Pro bike gallery: Boonen’s new Specialized Roubaix
- By Nick Legan
- Published Apr. 7, 2012
- Updated Apr. 10, 2012 at 12:31 PM EDT
Tom Boonen's Specialized Roubaix
Could this be the first bike across the finish line at the Roubaix velodrome? Time will tell. Some details on Boonen's fit; seat height = 81.1cm, reach = 65cm, stem = 14cm, bar = 44cm, crankarms = 177.5mm, chainrings = 53-46. Photo: Nick Legan
The bike you’re seeing is favored to cross the finish line first in the Roubaix velodrome on Sunday. With the absence of Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen has become the clear favorite for Paris-Roubaix. If he manages to come through for a record-tying fourth victory (Roger de Vlaeminck holds that honor) in the “Hell of the North,” he’ll do it aboard a bike that makes its racing debut on Sunday.
The new model is the next in the Roubaix line and Specialized is calling it only “Roubaix” and not “Roubaix SL4 S-Works” or some similar model name. The new frame is UCI-approved and Boonen has been testing it since February of this year.
Boonen and company will all be using SRAM’s new Red group, Zipp cockpits and 303 wheels and cockpits. One exception is Boonen’s use of a PG 1070 cassette and not the newest XG 1090 cassette. Boonen uses a Chicane saddle with carbon rails and LOOK Keo Blade pedals. He had a cheat sheet of key points in the race taped to his top tube and a Quarq Garmin Edge 500 to keep track of his whereabouts.
The new Roubaix will be a 2013 production bike, with only very limited quantities available this fall.
Tom Boonen's Specialized Roubaix
Boonen doesn't rate himself as the only favorite for Paris-Roubaix, but he is the only one in the race who's won it three times and positioned to match Roger de Vlaeminck's record of four wins. Photo: Nick Legan
The bike you’re seeing is favored to cross the finish line first in the Roubaix velodrome on Sunday. With the absence of Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen has become the clear favorite for Paris-Roubaix. If he manages to come through for a record-tying fourth victory (Roger de Vlaeminck holds that honor) in the “Hell of the North,” he’ll do it aboard a bike that makes its racing debut on Sunday.
The new model is the next in the Roubaix line and Specialized is calling it only “Roubaix” and not “Roubaix SL4 S-Works” or some similar model name. The new frame is UCI-approved and Boonen has been testing it since February of this year.
Boonen and company will all be using SRAM’s new Red group, Zipp cockpits and 303 wheels and cockpits. One exception is Boonen’s use of a PG 1070 cassette and not the newest XG 1090 cassette. Boonen uses a Chicane saddle with carbon rails and LOOK Keo Blade pedals. He had a cheat sheet of key points in the race taped to his top tube and a Quarq Garmin Edge 500 to keep track of his whereabouts.
The new Roubaix will be a 2013 production bike, with only very limited quantities available this fall.
Tom Boonen's Specialized Roubaix
Boonen's office chair is a Specialized Chicane. His seat height is a lofty 81.1cm. Photo: Nick Legan
The bike you’re seeing is favored to cross the finish line first in the Roubaix velodrome on Sunday. With the absence of Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen has become the clear favorite for Paris-Roubaix. If he manages to come through for a record-tying fourth victory (Roger de Vlaeminck holds that honor) in the “Hell of the North,” he’ll do it aboard a bike that makes its racing debut on Sunday.
The new model is the next in the Roubaix line and Specialized is calling it only “Roubaix” and not “Roubaix SL4 S-Works” or some similar model name. The new frame is UCI-approved and Boonen has been testing it since February of this year.
Boonen and company will all be using SRAM’s new Red group, Zipp cockpits and 303 wheels and cockpits. One exception is Boonen’s use of a PG 1070 cassette and not the newest XG 1090 cassette. Boonen uses a Chicane saddle with carbon rails and LOOK Keo Blade pedals. He had a cheat sheet of key points in the race taped to his top tube and a Quarq Garmin Edge 500 to keep track of his whereabouts.
The new Roubaix will be a 2013 production bike, with only very limited quantities available this fall.
Tom Boonen's Specialized Roubaix
Boonen isn't afraid to ride a carbon-railed saddle over the harshest roads on the planet. Photo: Nick Legan
The bike you’re seeing is favored to cross the finish line first in the Roubaix velodrome on Sunday. With the absence of Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen has become the clear favorite for Paris-Roubaix. If he manages to come through for a record-tying fourth victory (Roger de Vlaeminck holds that honor) in the “Hell of the North,” he’ll do it aboard a bike that makes its racing debut on Sunday.
