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2015 Specialized Roubaix Getting Thru Axles?

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2015 Specialized Roubaix sneak peek with thru axles

Spotted in the Instagram feed of a Specialized rep, this looks very much like it could be the next generation Roubaix. From the looks, we’re guessing thru axles.

It also looks like the top- and downtubes get a bit punchier shaping, with subtle ridges on the sides. The fork’s Zertz inserts move up and back a bit, making room for what might be a rack mount? The crown is noticeably bigger than current generation models with a distinct ridge along the back of the leg.

While we’re speculating, even the handlebar looks a bit wider on the top and corners, suggesting a new ergo option with broader perch than the current shallow bend offerings. All, of course, remains to be seen. More as we get it.

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William
William
9 years ago

Exactly what I’ve been waiting for!

“Want List”
1-Thru-Axles 15mm & 142x12mm
2-integrated fender mounts
3-di2
4-hydraulic disc breaks
5- a bike I can race & commute with

stjc
stjc
9 years ago

They just did the same as the Trek Domane Disc 😉

Philipp
Philipp
9 years ago

Rack mount? Where can I drop my order?

stc
stc
9 years ago

Specialized just did the same than the Trek Domane Disc !

Matt
Matt
9 years ago

William +1
Plus…
6. Electronic twist grip option for changing gears on the straight part of the bars near/either side of the stem.
7. A split brake system so I can have brake levers there too.

wako29
9 years ago

this is funny after the Specialized rep said along the lines of ‘we don’t see any advantage to offering thru axles’
And to echo others, looks like Specialized is again playing catchup to Trek. Nothing major seen here.

jimbo
jimbo
9 years ago

not a roubaix!

Bill
Bill
9 years ago

Has Specialized done anything original or “innovative” in the last 10 years? They appear to always be slamming, then following on every new advancement.

Innovate or Die…. guess they have made their choice.

Shortandstocky
Shortandstocky
9 years ago

Not a Roubaix. It is a new bike for the gravel category.

adam
adam
9 years ago

Real Men and Legit Ladies ride their road bikes on gravel too, and dont need these silly “innovations”. Specialized and Trek have essentially created a new discipline of cycling based solely on their desires to sell the consumers new or innovative products which they dint need.

SomeFawkingguy
SomeFawkingguy
9 years ago

Good enough for gravel but not dirty kanza. You need 40 wide tires there or enjoy changing tubes.

Charango
Charango
9 years ago

Whose insta feed is this from? I saw another pic of this bike (pretty sure it was the same bike) from the back and the seatstays do not appear to have Zertz. The back of the bike looks like the new Tarmac with discs. There is a group riding these in California right now and posting lots of pictures.

Dr. Sartorious
Dr. Sartorious
9 years ago

“Specialized and Trek have essentially created a new discipline of cycling based solely on their desires to sell the consumers new or innovative products which they dint need.”

Apple gets slammed for this same thing, yet lines are out the door. Which is funny, as I can never spot the Apple (or Specialized/Trek) employees with guns to customers’ heads, forcing them to part with their money to buy these products.

AlanM
AlanM
9 years ago

@Alan, what’s wrong with choices?

tyrich88
tyrich88
9 years ago

Dr. Sartorious… #winning

FarmerJohn
FarmerJohn
9 years ago

@ The Doc., hard to agree with you. My view is that more and more riders(not racers) are tired of having a limited choice in road bikes. As most race bikes on the market feature race geo’s that dont fit for non-racers. How many spacers do most road riders run under their stems? Endurance geometry, wider tire clearance, disc brakes all equal to a cool adventure road bike for the 99%. These types of non-conformist road bikes arent for sheeple riding around in the full pro kits wanting to look like Wiggins, they dont want to jump on the Peter Sagan Wagan, they just want to break away!

Andrew
Andrew
9 years ago

See ? like it or not everytime it’s a Specialized everyone talks about it. Oh,and I’m sick of my Roubaix anyway,I want a Tarmac.

Serious
Serious
9 years ago

Trek? Specialized? Yawn

Cannondale seems to be the only USA brand that is innovative and has the most kick ass bikes out there

Dr. Sartorious
Dr. Sartorious
9 years ago

@FarmerJohn: “My view is that more and more riders(not racers) are tired of having a limited choice in road bikes.”

I’ll ignore the rest of your post since it’s based on the false premise made in the first sentence. Unless you have data to back your claim up, then I’m afraid I can’t address your complaint.

Dave
Dave
9 years ago

From WIki – Cannondale Bicycle Corporation, is an American division of Canadian conglomerate Dorel Industries that supplies bicycles. It is headquartered in Bethel, Connecticut with manufacturing and assembly facilities in China and Taichung, Taiwan.

Cannondale is Canadian now, eh!

Canuckendale
Canuckendale
9 years ago

“serious” Cannondale is owned by Dorel, a Canadian company – the bikes are made is Taiwan and China. They have their headquarters in the USA…but I’d say they are Canadian now, eh!

hairysemi
hairysemi
9 years ago

@Somefawkingguy… the tires actually look pretty wide and it looks like there is room for more. Maybe something along the lines of a carbon AWOL?

MissedThePoint
MissedThePoint
9 years ago

Will a thru axle help keep a disc rotor in alignment with calipers when replacing a wheel with a totally different one? Are disc rotor mounts in relation to hub end caps in tight enough tolerance among diff hubs?

I know it helps on a mtn bike for re-installing a wheel with less fuss with disc brake rub, after changing a tire or tube. On the other hand, thru axles actually make removing and installing a rear wheel harder. In the front, it depends on the thru axle design and how much unthreading is required; manitou hex lock seems faster than QR, but many other thru axle designs seem to be no faster.

Andrew
Andrew
9 years ago

Anyone thought this could be a didicated Gravel bike to take over from the Crux evo gravel grinder, and not a roubaix?

Ajax
Ajax
9 years ago

Oh dear god. Please let this be true. Please god.

Thru axles and please let the Specialized man know that the fork needs to be a road fork in a 367-ish height with a wide crown that will fit both 700x28mm tires and 650bx42mm tires.

And god, please let it have about 415mm-ish chainstays that will be 1980s wide enough to fit 700x28mm tires and 650bx42mm tires.

Please god. Oh dear god. Please let this happen.

Swiftvelo
Swiftvelo
9 years ago

It’s Chris Riekert in the pick.

vu
vu
9 years ago

I’d love to be able to run 700×28 or 650bx38 (or 42), depending on which road I’m heading to. I love my roubaix sl3, but for gravel roads I’m stuck with a much worse performing bike. Bring it on, Specialized!

scentofreason
scentofreason
9 years ago

See 2015 ‘Norco Threshold’ for the bike Specialized is trying to emulate…

desertrat
desertrat
9 years ago

@Serious

FYI Cannondale is owned by Dorel, a Canadian company.

bob
bob
9 years ago

http://ink361.com/app/tag/SeekandDiverge bikename will be diverge?

dralysknowthis
dralysknowthis
9 years ago

@desertrat

… with bikes that are designed by a German.

Jim
Jim
9 years ago

@Ajax – if you want a particular bike that much why not just get one built to whatever spec you choose ?

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