Bike of the week: Specialized Roubaix Pro Force eTap

Though the eponymous race remains wonderfully anachronistic to this day, Specialized’s Roubaix can perhaps count itself among the most technologically advanced road bikes on the market in 2020, especially in this premium build.

Purists may scoff at the modern conveniences, such as suspension, wireless derailleurs, hydraulic disc brakes, aerodynamically optimised tube shaping and carbon wheels with fast, chunky tyres, but, like Specialized, we’re convinced most of these things are genuine advances.

Okay, so they won’t turn us in to Peter Sagan, but even our most discerning writers have been converted to the ‘smoother is faster’ mantra recently.

• Specialized Roubaix Expert long-term review

The geometry of this non-S-Works version is taller and shorter than that of the Tarmac, Specialized’s all-round road bike, but it’s no dutch-style town bike either. It’s plenty racy enough for the unmalleable majority of us who spend most of our days hunched over at a desk rather than honing our flexibility in the gym.

Shocking looks

The Future Shock suspension system is one feature that divides opinion.

Those that haven’t used it tend to decry its somewhat ungainly appearance. A #slamthatstem bike this will never be.

But those that have used it tend to almost universally praise the system for its effectiveness at reducing the kind vibrations that cause morale-sapping hand and shoulder fatigue, especially over the course of long rides on rubbish roads.

New age gearing

On the face of it, a road bike with racy aspirations that comes with 46/33-tooth chainrings seems something of an oxymoron. These were the kind of ratios traditionally reserved for cyclocross.

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However, the addition of a 10-tooth cog to the cassette has enabled SRAM to be more progressive with its drivetrain offerings, and it’s hard to deny that most people likely stand to benefit from it.

After all, as noted when we reviewed SRAM Force AXS, the 46x10 top gear is slightly bigger than the 50x11 you'd get with a standard compact chainset, but you also get an easier gear at the other end and a smaller jump in teeth between the two chainrings.

Whatever you think about the implications for drivetrain friction, the benefits of the increased range probably outweigh the negatives for most riders.

• SRAM Force eTap AXS vs. Shimano Ultegra Di2

Premium build, premium price

So, the price. At £6,400 / $7,000 / AU$10,000, it’s not cheap. But, it does come with a selection of high quality parts, including Roval CL 32 Disc carbon wheels, Specialized’s own Turbo Pro 28mm clincher tyres and its ever popular Power saddle.

There’s not much you could wish to upgrade.

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What’s more, the gloss teal, charcoal and blue paint job is very elegant. Kudos to Specialized for offering more choice than simply black on carbon on its recently released bikes.

Yes, it adds a little weight (because paint weighs more than a simple clear coat), but when you spend this much money on a bike you should expect it to look as good as it rides.