5'9", need comfort geometry

[kermit]

I think you need to ride everything to appreciate them. I started with a low end shimano 105 aluminum bike and made the mistake of going into a specialied store where there was a SALE. So the 2005 roubaix comp (full ultegra at the time) was amazing to me. Like I mentioned I have injuries from my former hobby of showing horses and the back would kill me on the aluminum bike. The comp vs. the expert is now a big money difference (sorry, I am a bad influence) but this will be a FOREVER bike. If the expert is what you want, do it. The comp. is a great bike but I think now it has 105 and ulterga mixed. Still good stuff, but upgradeable. The expert has a wicked paint scheme with the red striping. Really cool.

[Yen]

I think you need to ride everything to appreciate them. I started with a low end shimano 105 aluminum bike and made the mistake of going into a specialied store where there was a SALE. So the 2005 roubaix comp (full ultegra at the time) was amazing to me. Like I mentioned I have injuries from my former hobby of showing horses and the back would kill me on the aluminum bike. The comp vs. the expert is now a big money difference (sorry, I am a bad influence) but this will be a FOREVER bike. If the expert is what you want, do it. The comp. is a great bike but I think now it has 105 and ulterga mixed. Still good stuff, but upgradeable. The expert has a wicked paint scheme with the red striping. Really cool.

Why, you enabler you! I saw a Ruby Expert in person at another shop.... zowie, is it beautiful. It was a 54 and too small (that size matches the 52 Roubaix which is a size too small for me).

Has your husband made any comments about the Roubaix on fast descents? I've read some comments on-line that concern me about shakiness on fast descents (40+ mph). Now, I am not planning to go that fast downhill as I get a little scared at 30 mph, but I'm wondering if that is a fact about the Roubaix CF frame. Yet, so many love this bike that if that were a common problem then it seems we'd be reading a lot about it.

I still haven't ridden a C'dale Synnapse but I want to test ride a 54cm Roubaix first to see how it feels in my size.

[Kano]

Has your husband made any comments about the Roubaix on fast descents? I've read some comments on-line that concern me about shakiness on fast descents (40+ mph). Now, I am not planning to go that fast downhill as I get a little scared at 30 mph, but I'm wondering if that is a fact about the Roubaix CF frame. Yet, so many love this bike that if that were a common problem then it seems we'd be reading a lot about it.

For what it's worth -- and I haven't done an 40mph descents yet -- I haven't noticed any shakiness when descending that hasn't started with ME. I feel pretty stable on my Roubaix. A little vibration from the chip seal maybe, but that's not the bike either!

Karen in Boise