Advise on buying a new road bike, Specialized Roubaix - Page 2

 Yeah, I'm not dead set on carbon for weight only. It is cool though! 

My friend let me know one of his buddies is selling his BMC Roadbike. I don't know much about this company and their bikes, but they're pretty cool from my visit to their website.

 I'm still shopping for a road bike, though not in any hurry.

I finally spoke to the guy with the BMC. I learned a few new things. His has a compact crank. I never fully understood what they are.

He tells me essentially, its a newer way to gear the bike to eliminate the need for a triple. So you can spin at a higher cadence as well. It does reduce top end speed, but I doubt I have any interest in high speed anymore. Saves the weight of a triple too.

The other interesting fact is the Shimano has redesigned the cranks and bottom bracket now. You can removed the cranks by unscrewing the non-drive side, then the crank side slides out with the shaft. The bearing cups remain inside and allow for access to service them. Sounds like quite an innovation from what they used to do.

And I am reconsidering frame geometries too. I am not a young whipper snapper anymore. I was looking at the plush style that Roubaix offers, a slightly more upright position. But now I am reconsidering the traditional frame again. The BMC owner is the same height and weight and age as I am. He found a well fitted frame will serve very well. 

Any insights to the above is appreciated. SInce I will ride mostly flats and against the wind in many cases, the need for a triple seems unlikely. So a compact sounds like a nice option in case I go on a group ride and I need to climb a little. Though I hate climbing! hIs set-up is 12-25 in the rear and 50-34 up front. Seems most ready made bikes have this configuration on the 9 speed. I'd get a 10 speed.

Thanks!

 Thanks guys!

I did some research on gear inches as suggested. I didn't know about that term!

It's not so much about understanding the gearing combinations, it was more about understanding what compact was really all about. I thought it was literally some kind of more compacted physically sized crank assembly. Not about the gearing. From what I have been able to understand from reading up is it's just another way to set up the gearing as an alternative to using triples for climbing. And the impact is higher cadence and lower top speed, in general terms. And this eliminates some of the duplication of gearing a triple offers. But gives the rider some of the benefits of a triple for climbing. 

I did come across that Sheldon Brown site earlier. I have a closer look as I research this. Thanks!

 Regarding triples, I had not not meant to imply I would convert a bike to triples. I actually did do that to my old bike, when from a double to a triple and replaced the entire drive and shifters anyway. 

I am looking for a whole new bike now. So I have to decide if a compact makes sense for me since the guy who was selling the BMC was telling me I should consider a compact over a triple.

Michael, I've been off a bike and away from all the latest tech updates for so long, I didn't know you could feel the difference in the bottom bracket! 

 Thanks Michael, your interest in compacts has furthered my interest to test drive one.

Hey Chris-

Thanks for the insights and thoughts. I am seeing some 09 close-outs at a local shop's website, so I'll be checking those out!

The owner of the BMC is an ex-racer. Not a pro, an amateur, so I am not surprised he likes that bike!

Thanks for the frame geometry suggestions and the mention of Look and Scott. I had not considered Scott, I am more familiar with Look.

There is a loop I used to do near where I used to work that I rode with my co-workers about 10 years ago. It's above Stanford University and there was quite a climb to get to the top. And I did it without a triple. Now that I'm so far out of shape, it should be interesting to see how the compact will feel if I try that loop again after I rebuild my 40-something year old body.

It's been 4 months. Today I had some time to test ride some bikes. The shop I went to is a Specialized shop. Can't avoid them!

I test rode a Tarmac Comp with the compact set-up and 105 components. Then I tried a Tarmac Expert compact with Ultegra. Of the two, I liked the Expert. But it felt a tad low. I had not been on a road bike in a long time, so I haven't a good sense.

Then the shop suggested I try the Roubaix Comp compact with 105 components That was pretty good! Not sure the fit was quite right. So we tried a Roubaix Expert compact and he tweaked the seat height more. This bike has the Ultegra. He said he didn't want to upsell me to the higher end, but I wanted to try it while I was there. I liked this bike more then I wanted to! It felt like I could ride it all day. And I wasn't even properly fitted and wasn't wearing clipless shoes. Just sneakers. Of course it's the most expensive of the 4 I tried.

I think I want to retry the lower priced Roubaix and Tarmac with the 105 bits and better fitted. The reason he thought I liked the Roubaix Expert frame is because the frame is much stiffer where needed and also had more give on the seat post. 

I didn't want to like the Roubaix because it was pricier and I didn't want to go the route of the plush bike. I'm not that old! But I know it's not meant as an old man;s bike. It did feel good. While I'm not a racer, I guess i didn't to give up that snap the tarmac has.

Anyway, it was an interesting experience, a really nice warm day and the shop wasn't busy.

Do you like the Roubaix Steve?

I was surprised I'd like it more then the Tarmac. My old bikes were traditional race frame geometry. So I thought I'd be fine with the Tarmac. But I liked the Roubaix's more upright position more then I thought. I was advised that the Roubaix is not too shabby for racing, just not quite as snappy as the Tarmac. I also felt like the Roubaix was more stable.