The new model is the next in the Roubaix line and Specialized is calling it only “Roubaix” and not “Roubaix SL4 S-Works” or some similar model name. The new frame is UCI-approved and Boonen has been testing it since February of this year.
Boonen and company will all be using SRAM’s new Red group, Zipp cockpits and 303 wheels and cockpits. One exception is Boonen’s use of a PG 1070 cassette and not the newest XG 1090 cassette. Boonen uses a Chicane saddle with carbon rails and LOOK Keo Blade pedals. He had a cheat sheet of key points in the race taped to his top tube and a Quarq Garmin Edge 500 to keep track of his whereabouts.
The new Roubaix will be a 2013 production bike, with only very limited quantities available this fall.
Tom Boonen's Specialized Roubaix
Boonen's cheat sheet. All 27 pavé secteurs are listed, with their distance into the race and length in kilometers. Severity is color coded, with Aulnoy-lez-Valenciennes - Famars, Arenberg, Mons-ev-Pevele and Carrefour de l'Arbre deemed the most important for Boonen. Photo: Nick Legan
The bike you’re seeing is favored to cross the finish line first in the Roubaix velodrome on Sunday. With the absence of Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen has become the clear favorite for Paris-Roubaix. If he manages to come through for a record-tying fourth victory (Roger de Vlaeminck holds that honor) in the “Hell of the North,” he’ll do it aboard a bike that makes its racing debut on Sunday.
The new model is the next in the Roubaix line and Specialized is calling it only “Roubaix” and not “Roubaix SL4 S-Works” or some similar model name. The new frame is UCI-approved and Boonen has been testing it since February of this year.
Boonen and company will all be using SRAM’s new Red group, Zipp cockpits and 303 wheels and cockpits. One exception is Boonen’s use of a PG 1070 cassette and not the newest XG 1090 cassette. Boonen uses a Chicane saddle with carbon rails and LOOK Keo Blade pedals. He had a cheat sheet of key points in the race taped to his top tube and a Quarq Garmin Edge 500 to keep track of his whereabouts.
The new Roubaix will be a 2013 production bike, with only very limited quantities available this fall.
Tom Boonen's Specialized Roubaix
Boonen is not running SRAM's new Red cassette, instead this is an 11-23 PG 1070. Photo: Nick Legan
The bike you’re seeing is favored to cross the finish line first in the Roubaix velodrome on Sunday. With the absence of Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen has become the clear favorite for Paris-Roubaix. If he manages to come through for a record-tying fourth victory (Roger de Vlaeminck holds that honor) in the “Hell of the North,” he’ll do it aboard a bike that makes its racing debut on Sunday.
The new model is the next in the Roubaix line and Specialized is calling it only “Roubaix” and not “Roubaix SL4 S-Works” or some similar model name. The new frame is UCI-approved and Boonen has been testing it since February of this year.
Boonen and company will all be using SRAM’s new Red group, Zipp cockpits and 303 wheels and cockpits. One exception is Boonen’s use of a PG 1070 cassette and not the newest XG 1090 cassette. Boonen uses a Chicane saddle with carbon rails and LOOK Keo Blade pedals. He had a cheat sheet of key points in the race taped to his top tube and a Quarq Garmin Edge 500 to keep track of his whereabouts.
The new Roubaix will be a 2013 production bike, with only very limited quantities available this fall.
Tom Boonen's Specialized Roubaix
Zertz inserts help compliance in the rear triangle. Photo: Nick Legan
The bike you’re seeing is favored to cross the finish line first in the Roubaix velodrome on Sunday. With the absence of Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen has become the clear favorite for Paris-Roubaix. If he manages to come through for a record-tying fourth victory (Roger de Vlaeminck holds that honor) in the “Hell of the North,” he’ll do it aboard a bike that makes its racing debut on Sunday.
The new model is the next in the Roubaix line and Specialized is calling it only “Roubaix” and not “Roubaix SL4 S-Works” or some similar model name. The new frame is UCI-approved and Boonen has been testing it since February of this year.
Boonen and company will all be using SRAM’s new Red group, Zipp cockpits and 303 wheels and cockpits. One exception is Boonen’s use of a PG 1070 cassette and not the newest XG 1090 cassette. Boonen uses a Chicane saddle with carbon rails and LOOK Keo Blade pedals. He had a cheat sheet of key points in the race taped to his top tube and a Quarq Garmin Edge 500 to keep track of his whereabouts.
