THis is the Result of Boardroom Decision Making | Specialized Roubaix SL8 Sport

Let me know what you think in the comments below & Don't forget to subscribe!!!

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Let me know what you think in the comments below & Don't forget to subscribe!!!

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The Gear I use:
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00:00 New Bike, Curious Decisions
00:36 Specialized Roubaix SL8
01:02 Tarmac SL8 vs. Roubaix SL8
02:11 Diverge vs. Roubaix
03:17 Endurance Bike vs. Gravel Bike
04:38 Future Shock 3.1
06:38 Aftershock Suspension
08:04 Roubaix Sport Apex Features
09:26 What in the Actual is this Bike?
10:58 Roubaix Sport SL8 Weight

The result of Inbreeding & Group ThinK | Specialized Roubaix SL8 Sport

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DISCLAIMER: This video description contains affiliate links, meaning I'll receive a small commission if you click on one of the product links. I work within the cycling industry, and the views are not representative of the views of my employer. Jamesthebikeguy videos are produced outside of employment obligations and are made of my own volition unless otherwise stated.

[kyleericson]

I think the problem with cycling (both road & mtb) is that we simply don’t have enough categories of bikes!😂

[robbiefranklin]

My brother works at a Specialized dealer and they had an extremely hard time moving these 1x Roubaix's. However, for $500 less there's the same bike with the new 12 speed mech 105 and those sold like hot cakes. I've got one and I ended up buying a lighter road wheelset for road tires and put some knobbies on the wheels it comes with for gravel and being able to hot swap between the two to do whatever you want TOTALLY rocks.

It's a great bike but I think Specialized misjudged the market with the 1x option. The massive cassette on my 105 model even has the same 1:1 ratio on high end as the 1x option does, but I can bomb a hill at 40mph without spinning out

[andyjackson]

I train on my roubaix . Use my Madone to group ride. Less stress on my body and makes me feel fast when I’m on a group ride…lol.

[chrismccannIRL]

So we’ve a Tarmac SL8 for you to race on. Or if you want the same geometry but more compliance and lighter we have the Aethos. Or if you want more endurance geometry and a bit of aero then we’ve a Roubaix. Now if you want more gravel orientated rides than roubaix we’ve the Diverge. Wait you want more race geometry than a diverge, but you want more tyre clearance we’ve got a crux for you.

[jarhead]

I have no idea why this is the decision of boardrooms. It clearly is the decision of people who do a lot of road and gravel riding. It’s not that complicated.

[erics]

For all those questioning the suspension, what is the name of this bike? What kind of surface is that race famous for?
It is amusing to see Specialized making what amounts to an all around road bike. Kind of like all bikes used to be. Gravel bikes in general are a return to a more practical type of bike. One that has a comfortable, not a racing ride position. One that will take at least 32mm tires. A bike that you could put a rear rack on and do light touring or run to the grocery store.
This isn't exactly that bike, but for someone who wants something more practical than a race wannabe bike, this bike has a lot of practicality. Yet is still reasonably light and responsive.

[highanddryful]

How does this bike compare to the 2024 2x12 Shimano 105 Specialized Roubaix SL8 Sport?

[christolliday]

Just brought this one have a Roubaix road bike rides like a dream on long distance .The SL8 though makes a better ride for both road and gravel..but in the end its a personal choice

[Not_Sure_]

19+ pounds ?
That's heavier than many steel framed bikes.

[joules]

The industry is pushing for 1x for several reasons:
1. Cheaper to manufacture.
2. Easier pre delivery assembly.
3. More sales of after-market cassettes and chainrings, as customers try to switch out for lower gears.
4. More servicing and replacement costs, once partly worn parts reach the limitations of 1x systems, which are more critical than traditional 2x set-ups.

I have a 1x on the bike I use to pick up groceries from the store, and my grandson has 1x on the bike he rides to school, but personally, and especially since this bike is targeted at gravel riders, it's almost ludicrous to have a 40x44 as its lowest gear. Anyone with gear on their bike, riding up a gnarly track, and not on top form physically, had better switch to flat pedals and walking boots for this bike, because they're going to be doing a lot of walking.

[clintonslayton]

As a rider of 2006 & 2007 S-Works Roubaix models, true endurance frames, I think that this being more "Tarmac-like" negates the model name. I avoid gravel whenever possible and prefer a longer wheelbase. Relying on a single chainring sacrifices distribution of wear and lack of alternate gearing, for a dubious weight benefit, meaning sooner replacement.

[nursematt]

i am trying to find my first bike. i am torn between the apex, with electronic shifting being a plus. the color is a negative as well as the 1x is a concern for me. vs. roubaix sl8 sport 105 vs tarmac sl7 (either sport 105, or comp Di2). this has really proven to be a challenging purchase decision for me. all advice welcome.

[JogBird]

trek is correct in that using larger tyrs at lower pressure removes teh need for over engineered psuedo suspension gimmicks.. esp proprietary ones that can only be serviced at S dealers

[hokiturmix]

The only problem I can see is that this is a 1 by. 2 by always nice to have if we calculate a sudden hill wrongly.

[auricschiller]

Apex AXS is a great deal for a wireless group, but part of the built-in limitations of it from SRAM are that it is 1x only (and part of the savings is not paying $200 for the electronic FD). SRAM was nice to add the HG driver cassette which is great for upgrading old bikes, but I think they should have offered a 10t XDR one as well because every OEM is speccing the 11t cassette because it's part of the group. I bet it would have cost Specialized less than $50 to upgrade the cassette to a 10-44 (XDR freehub and rival cassette), which would have made this more livable for a road bike / gravel-lite. There are so many little thing across the line that Specialized could do to make their bikes that much better with small investments and effort, but they seem to choose not to. Apple isn't perfect, but it would be great if their ethos would rub off on them.

The best thing about Apex AXS for me is that I upgraded my old 1x post-mount Crux to electronic for around $600 and gained some nice lower gears in the process.

Not sure what the headline of "inbreeding and groupthink" is about, seems like a bit much don't you think?

[tezzanewton]

Seems they’ve done a good job of keeping the weight down. That’s 9kg. It’s lighter than both my gravel bikes at 10.5 & 11.8kg

[falcoperegrinus]

That weight includes all those reflectors and dork disk, which pretty much everyone will remove.

[MorganBrown]

Um, a 1x with front and rear suspension, 40 mm clearance and they call it a “road” bike?

[mike]

My god - not another gravel bike! The Roubaix is a perfect compliant road bike, so don't mess with it. I also noticed all the new Creo models are gravel bike spec. Not everything needs to be gravel.

[gc]

Nice, might have to jump ship from Cervelo