I looked at the 09's too. Can save more $$ that way!

The difference between the Expert and Comp on both the Roubaix and the Tarmac is the Comp has 105 and the Expert is Ultegra and the frames are lighter and stiffer on specific places on the higher end. 

The Roubaix Comp's carbon fiber frame is FACT 7r and the Expert is 9r. The Tarmac is 8r and 10r respectively. I tried to figure it out, it's Specialized's fancy terms for their composite construction and I think the stiffness and strength where needed. The down tube was really thick too! I was amazed that when I stopped, I looked at the fork, there was no flex. On my old steel bikes, there was a bit of flex.

The Expert frame on the Roubaix has a really thick bottom bracket area so you do not loose any energy from frame flex. But the seat stays on the Expert are two separate tubes and thinner. That was part of why the frame felt more comfortable. While the Comp's seat stay is one large mass at the seat tube joint. I was told that was why the frame was less compliant on the rough roads.

And the Expert frames are lighter too, so you're paying more money for less weight there.

I'm not so sure I could tell that much difference between the 105 and Ultegra when I shifted. But there was one thing about the new 2010 Ultegras, the brake/shifter hoods are unique with a new design that is more ergonomic. I think from my short test rides that they did feel better and I can see my hands felt better resting on them.

Another aspect of these new bikes I was really impressed by was the brakes. They really grabbed hard! I liked that! My older 2000 105 brakes didn't feel this good! Like from going from drum brakes on a car from the 1960's to modern disc brakes!

I think I still need to go back and re-test ride both and the Tarmacs again. I had not been on a road bike in 2 years and by the time I was riding the most expensive bike of the 4 I test rode, I was feeling more comfortable on a bike, so I felt it might not have been a fair comparison from the Tarmac to the Roubaix.

They have Canondale too, and I might try one as well.

 Update: I bought a new bike.

After a few test rides at a couple of bike shops, I went with the Tarmac Expert, 2010 model. I was surprised that I went that route.

I had tested a Roubaix a few weeks back and I found it to be a very comfy ride, and I had ridden a couple of Tarmacs before it. This time, I liked the Tarmac more. And when I got it home, I compared it to my old Allez and I was surprised to see how aggressive my old steel frame was set-up compared to the Tarmac. I guess the LBS was right, these new bikes are more upright in position.

I also got a new wireless cyclometer, didn't know they do that now! And a new helmet (my old one had a dent after my last crash) and Ultegra pedals to match my groupo. I think I got a decent deal, there is a rival bike shop that is doing a big April sale. This bike shop price matched them by giving me $300 off their price and gave me 20% off on the accessories.

I haven't riden the bike yet! So I am about to do a ride now to break it in! One regret, I listened to the LBS and got the CO2 cartridges. I think I am preferring to get a pump or figure out a way to attach my old long Zefal pump onto the bike. But a new smaller pump would likely be better attached with the clamps. I feel better with the pump as a back-up. I didn't know Specialized made pumps too. I like that they have the small compartment that stores patches.

On the bike, I was amazed on my test rides how explosive it is on acceleration. And braking it very good. Riding position seems okay. I was properly fitted. They measured the angle of my leg at the very bottom position with my shoes on with clipless pedals. They want me to ride it a while and come back to adjust things if I am not feeling good. 

Oh yeah, this bike is set-up with compact gearing. Funny to see how big the rear gears are and the size difference between the big and small gear in front! So I'll see how I like it. I'm sure I will. On the test rides, I noticed how the shifting felt kind of quick and clunky. but I was getting used to how the new shifters work. I do like these new 2010 Ultegra shifter hood design. Should be a little better for the hands to rest on.  

So I think I'm pretty happy, but I'll report back after my ride. I hope the CF will hold up to regular riding! I spent more then I originally planned. But I kinda felt that I didn't mind getting this level of bike. I won't feel the need or lust for upgrades later. And I tend to keep things a very long time.

 I'm back and I had a bit of a nervous and jumpy ride everytime some guy came towards me in the opposing lane on the path! And I was afraid every little pebble I could feel the tired roll over was going to cut a tire down!

But overall, a really good 10 mile initial ride. After 2 years off, it felt like old times again! My butt tissue will be sore around the sit bones till I get used to it again.

On my return leg of the ride, I got passed by a guy on a Tarmac too, a nice matte black one. I like that finish! I chased him for a bit at around 22 mph and decided to back off. Don't need to tempt fate! Though I did go through the path where I was hit by the other cyclist and totaled my last bike. 

Thanks Steve for describing your pump solution! If I could cut or modify my Zefal, I would. But I don't think I can cut any part of it. it's one of those older long tube designs.

That's like the one I have. Mine says zefal hp X 4. So you cut the end off. That shortens mine by 3/4 of an inch. My seat tube is still shorter. But I think you seated yours between the bottom bracket and head tube. I might be able to do that.