The new Roubaix will be a 2013 production bike, with only very limited quantities available this fall.
Tom Boonen's Specialized Roubaix
Two important items on a Roubaix race bike: a chain catcher and the UCI-approved sticker. Photo: Nick Legan
The bike you’re seeing is favored to cross the finish line first in the Roubaix velodrome on Sunday. With the absence of Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen has become the clear favorite for Paris-Roubaix. If he manages to come through for a record-tying fourth victory (Roger de Vlaeminck holds that honor) in the “Hell of the North,” he’ll do it aboard a bike that makes its racing debut on Sunday.
The new model is the next in the Roubaix line and Specialized is calling it only “Roubaix” and not “Roubaix SL4 S-Works” or some similar model name. The new frame is UCI-approved and Boonen has been testing it since February of this year.
Boonen and company will all be using SRAM’s new Red group, Zipp cockpits and 303 wheels and cockpits. One exception is Boonen’s use of a PG 1070 cassette and not the newest XG 1090 cassette. Boonen uses a Chicane saddle with carbon rails and LOOK Keo Blade pedals. He had a cheat sheet of key points in the race taped to his top tube and a Quarq Garmin Edge 500 to keep track of his whereabouts.
The new Roubaix will be a 2013 production bike, with only very limited quantities available this fall.
Tom Boonen's Specialized Roubaix
That's lots of clearance thanks to the fork and the new SRAM Red brakes. Pictured is the 27mm FMB that Boonen will use for Roubaix. Photo: Nick Legan
The bike you’re seeing is favored to cross the finish line first in the Roubaix velodrome on Sunday. With the absence of Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen has become the clear favorite for Paris-Roubaix. If he manages to come through for a record-tying fourth victory (Roger de Vlaeminck holds that honor) in the “Hell of the North,” he’ll do it aboard a bike that makes its racing debut on Sunday.
The new model is the next in the Roubaix line and Specialized is calling it only “Roubaix” and not “Roubaix SL4 S-Works” or some similar model name. The new frame is UCI-approved and Boonen has been testing it since February of this year.
Boonen and company will all be using SRAM’s new Red group, Zipp cockpits and 303 wheels and cockpits. One exception is Boonen’s use of a PG 1070 cassette and not the newest XG 1090 cassette. Boonen uses a Chicane saddle with carbon rails and LOOK Keo Blade pedals. He had a cheat sheet of key points in the race taped to his top tube and a Quarq Garmin Edge 500 to keep track of his whereabouts.
The new Roubaix will be a 2013 production bike, with only very limited quantities available this fall.
Tom Boonen's Specialized Roubaix
Unlike many riders, Boonen prefers his hoods low and his bar rotated down. Photo: Nick Legan
The bike you’re seeing is favored to cross the finish line first in the Roubaix velodrome on Sunday. With the absence of Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen has become the clear favorite for Paris-Roubaix. If he manages to come through for a record-tying fourth victory (Roger de Vlaeminck holds that honor) in the “Hell of the North,” he’ll do it aboard a bike that makes its racing debut on Sunday.
The new model is the next in the Roubaix line and Specialized is calling it only “Roubaix” and not “Roubaix SL4 S-Works” or some similar model name. The new frame is UCI-approved and Boonen has been testing it since February of this year.
Boonen and company will all be using SRAM’s new Red group, Zipp cockpits and 303 wheels and cockpits. One exception is Boonen’s use of a PG 1070 cassette and not the newest XG 1090 cassette. Boonen uses a Chicane saddle with carbon rails and LOOK Keo Blade pedals. He had a cheat sheet of key points in the race taped to his top tube and a Quarq Garmin Edge 500 to keep track of his whereabouts.
The new Roubaix will be a 2013 production bike, with only very limited quantities available this fall.
Tom Boonen's Specialized Roubaix
Boonen rides LOOK Keo Blade pedals with the stiffest blade. Photo: Nick Legan
The bike you’re seeing is favored to cross the finish line first in the Roubaix velodrome on Sunday. With the absence of Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen has become the clear favorite for Paris-Roubaix. If he manages to come through for a record-tying fourth victory (Roger de Vlaeminck holds that honor) in the “Hell of the North,” he’ll do it aboard a bike that makes its racing debut on Sunday.
