Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

I am an older rider (over 60) but still full of life!! - but I am over feeling every bump and pimple on the road - and yes, I do use a suspension seat post - and have been recommended to the SL4 as a comfortable roader - particularly when fitted with wider than standard tyres - is this for real or is there a more comfortable model or make that can handle some light off road/ gravel as well ???? Cheers.

I have a 2012 Roubaix and it's comfy, I also bought a 2014 cobl gobl-r like the one that comes on an sl4 for my Tricross commuter and it made a noticable difference to the comfort of that bike. I imagine that if I put the cobl gobl-r on my Roubaix it'd be like riding a couch and it would be similar to an sl4 Roubaix. You can always look for an LBS which will loan you one to try.

Pete

Not sure about the SL4, but I have a 2012 Roubaix elite running 28c tyres at 85psi and its a magic carpet ride.

The Trek Domane range gets good reviews for their comfort. If you're interested in off-road/cross country, you could look at their "boone" Domane cyclocross models, eg http://www.trekbikes.com/au/en/bikes/ro ... e_5_disc/#

Ok, thanks for all your input and I will check out the other makes and the seat post, cheers

I have a 2014 SL4 Roubaix Expert. It's a really capable bike. It's very comfortable and stable, and goes pretty quick too. It got me back on road bikes after not owning one for 24 years.
The roubaix is great for long rides and it does a great job of soaking up road buzz. My manhood has thanked the Cobl gobl-r a couple of times (not seeing potholes in the dark). The seatpost really does the job, although looks a bit strange.

Kingswood - have you tried wider than normal tyres on your Roubaix? be interested ti hear the difference they would make if you have, cheers

Hi Fisher44,

Yes, the Roubaix came new with 25's. I changed to 23's about three months ago, mostly as an experiment to see what it was like. The 25's were more comfortable ( I was also running them about 10 psi lower than the 23's). The difference is noticeable but not huge. I still find the bike very comfortable running 23's. Having said that, once my current tyres wear out, I will be going back to 25's. I think they are better suited to the Roubaix and the ordinary roads we have around my way.

I have trikes 22's, 23's, 25's and 28's with the roubaix. 28's are not only the most comfortable, but have the most grip when diving into corners and in the wet, as well as being fastest. My average speed on the 28's is higher than all the others. I will never ride anything else on my roubaix. Ever. 28c is the widest the frame will fit due to clearance behind the BB between the chainstays. They also increase the overall diameter of the wheel and height of the bike a considerable amount. If you mount a 23 on one tyre and 28 on another and put them side by side you will see how much of a massive difference to the wheel size it makes. Love it.

That does sound sensible - what specific 28's did you choose?

Fisher44 wrote:That does sound sensible - what specific 28's did you choose?

I've heard good things about Conti 4 seasons 28's. I was thinking about trying them, I've always used GP4000s's 25mm and have found them to be good.

Maybe this would also suit?:https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ulBcF0kzIjo

Schwalbe Marathon Supreme. I've used them on both paved and unpaved surfaces. They are light, fast-rolling and have good puncture resistance.

Ultremo ZX

I just read some reviews on them and they do write up well - one Query though - haw do they handle in the wet?

The ZX's are great in the wet. I can confidently push them hard into wet corners and they just bite down. I have lost my front wheel several times with gp4000s' 23s in the wet, hence why I won't use them.
Team Saxo bank actually say "in the wet, the Ultremo ZX is our secret weapon". Its becsuse they are so soft. I also get good mileage out of them despite being so thin, light and fast.
But their Archilles heel is glass. But they ride like silk.

harmonix1234 wrote:The ZX's are great in the wet. I can confidently push them hard into wet corners and they just bite down. I have lost my front wheel several times with gp4000s' 23s in the wet, hence why I won't use them.
Team Saxo bank actually say "in the wet, the Ultremo ZX is our secret weapon". Its becsuse they are so soft. I also get good mileage out of them despite being so thin, light and fast.
But their Archilles heel is glass. But they ride like silk.

When I ran the Ultremo ZX's they rolled very well and had great grip. The problem was poor puncture protection and they cut up very quickly. Admittedly, I ran them on my racing bike and they are excellent for that purpose but not a good training tyre. Of course, your experience may vary, especially since I ran 23s not 28s.

You are right, they do cut very easily. I am quite lucky in that 90% of my riding is commuting along and training on the intercity cycleway which is free of the kinds if debris you will find on the shoulder of a road.
If I were to only ride these on the local roads and shoulder, I reckon I could have their life expectancy. Not through wear, but slicing.
I have only had two punctures on these. Once was when my front wheel went over a large bolt about as big as my thumb. The bolt thread just slashed it open about 4mm. (Any tyre would have had trouble with this). This was a year ago and still using the same tyre, but just let the tyre down, put a little super glue inside and around the cut and 12 months later its still holding. The other puncture was my own fault trying to teach myself to bunny hop over a brick and pinch flatted. But there are dozens if 2-3mm slices all over my back tyre.
I know (some) people worry about flats a lot, but if I only spend 10 minutes off the bike repairing a flat fir every 200 hours of riding, then I would rather have those 200 hours be fast, supple, smooth, comfy and light in action and enjoyable to ride. Its a trade off, but worth it for me based on the way I ride and where I ride.
For the record, when I lived south coast NSW the roads demanded a workhorse tyre and I USED schwalbe marathons and they were perfect fir the rougher roads with lots of debris and pot holes.
Horses for courses.

I have these on my commuter only in the 35mm and they've been very good, no punctures so far after 2000km.

http://www.probikekit.com.au/bicycle-ty ... lsrc=aw.ds" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nice bike harmonix1234, same as mine....

Those 28mm Schwalbe Ultremos are about the same width as a 25mm gp4000s.

Yeah, I am running them on mavic open pro rims, so the internal rim width of only 15mm makes em high and skinny like loaves of bread. When I run them on my ZIPPs they are much wider. I don't mind the skinny rim wide tyre combo.

Getting off topic. Sorry OP.

Test rode a 2014 s-works Roubaix sl4 today.
Very smooth.
Tried a bmc gf01 as well.
The difference between 23mm and 28mm was staggering!
The Roubaix was stiffer and more responsive than the BMC.
They were both smooth over rough footpath and broken/rough Tarmac.
I chose the Roubaix due to the responsiveness. Turn in was much more quick and predictable. The bmc felt slow on the turn inx

If I could afford a 2014 S-Works Roubaix I'd be telling everyone about it too you lucky bugger!

Sorry to throw in a spanner - but for a rider who is keen but not nearly as keen as you guys - but just wants a good comfortable ride - how about the Jamis Quest - won the 2013 best enthusiast bike last year -
I know it's steel but, I like steel and to save a $1000 ...... Well,
What do you think

http://road.cc/content/review/56869-jamis-quest" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sorry but it was the Cervelo R3 that won the 2013 best enthusiast bike http://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/bik ... r3-ultegra" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;