Why the Specialized Roubaix is the Most Important Road Bike Ever Built

A look back at the original Specialized Roubaix which kickstarted the entire sportive category (which became the endurance road bike) some 20 years ago, and then the SL2, an iconic race bike at the hands of Tom Boonen. It's amazing to appreciate how much bikes have changed in the past two decades.
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @davidarthur
JOIN MY WEEKLY NEWSLETTER eepurl.com/inIvGk
Supported by Saddleback
Castelli clothing bit.ly/justrid...
Sidi shoes bit.ly/3tjQ8UP
HJC helmet bit.ly/3sRiB2Z
Buy Bikestow Stance stand here bit.ly/3LSZQXZ
Follow me:
Instagram: / davidjarthur
Twitter: / davearthur
Facebook: / justridebikesvideo

[@kawabus]

I still have my 2010 Roubaix SL2, my first road bike. It fits 28mm tires, just wish I could squeeze 32mm in there now. Still a good bike🚴✨✨

[@barrytarr2960]

Love my 2009 Roubaix Pro but I’ve had to up the rear cassette to a 34 😮

[@mariovr8416]

I still ride my sl4. Great bike. Looked at newer options and went no, they are no better.

[@mmurmurjohnson2368]

2009 Allez triple, added deep dish carbon 55's and it still burns baby burns. That era of road bikes were designed around doped athletes and it shows.

[@WhaJMc]

Had my Roubaix SL8 for a couple of weeks now. It is without doubt the most comfortable road bike I have ever ridden. My brother-in-law has an S-Works Roubaix SL3. I think the SL3 is probably the nicest looking of all the Roubaixs, with the subtle curve between the top tube and seat stays. However on a long ride I'd still rather be on an SL8.

[@kippen64]

Thanks so much for the look at the original Roubaix. It's gorgeous 🥰

[@davidarthur]

Any time!

[@unixnerd23]

My 2013 SL3 is just the perfect bike. Fits wonderfully and soaks up bad road conditions amazingly well. Incredibly comfortable.

[@petesmith3306]

I still ride my SL1 Roubaix as my daily ride. I bought the frame for £100 in 2010 and it came wuth a cross threaded BB that just needed a chase and face. I built it with the same second hand Ultegra 10 speed groupset thats stull on the bike and has never missed a beat. I intended it to be my training bike but it turned out to be faster than my race bike so it became my crit bike until I retired from racing. Its still a great bike and had a cheap repaint at my local car painters a couple of years ago so looks fresh again and with Borg 50C wheels and a few other well chosen modern bits of finishing kit it weights bang on 6.8kg. Lovely, indestructible bike

[@alanb7153]

Thanks for the video. Still regularly ride my 2004 Roubaix. Upgraded the drivetrain in 2009 but nothing since. Has taken me across Canada in 2006 and through Italy, the Alps and the UK in 2012.

[@glennanderson2790]

I had a 2009 SWorks Tarmac. I bought the frame new in the box for $700.00 in 2012 and built it up with Dura Ace 10 speed and C-24 wheels. The bike was very stiff and light, overall a great bike. Lost it when it and I were hit by a car a few yrs ago.

[@cbb3062]

Sorry to hear that, I hope you are doing alright now. Yeah the old bikes you could buy and build up for a pretty reasonable price and get top end performance but now it like that will be 15 grand sir 😅

[@seraph4581]

Damn, you'd have to go for chinese manufactures like Winspace or Yoeleo to get something high quality for a reasonable price these days

[@socopower]

Very nice video, many thanks for putting this together!!

[@JSC131]

Absolutely fanatastic rim brake bikez great content David.

[@reinholdachleitner2069]

Awesome Specialized Roubaix's,I love the Mavic Ksyriums on the original Roubaix.Safe riding.💯💪🏻👌🏻🚴

[@soapy_stevens6366]

I still use my 2008 Roubaix Elite as my Winter bike. It's bomb-proof, but fast on the flat. I've upgraded the drive train and wheels and fitted mudguards so it's perfect for wet weather conditions.

[@scottwatson7844]

Had those mavic ksyrium ssc sl wheels on a Colnago many moons ago and they were fantastic.

[@kenblakeley9940]

I rode mine 03 for 17 years with campagnolo and wish I had it still!

[@DanaBlack]

Ben Delaney was just talking about this Roubaix from working at Spesh in his newest video

[@rsrnsrwds]

Thanks so much for this video, David! So interesting to see this historical perspective on the evolution of road bikes.

[@davidarthur]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rangersmith4652]

Beautiful, classic "endurance" bikes.

[@secretagent86]

I have a 2011 specialized roubaix with triple chainring Bought it used. With a good set of giant wheels, vittoria laytex tubes and continental tires it is fast

[@jonblake7871]

So good I brought it twice!

[@gerlachsieders4578]

Still waiting on your Secan update, you promised 😋 I'm curious to see if you have opted for the new Cempa fork with mounts...

[@mister_ray]

2015 Roubaix SL4 Pro Disc Race. First edition with disc brakes. Loads of miles on it, but the Zertz got brittle and I removed them. Bike now sits on Zwift trainer.

[@dougmcdougall3997]

Specialized has advertised 38 c tire clearance not 40 so which is it and what is the internal rim width of the wheel set tested ? thanks

[@davidarthur]

It's 40mm but as ever actual clearance will depend on tyre and rim combinations and the max recommendation is based on having 6mm clearance between tyre and frame

[@jackdavis8786]

That bike is like a classic car now, wish I’d had kept mine

[@taxi9554]

Did these inserts in the first bikes had any impact at all?

[@zaahierstanley955]

I still have ky SL2 sworks tarmac

[@tomrachellesfirstdance7843]

It's strange seeing an S-Works with specialized as the main logs. Sweet bikes though they look great

[@DanaBlack]

I have a S-Works Tarmac SL7 that says Specialized everywhere, no S-Works logos, although it does have the 12r decal. Speed of Light frameset.

[@TheFloridaBikeVlogger]

RIM BRAKE MAFIA

[@oatmonster]

What do you mean 2003 was over 20 years ago???

[@GOLTEB]

Look at all those branding!

[@robertcatuara5118]

My 2010 is my daily driver.

[@sghound]

nothing sexier than dat SL2 curves. makes them aero bikes today look fugly.

[@benp3639]

Rim brakes aren’t dated!! Great vid though.

[@alexanderdoyley5816]

Wow

[@JosephNieto-o8r]

Was footage that shitty in 2008 damn

[@jeropage95]

53/46 front chainrings. People are running the 46 as a abig chainring nowadays smh.