The new model is the next in the Roubaix line and Specialized is calling it only “Roubaix” and not “Roubaix SL4 S-Works” or some similar model name. The new frame is UCI-approved and Boonen has been testing it since February of this year.
Boonen and company will all be using SRAM’s new Red group, Zipp cockpits and 303 wheels and cockpits. One exception is Boonen’s use of a PG 1070 cassette and not the newest XG 1090 cassette. Boonen uses a Chicane saddle with carbon rails and LOOK Keo Blade pedals. He had a cheat sheet of key points in the race taped to his top tube and a Quarq Garmin Edge 500 to keep track of his whereabouts.
The new Roubaix will be a 2013 production bike, with only very limited quantities available this fall.
Tom Boonen's Specialized Roubaix
Specialized's new fork appears much straighter than past Roubaix forks. Photo: Nick Legan
The bike you’re seeing is favored to cross the finish line first in the Roubaix velodrome on Sunday. With the absence of Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen has become the clear favorite for Paris-Roubaix. If he manages to come through for a record-tying fourth victory (Roger de Vlaeminck holds that honor) in the “Hell of the North,” he’ll do it aboard a bike that makes its racing debut on Sunday.
The new model is the next in the Roubaix line and Specialized is calling it only “Roubaix” and not “Roubaix SL4 S-Works” or some similar model name. The new frame is UCI-approved and Boonen has been testing it since February of this year.
Boonen and company will all be using SRAM’s new Red group, Zipp cockpits and 303 wheels and cockpits. One exception is Boonen’s use of a PG 1070 cassette and not the newest XG 1090 cassette. Boonen uses a Chicane saddle with carbon rails and LOOK Keo Blade pedals. He had a cheat sheet of key points in the race taped to his top tube and a Quarq Garmin Edge 500 to keep track of his whereabouts.
The new Roubaix will be a 2013 production bike, with only very limited quantities available this fall.
Tom Boonen's Specialized Roubaix
Bigger Zertz inserts wrap the outside of the fork legs and seatstays. Photo: Nick Legan
The bike you’re seeing is favored to cross the finish line first in the Roubaix velodrome on Sunday. With the absence of Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen has become the clear favorite for Paris-Roubaix. If he manages to come through for a record-tying fourth victory (Roger de Vlaeminck holds that honor) in the “Hell of the North,” he’ll do it aboard a bike that makes its racing debut on Sunday.
The new model is the next in the Roubaix line and Specialized is calling it only “Roubaix” and not “Roubaix SL4 S-Works” or some similar model name. The new frame is UCI-approved and Boonen has been testing it since February of this year.
Boonen and company will all be using SRAM’s new Red group, Zipp cockpits and 303 wheels and cockpits. One exception is Boonen’s use of a PG 1070 cassette and not the newest XG 1090 cassette. Boonen uses a Chicane saddle with carbon rails and LOOK Keo Blade pedals. He had a cheat sheet of key points in the race taped to his top tube and a Quarq Garmin Edge 500 to keep track of his whereabouts.
The new Roubaix will be a 2013 production bike, with only very limited quantities available this fall.
Tom Boonen's Specialized Roubaix
Boonen rides with a huge amount of drop on his 60cm frame. That stem is slammed. Many mechanics like to put a spacer on top to increase the clamping surface area for the stem. Note also the rubber grommets on the shifter housing. Photo: Nick Legan
The bike you’re seeing is favored to cross the finish line first in the Roubaix velodrome on Sunday. With the absence of Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen has become the clear favorite for Paris-Roubaix. If he manages to come through for a record-tying fourth victory (Roger de Vlaeminck holds that honor) in the “Hell of the North,” he’ll do it aboard a bike that makes its racing debut on Sunday.
The new model is the next in the Roubaix line and Specialized is calling it only “Roubaix” and not “Roubaix SL4 S-Works” or some similar model name. The new frame is UCI-approved and Boonen has been testing it since February of this year.
Boonen and company will all be using SRAM’s new Red group, Zipp cockpits and 303 wheels and cockpits. One exception is Boonen’s use of a PG 1070 cassette and not the newest XG 1090 cassette. Boonen uses a Chicane saddle with carbon rails and LOOK Keo Blade pedals. He had a cheat sheet of key points in the race taped to his top tube and a Quarq Garmin Edge 500 to keep track of his whereabouts.
The new Roubaix will be a 2013 production bike, with only very limited quantities available this fall.
