(powerful music)
- I'm here at a top secret location
ahead of the 2019 edition of Paris-Roubaix.
And I have what I think is the most exciting pro bike
I've ever seen.
(electronic music)
Now the reason why I'm so excited
is because this is the bike of Peter Sagan
which is well, normally very exciting.
But in addition to that
it's a brand new specialized Roubaix
and this is the first time I'm seeing it.
I didn't even know this thing was coming out.
I mean it's only a couple years ago
that the original Roubaix was launched
and normally product cycles are a bit longer than that.
But wow, look at it.
So first up I'm gonna go through
what I can see to be the big differences
between this the new Roubaix and the previous Roubaix.
And then I'll talk about some of the small things
that make this bike unique to Peter Sagan.
First up, we have the Future Shock.
Now this was introduced on the last Roubaix model
and it's essentially some suspension
here just above the head tube that makes it more comfortable
when you're riding over rough surfaces like the pave.
However they've modified it,
it now has a lockout on the top
so you can lock off the suspension
when you're riding on tarmac and keeping it smooth
so you have no travel and then you can flip it
just by fixing that like that.
That's pretty cool isn't it?
The next big change over the previous Roubaix
is the tube profile shapes as well.
So these are much more like the tubes that are found on
the brand new specialized Tarmac.
They've been optimized to be more aerodynamic
so we can see that in the down tube here
in the seat tube which has got like a D-shaped
flat back section and also the seat post as well
which is D-shaped.
It actually looks like it's the same seat post
as found in the Tarmac.
Now a D-shaped post is something that we see
on a lot of BMC bikes and also Giant bikes as well
and it has a couple of advantages.
It's a bit more aerodynamic but also being flat at the back
enables it to deflect more, something which is crucial
for adding extra comfort in a race like Paris-Roubaix.
While I'm on the subject of the seat post,
it also has a revised junction into the frame as well.
This is a completely different design
to the previous Roubaix.
So we have this polymer sort of cap
that you can lift off there.
And then from there you can see that there's a big gap there
that's deliberate to allow the seat post
to have a bit of travel inside the frame and deflect more
crucially to try and give more comfort
which is important for a race like Paris-Roubaix.
Another new detail is the junction box is now really neatly
fitted into the down tube here.
Something we've seen on a lot of new bikes
rather than it previously being rather scruffily
located in a sort of underslung fashion under the stem.
Nice.
So those are the main differences
between the new Roubaix and the old Roubaix
but this is Sagan's bike so what's special about it
in that regard, what makes it unique to him?
Well here's a special paint job,
and that's something we're used to seeing with Peter Sagan.
It's this beautiful metallic iridescent green paint
that really changes color in the light
depending on how you look at it.
It is amazing and there's a few little metallic
Peter Sagan logos, there's one there
and a nice little name logo there that identify as Sagan's.
There's also three little bands
at the back here on the chainstay.
These little metallic bands that signify
his three World champs wins.
So you got Richmond, Doha and Bergen, that's very classy.
But this is a very understated paint job for Peter Sagan.
We're normally used to seeing much more flamboyant designs
for him over the years.
But I really like it.
(calm music)
Being Sagan's Roubaix bike,
there a few key equipment changes on here
that are different from any other bike
that he'd use the rest of the season.
So some things are the same
like the fact that he's using Dura Ace Di2 throughout
that's the same on all of his bikes.
But the chainset is different,
so instead of his normal 53/39,
he's got a 53/44 at the back there.
Roubaix is a very flat race
and so a lot of the riders prefer having that closer ratio
of a 53 to a 44.
(exciting music)
At the back we've got an 11/28 cassette
and you'll also notice that there are ceramic speed
bearings fitted throughout.
The wheels are Roval 50 millimeter tubulars
and paired with those is 30 millimeter specialized
S-Works Turbo Cotton tires.
These are really thick indeed, really wide.
And I'm told that the pressure
that is gonna be running in those
is anywhere between 4 1/2 and six bar.
But that depends on the day, whether it's wet or dry.
Interestingly too, the mechanics tell me
that because of the compliance offered by the Future Shock,
they are actually able to run slightly higher pressure
in the tires if they want to as well.
Sagan's saddle of choice is a specialized Romin EVO
and quite interesting its got a layback seat post here
and also the saddle is slammed right back on the rail.
Something which I'd imagine gives quite a lot of compliance
cause there's a bit more leverage on the saddle.
On the chainset you'll notice that there's a specialized
power meter, this is a dual sided meter.
There's a pod on the non-drive side crank as well.
And the crank arms are 172.5 millimeters long.
Same as me.
(laughter)
However not the same as me are his pedals.
I use Dura-Ace pedals as well but Sagan has the ones
with the longer four millimeter axle
which gives a bit more Q factor.
It sort of make sense 'cause when you see him pedaling
his legs do look like they are a bit farther apart naturally
so that's quite interesting.
On to the cockpit now and I find this really interesting.
The first thing that kind of dominates the eye
is how long his stem is, that's 140 millimeters long
and it's an S-Works stem.
And out the front of that we've got a really neat
outfront mount for his Wahoo BOLT.
I really like that that's very tidy, nice.
And then that's paired with a PRO Vibe 42 centimeter bar.
Interestingly it's a round bar.
Sagan has often been using an aero bar, an aero cockpit
for this season.
But for Roubaix he's gone for a round bar
which offers a bit more compliance
and it's also a bit more comfortable
when you're holding it on the tops as well.
But one of the most interesting things
is the lack of modifications for me in this cockpit.
At Roubaix we see a lot of weird and wacky tech
and often you see extra shifters, extra brake levers,
double wrapped bar tape.
But this is well pretty simple, I kinda like that.
But I do like his bar tape though,
this is the SUPACAZ bar tape and it feels very tacky, nice.
In case you were wondering what size bike Peter Sagan rides
well it's a 56 which is also the same as me.
(chuckling)
I'm basically Peter Sagan aren't I?
Well let's do a freehub soundcheck.
(wheel rotating)
Smooth.
(wheel rotating) It's getting louder.
Another difference from the previous Roubaix
that I've spotted is the lack of through axle lever
on the front and the back.
Instead it's similar to what we see on other bikes
where the lever is actually removable.
And what this does is create a much cleaner front end
if you look, there's no lever sticking out
which makes the bike slightly more aerodynamic.
Some people reckon that's worth a watt or two so significant
and to remove the wheels or change the wheels
the mechanics actually have a special sort of pit gun
like you'd see in Formula 1.
I've just got the mechanics to weigh Sagan's bike as it is
in full race build and it hits the scales at 7.91 kilograms.
So not a featherweight lightweight climbing bike
but that isn't what you want for Roubaix.
You want a bike that's robust and durable
and comfortable and can take on the cobbles
and that is hopefully what this is.
Now I hope you've enjoyed this video
and if you have then please give it a thumbs up
and subscribe to the GCN channel
as it helps us make more videos in the future.
But let us know in the comments down below
what you think of this awesome new bike.
I love it I think it looks amazing.
And I wonder if it will win on Sunday?
Anyway for more Paris-Roubaix content,
you can click on Sag's 44 tooth inner chainring.