Is Specialized’s Roubaix SL8 Now A Gravel Bike?

We've done gravel bikes as road bikes, but how about road bikes as gravel bikes? With bikes like the new Specialized Roubaix SL8 having space for 40mm wide tyres, does this present an interesting option for those people who want 2 bikes in 1?

I headed to the forest with a pair of gravel tyres and wheels to find out!

Content
00:00 Intro
00:40 Tyre Size Evolution
2:07 Will the Gravel Tyres fit??
3:21 Gravel vs Road Bike Differences
4:51 Squarespace sponsor
6:06 Ride Impressions
9:42 Does it work as a gravel bike then?
10:20 Are you better off with a gravel bike?

Supported by Saddleback

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[cdeluise]

I've been riding a Crux Pro for over a year and absolutely love it for double duty. I have two wheel sets also.

[keith_cottongim]

As primarily a roadie, my biggest gripe with a gravel bike is the sluggishness. This set up may be the way to go if you're not riding chunky, gnarly gravel.

[jametz]

Great video. Im thinking of this for myself, using 38 tires on the Roubaix. For me, riding 60/40-70/30 gravel, (typically hard pack dirt roads)..this could be a N+1 killer ( for me and what I do)....

[marcgv]

I use a Diverge 2022 E5 as a road bike and I love it.

[cravenadventure]

I have an Allez 2023. I was able to fit 38 gravel tires on it. It works well on gravel.

[carltonholmes]

I remember racing MTB XC IN THE EARLY 90’s and using. 1.9” Panaracers and winning on them. How things have changed. 😊

[SoManyMiles]

I really appreciate your recommendation at the end of the video. This is reasonable and honest. Maybe this could be the way to get the do it all bike so many of us keen for.

Thanks for this excellent review, David!

[fennec]

Just because a road bike has room for 35 to 38 mm tires does not mean that it is ideal for all gravel. A tight packed Trail or byway Road would be just fine, I think

The real point and the change that has come about with gravel geometry IS NOT the same as endurance geometry. Gravel is a much more relaxed with a slacker head tube angle, longer chain stays, wider (typical) handlebars and a longer overall wheelbase which all contribute to better handling on rough stuff like gravel.

Along with wider tire clearances and if I'm not mistaken frames that have been reinforced to take on more stress and thus are heavier than a purpose built road bike.

Of course it boils down to what type of riding you do most often, but I would definitely ere on the side of a gravel bike as a road bike versus a road bike as a gravel bike. imo

[danstenis]

I was doing jumps off of speed bumps on an aluminum city hybrid bicycle and eventually the top tube and the head tube separated at the joint and I got it re-welded back together. I was probably off the ground about 1 foot each jump. So I am thinking that a road bicycle would also break too if I did jumps off of speed bumbs with it. Gravel bicycle are probably more rugged. So my question is do you think it would also break too if I do jumps of about a foot off the ground with gravel bicycles. A mountain is even more rugged than a gravel bicycle. Would a mountain bicycle be able to handle a one foot off the ground jumps without eventually fatiguing and breaking?

[andyheilmann]

I'm running 35mm on my gravel bike. It's more than enough for most of my dirt roads and rail trails in the northeast US

[taxi]

I put 35 tires on my Trek Domane Gen4. And use it as Gravel…why not? Most of the time I use my roadbike…so switching to the Domane for gravel feels “right”.

[alainpfammatter]

Funny I own this exact Roubaix and just build up a second wheelset with 38mm Gravel tyres (pathfinder) and its amazing. Easy to switch between both. I mus say with the 32mm Mondo tyres which actually measure 34mm on the wide rims you can ride Gravel as well.

[Ivan-nyqi]

The only thing Specialized missed the mark on the Roubaix was the downtube storage. That’ll be the upgrade on the 2025s hopefully.

David,
What brand is that tail bag?
Thanks and excellent video !

[schoebelski]

Great vid. Thanks David👍 . I actually prefer 1 for road + 1 for gravel. Roadbike light comfy responsive, few aero touches, narrow handlebar. Gravel for light to medium offroad can be cheaper, alloy is good enough, wider handlebar bit slacker front angle. ...however, this new Roubaix makes me think (i personally would prefer Roubaix as one-bike over Diverge, because of bit racier geometey and faster steering characteristic, and 40mm tires are good enough for me).😀✌️

[DNA]

I've been looking to buy a new bike (have a cheap entry level gravel bike) but have almost only ridden tarmac, so a gravel bike a bit overkill for me, and when I looked at specialized bikes I apparently had outdated information as I thought the tire clearance on the Roubaix was 33mm, and that was my number one worry with it. I'm still gonna test ride a few before buying, but the Roubaix is in good lead on my list right now.

[reinholdachleitner]

I'm sure it can work and does work, I turned my mountain bike into a road bike with nice suspension travel up front and a 48/28 crankset.💯👌🏻✌🏻🚴‍♀️

[ME-vzsf]

Do you use click pedals when switching to the gravel setup? Other question: is that a Castelli jacket ? looks great!

[denisspratt]

I hope you can check out the new Cinelli Nemo Gravel with the suspension fork system.
Looks cool.

[abedfo]

You could even put some 650bs on if you needed even more plushness!

[granthardy]

How tough is the paintwork against chipping or the tyres against puncture? It doesn't appeal to me at all, I'll stick to the road.