2018 Specialized Roubaix Expert

Sure, we always knew that smoother was faster, but before the Roubaix Expert with our Future Shock technology, we couldn't have imagined just how much faster being smooth actually is.

The super-light frame has been constructed from our FACT 10r carbon fiber. Its stiffness levels are also off the charts, and compared to the SL4 iteration of yesteryear, you'll experience a whole new, faster, and more efficient geometry. Through some engineering sorcery, however, we've managed to keep the same fit, feel, and position that we've all come to love from the SL4, and kept it consistent throughout the size-range due to our Rider-First Engineered™ construction.

Of course, you're probably thinking, "get on to the suspension thing up front." We call it Future Shock, and essentially, it's a piston in the head tube with 20mm of travel. We developed this technology in partnership with McLaren Applied Technologies, and the result of this are a host of drastic performance improvements, namely in the vertical compliance department. Without giving a physics lecture, we found that focusing on vertical compliance, instead of fork splay, meant that we could improve smoothness, speed, and comfort in one fell swoop. And of all the bikes that we've tested with our Rolling Efficiency Model, the new Roubaix outperforms anything on the market.

For this Roubaix, we spec'd Shimano's new mechanical Ultegra 8000 to handle shifting duties, with Ultegra 8020 hydraulic disc brakes to match. We then topped it off with lightweight, alloy Roval SLX 24 disc wheels laced to DT Swiss 350 hubs to keep you rolling smoothly.