Tom Boonen's Specialized Roubaix
The small dot on the bar next to the stem slot is to let mechanics know if bars slip. It's also handy when reassembling bikes after travel. Photo: Nick Legan
The bike you’re seeing is favored to cross the finish line first in the Roubaix velodrome on Sunday. With the absence of Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen has become the clear favorite for Paris-Roubaix. If he manages to come through for a record-tying fourth victory (Roger de Vlaeminck holds that honor) in the “Hell of the North,” he’ll do it aboard a bike that makes its racing debut on Sunday.
The new model is the next in the Roubaix line and Specialized is calling it only “Roubaix” and not “Roubaix SL4 S-Works” or some similar model name. The new frame is UCI-approved and Boonen has been testing it since February of this year.
Boonen and company will all be using SRAM’s new Red group, Zipp cockpits and 303 wheels and cockpits. One exception is Boonen’s use of a PG 1070 cassette and not the newest XG 1090 cassette. Boonen uses a Chicane saddle with carbon rails and LOOK Keo Blade pedals. He had a cheat sheet of key points in the race taped to his top tube and a Quarq Garmin Edge 500 to keep track of his whereabouts.
The new Roubaix will be a 2013 production bike, with only very limited quantities available this fall.
Tom Boonen's Specialized Roubaix
Handmade cotton casing FMB Paris Roubaix tires are Boonen's choice for the cobbles. The 27mm tires roll well and resist punctures. Photo: Nick Legan
The bike you’re seeing is favored to cross the finish line first in the Roubaix velodrome on Sunday. With the absence of Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen has become the clear favorite for Paris-Roubaix. If he manages to come through for a record-tying fourth victory (Roger de Vlaeminck holds that honor) in the “Hell of the North,” he’ll do it aboard a bike that makes its racing debut on Sunday.
The new model is the next in the Roubaix line and Specialized is calling it only “Roubaix” and not “Roubaix SL4 S-Works” or some similar model name. The new frame is UCI-approved and Boonen has been testing it since February of this year.
Boonen and company will all be using SRAM’s new Red group, Zipp cockpits and 303 wheels and cockpits. One exception is Boonen’s use of a PG 1070 cassette and not the newest XG 1090 cassette. Boonen uses a Chicane saddle with carbon rails and LOOK Keo Blade pedals. He had a cheat sheet of key points in the race taped to his top tube and a Quarq Garmin Edge 500 to keep track of his whereabouts.
The new Roubaix will be a 2013 production bike, with only very limited quantities available this fall.
Tom Boonen's Specialized Roubaix
Omega Pharma-Quick Step mechanics were putting on the finishing touches Saturday afternoon. Usually the last thing to do is putting on the race numbers, shown here. Photo: Nick Legan
The bike you’re seeing is favored to cross the finish line first in the Roubaix velodrome on Sunday. With the absence of Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen has become the clear favorite for Paris-Roubaix. If he manages to come through for a record-tying fourth victory (Roger de Vlaeminck holds that honor) in the “Hell of the North,” he’ll do it aboard a bike that makes its racing debut on Sunday.
The new model is the next in the Roubaix line and Specialized is calling it only “Roubaix” and not “Roubaix SL4 S-Works” or some similar model name. The new frame is UCI-approved and Boonen has been testing it since February of this year.
Boonen and company will all be using SRAM’s new Red group, Zipp cockpits and 303 wheels and cockpits. One exception is Boonen’s use of a PG 1070 cassette and not the newest XG 1090 cassette. Boonen uses a Chicane saddle with carbon rails and LOOK Keo Blade pedals. He had a cheat sheet of key points in the race taped to his top tube and a Quarq Garmin Edge 500 to keep track of his whereabouts.
The new Roubaix will be a 2013 production bike, with only very limited quantities available this fall.
FILED UNDER: Bikes and Tech / Gallery / Pro Bikes TAGS: Paris-Roubaix / specialized / Tom Boonen
Nick Legan
After graduating from Indiana University with honors and a degree in French and journalism, Nick Legan jumped straight into wrenching at Pro Peloton bike shop in Boulder for a few years. Then, he began a seven-year stint in the professional ranks, most recently serving for RadioShack at the Tour de France and the Amgen Tour of California. He also worked for Garmin-Slipstream, CSC, Toyota-United, Health Net and Ofoto. Legan served as the VeloNews tech editor 2010-2012 before sliding across the line into public relations.
