I’m finally retiring my Trek 5200 (circa 2001) to be a full-time trainer mule ( I know, I know, this is about a decade overdue but I love this bike). Since I’m now 16 years older than when I bought this bike, I’m thinking that something with a bit of shock absorption might not be a bad idea for an everyday training road bike, so I’ve been eyeing the Specialized Roubaix Pro uDi2. The Trek fits me well, and I’d like to be able to get as close as possible to the same fit on the new bike. The concepts of stack and reach weren’t in wide use (if even invented) back in 2001, so there are no published stack and reach numbers for a 2001 Trek 5200 size 58cm, so my best effort at measuring frame stack and reach for this frame is as follows:
Frame stack: 560mm
Frame reach: 395mm
I’m running a 110mm stem with zero rise and 15mm of spacers under the stem.
When I look at the stack and reach numbers on the specialized website for the Roubaix, it’s not clear to me which frame size (if any) would be a good fit. The frame that’s closest in reach (396mm) is the 61cm, but that frame has a stack (650mm) that’s 90mm taller than my current frame. The frame that’s closest in stack (554mm) is the 52cm, but that has a reach (376mm) that’s 19mm shorter than my current frame.
If I went with a 54cm frame, the stack (570mm) is 10mm taller than my current bike, which I could offset by running 10mm less spacers under the stem. the 54cm frame has a reach of 380mm, which I could offset by running a 120 or 130mm stem. Does this sound like a reasonable way to go? I’m 6’0" with a 34" inseam, so a 54cm frame sounds small at face value, but that’s what the stack/reach numbers seem to be telling me. Am I way off base here?
I’m honestly not sure where Specialized measures the stack and reach of the roubaix. Normally this is a stupid question, but due to the future shock it becomes a weird question. You are supposed to set it up with some sag in the shock, so the measurement taken right on top of the future shock at rest will be too tall, and under the future shock (or with it bottomed out) will be too short.
Long story short, take your bike to your local specialized dealer and ask if you can replicate the fit…and get them to show you how close, or not close they are.
p.s. those stack and reach numbers are really aggressive (i.e. very long and low). You would fit a Allez Sprint 56 really with a little bit of spacer and that is a super aggressive geometry. You will be hard pressed to find that geometry in a ‘endurance’ frame style. Also keep in mind that you should measure to the top of the headset on your bike because most frames now have an integrated headset that is accounted for in the S+R numbers.
Thanks. Yes, the extra height of the future shock complicates matters, as does the fact that Specialized add their ‘Hover’ bars to the mix making an already tall front end even taller. I can, of course, switch out the bars to something else. I like the idea of just taking my bike to the LBS and comparing. The only complication is that there isn’t one shop around here with multiple sizes, so I’d need to run around to different shops to compare to the various sizes.
Reading that you are 6 foot, and going by the assumption that you are ‘Normal’ I would say you are probably a 56 or 58. If your measurements are correct I would guess a 56 with a borderline silly length stem. Call up and see who has those sizes to make your trips more efficient. The Hover bar actually helps you a little bit…as they lowered the front end of the Roubaix from the previous generation and added the hover bar in to bring it back up to where it was. This allowed them to fit more people with the same frame w/ just a swap out of the handlebars.
In general I would also suggest trying out some of the Tarmac type bikes as they may fit you better and with wider tires and newer construction techniques should be more comfortable than your current bike by a decent amount. Just don’t go putting 120psi in 28mm tires and wondering why it is beating you up though. Good news/Bad news, they just released a new Tarmac that should be arriving in stores soon.
Since the Trek was so good to you, maybe consider an H1 Domane or Emonda. The H1 Emonda 58cm gets you 567mm stack x 400 reach. Only thing, I’m not sure if they are continuing the H1 fit for the Domane-- might be able to grab a good deal on a closeout.
Thank you both. Besides a somewhat more comfortable ride, there are two main things I’m looking for in my next bike: 1) electronic shifting, and 2) disc brakes. I took a quick peek at the Tarmac Pro Disc uDi2, and the stack/reach of the 56cm frame (564/395) is nearly identical to my current bike, so thats’ definitely worth looking at. I’m sure there’s a comparable bike in the Trek line-up as well. Perhaps a quick test ride of Roubaix vs. Tarmac is in order.
I’m the sales manager at both a Specialized and Trek dealer. The Roubaix is very versatile when it comes to stack. Out of the box, I can drop the stack about 75mm doing the following:
using the included flush headset top cap instead of the one installed from the factory
removing the three spacers that come with it
using a standard handlebar instead of the hover bar.
Based on your height / inseam, I would start off on a 58 and go from there. 56 with a long stem would work too.
Also, Specialized has switched up the specs on the Pro for 2018. Instead of Ultegra Di2, it will have mechanical Dura Ace. I’m not happy about it. The 2017 Pro was an incredible bike for the money. They were very hard to come by.
Why are you overdue for a replacement. I just took mine out the other day (granted I don’t ride much anymore, but still, that thing was a workhorse for a number of years) and the ride was fantastic.
Why are you overdue for a replacement. I just took mine out the other day (granted I don’t ride much anymore, but still, that thing was a workhorse for a number of years) and the ride was fantastic.
It’s a euphemism for “I want a new bike”. I figure once every 16 years I’m entitled, even if there’s still life left in the old one. I still very much enjoy riding this bike, but I’ve replaced nearly every component at least once, and at some point it doesn’t make sense to keep spending money on an old platform.
Thanks for the insights on fitting the Roubaix, and on the upcoming model year changes. I’ll need to get on the ball and track one down around here while there are still a few available.
