anyway, thank you all very much for your replies (and for not taking the complete mick out of me and my utter lack of knowledge of bicycles ). I will pass on your comments tomorrow.

alfalad

waraf wrote: »

What's the tarmac?

edit: sorry it's another specialized (google is handy sometimes)

Ouch!! They are a lovely machine, heres a photo of one I saw in Austria, although the owner maybe like your friend as the bike was covered in dust and cobwebs was there that long the tyres had gone soft and wasn't even locked in the hotel bike shed!

waraf

alfalad wrote: »

Ouch!! They are a lovely machine, heres a photo of one I saw in Austria, although the owner maybe like your friend as the bike was covered in dust and cobwebs was there that long the tyres had gone soft and wasn't even locked in the hotel bike shed!

Sorry I wasn't judging with the "another specialized" comment. I'm sure they have very distinct parts/qualities if you know your stuff about bikes but they all look the same to me TBH.

neilled

How about an Orbea Diem Drop Disc ? Full carbon frame and discs for ultimate stopping power. Its got mounts for racks and mudguards as well.



Or the Sirrus Limited - this is the bike Richard Hammond used to beat a powerboat, a car and public transport around london. Full Carbon, even down to the brakes.



Or the trek 7.9 FX, also in full carbon.

petethedrummer

waraf wrote: »

Sorry I wasn't judging with the "another specialized" comment. I'm sure they have very distinct parts/qualities if you know your stuff about bikes but they all look the same to me TBH.

The tarmac has a more aggressive/racing/aerodynamic position. Of the two, your mate would probably want the Roubaix.

I really hope he buys it. Sure he's after saving a few hundred quid not going to Scotland, he might as well. If he gets bored of it be sure to send me a PM.

waraf

neilled wrote: »

How about an Orbea Diem Drop Disc ? Full carbon frame and discs for ultimate stopping power. Its got mounts for racks and mudguards as well.

Or the Sirrus Limited - this is the bike Richard Hammond used to beat a powerboat, a car and public transport around london. Full Carbon, even down to the brakes.

Or the trek 7.9 FX, also in full carbon.

Excellent post Neilled thanks. Are they all in or around the 2 grand mark too?

petethedrummer

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

If he does buy it, he must fit it with flat bars, a set of zipps, some mudguards and a 10 euro lock

@Waraf, this is the type of thing Dirk is referring to. It covers all the bases. Tell him to let his imagination run wild and customize his own bike.

waraf

petethedrummer wrote: »

@Waraf, this is the type of thing Dirk is referring to. It covers all the bases. Tell him to let his imagination run wild and customize his own bike.

oh God yeah!! Wing mirrors on a bicycle have always been cool. These bicycles flags are still cool too right?

DirkVoodoo

waraf wrote: »

oh God yeah!! Wing mirrors on a bicycle have always been cool. These bicycles flags are still cool too right?

It's the law!

The tax man

neilled wrote: »

How about an Orbea Diem Drop Disc ? Full carbon frame and discs for ultimate stopping power.

Could've certain done with those brakes this evening. Completely over shot the corner at the bottom of the hill heading towards the Powerscourt waterfall entrance.

DirkVoodoo

The tax man wrote: »

Could've certain done with those brakes this evening. Completely over shot the corner at the bottom of the hill heading towards the Powerscourt waterfall entrance.

I did this on saturday. Coming down from the top of the climb (corrabut gap?) at the (fantastic) Mt.Leinster challenge, the road was covered in a film of water and my brakes weren't working. There was a sharp right and I was going too fast, so I just carried on down the road until I could stop and turned around. Saw a guy slide and recover coming down as I made my way back up.

As recommended by niceonetom, invest in a set of Kool Stop Salmon!

kincsem

The tax man wrote: »

Could've certain done with those brakes this evening. Completely over shot the corner at the bottom of the hill heading towards the Powerscourt waterfall entrance.

The first time I went up that hill going towards Glencree there was a car crashed at the side of the road. He came down the hill and missed.

The tax man

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I did this on saturday. Coming down from the top of the climb (corrabut gap?) at the (fantastic) Mt.Leinster challenge, the road was covered in a film of water and my brakes weren't working. There was a sharp right and I was going too fast, so I just carried on down the road until I could stop and turned around. Saw a guy slide and recover coming down as I made my way back up.

As recommended by niceonetom, invest in a set of Kool Stop Salmon!

Must have a look at those pads. Had rear brake pulled hard, just shy of locking up and front pulled as much as I dared. No way was I making that corner. Conditions didn't help,river flowing down road. Even a local farmer on a quad over shot it in front of my.:D Thank god for that extra bit of tarmac leading up to the gates. Then the heavens opened and I got pissed on all the way up the Liam Horner and up over the feather beds. Best time I've had on a bike in ages. The Horner in the rain was lovely. Even had a small deer in the middle of the road look at me as if I was mad before bounding off into the woods. Froze my nads off coming down into Dublin but well worth it.:p

neilled

waraf wrote: »

Excellent post Neilled thanks. Are they all in or around the 2 grand mark too?

yes!