With each passing year, bikes get faster, more aerodynamic and more comfortable. The “laterally-stiff, vertically-compliant” game is strong with road bike marketing departments. That said, there’s truth in having a bike that’s fast, responsive and comfortable. It is and forever will remain the Holy Grail of sorts.
That said, increased tire clearance and the adoption of road tubeless reduces the need for fancy shock absorbers or inserts into road bike frames. Yes, the Trek Domane SLR is a beautiful bike and it does include some fancy shock-absorption technology. And, yes, the prior-generation Specialized Roubaix also included a fair bit of suspension trickery with the Future Shock system. As great as the Future Shock may be, I will never forget Peter Sagan adjusting the stem of his S-Works Roubaix en route to capturing the 2018 Paris-Roubaix. Whether or not the Future Shock was the culprit, it’s still etched in my mind.
Heading into 2020, Specialized is taking the Future Shock to a new level aboard the fully-redesigned Roubaix. It turns out that the Future Shock needed a complete overhaul to be more robust and adjustable to riders needs. In addition, the 2020 Roubaix leans on the aero Venge to be faster everywhere. You’ll also notice that the bulbous and ungainly seatpost is now gone in favor of a D-shaped seatpost offering oodles of deflection.
Everyday riding just got a little more interesting with a hefty dose of comfort, aerodynamics and fit options for the masses. Add on top of that the ability to run 33mm tires and the new Roubaix is onto something. With pricing starting at $2,900 on up to $12,000, there’s a Roubaix for every budget and rider demand.
2020 Specialized Roubaix Highlights:
- Ideal balance of light weight, aero and compliance
- More aerodynamic than the Tarmac SL6
- All-new Future Shock 2.0 (1.5 on lower models) with Smooth Boot for better aesthetics
- S-Works Pave D-shaped seatpost for improved deflection and aerodynamics
- Beyond gender eliminates the perceived differences between male/female fit and geometry
- Threaded bottom bracket
- Rider-First Engineered 44cm – 64cm sizes available
- Available in Team Geo or Classic Geo frames
- Clearance for 33mm tires
- Frame Weight: Sub-900 grams (S-Works, 56cm)
We anticipate seeing them in-person at Sea Otter Classic, but these studio shots will suffice for now.
More Info: Visit Specialized.com
