In our Specialized Roubaix Sport review, we called it the 'ultimate road bike all-rounder'. As well as sitting top of our guide to the Best road bikes for quite some time now, it's also bagged the road bike yellow jersey in the T3 Awards 2020, making it the winner for the second year in a row.
So… what is it that makes this Specialized bike so special, and sets it ahead of the péloton? Quite simply, it's like a high-end road bike for us mere mortals; it's fast as hell, yet also surprisingly comfortable, thanks to Specialized's tech innovations.
Named after a notoriously bum-rattling bike race – 'bum-rattling' is the correct terminology that pros use – the Roubaix packs a genius, shock-absorbing cartridge into the front stem. This means that while the stiff carbon frame gives the bike a rangy athleticism, there's enough give to take the edge off nasty holes and bumps in the road ahead.
• Six reasons to buy Specialized Tarmac SL7
The result is a blend of performance and comfort that can't be beat. It may lack the flashy finishing kits of some comparably priced road bikes but the frame and forks more than make up for that. They're the perfect foundation for enjoyable riding now and future upgrades.
The frame is made of FACT 10r carbon, which is stiff enough to give excellent power transfer through the cranks. It also happens to handle like a whippet on the run. An excellent set of components is headed up by Shimano 105 11-speed gearing, and powerful – necessarily so – disc brakes. Specialized's finishing kit is also excellent, long-lasting and comparatively comfortable by road bike standards.
Put it all together and the Roubaix Sport a high-performance bike that is ideal for those who put in the long, hard miles. This is a cracking bike and a deserving winner of this year's T3 Award for Best Bike. You owe it to your batty to buy one.
Upgrade to smarter living
Get the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products straight to your inbox.
• Find out about all the other winners in the T3 Awards 2020…
Duncan is the former lifestyle editor of T3 and has been writing about tech for almost 15 years. He has covered everything from smartphones to headphones, TV to AC and air fryers to the movies of James Bond and obscure anime. His current brief is everything to do with the home and kitchen, which is good because he is an excellent cook, if he says so himself. He also covers cycling and ebikes – like over-using italics, this is another passion of his. In his long and varied lifestyle-tech career he is one of the few people to have been a fitness editor despite being unfit and a cars editor for not one but two websites, despite being unable to drive. He also has about 400 vacuum cleaners, and is possibly the UK's leading expert on cordless vacuum cleaners, despite being decidedly messy. A cricket fan for over 30 years, he also recently become T3's cricket editor, writing about how to stream obscure T20 tournaments, and turning out some typically no-nonsense opinions on the world's top teams and players.
Before T3, Duncan was a music and film reviewer, worked for a magazine about gambling that employed a surprisingly large number of convicted criminals, and then a magazine called Bizarre that was essentially like a cross between Reddit and DeviantArt, before the invention of the internet. There was also a lengthy period where he essentially wrote all of T3 magazine every month for about 3 years.
A broadcaster, raconteur and public speaker, Duncan used to be on telly loads, but an unfortunate incident put a stop to that, so he now largely contents himself with telling people, "I used to be on the TV, you know."
-
New Sony LinkBuds range features earbuds and a speaker with unique functions
These Olivia Rodrigo-certified audio products will stand out from the crowd
By Sam Cross Published
-
Hyperice Normatec Premier Redefines Recovery with Wireless Compression Tech
The new compression boots are far more portable and easier to use than ever before
By Bryony Firth-Bernard Published
-
T3 Awards 2020 week is a wrap! Here are ALL the winners from phones to fitness…
Which products and services are the ones you need in your life in 2020? Here's our pick of the best
By Paul Douglas Last updated
-
T3 Awards 2020: Nike's ZoomX Vaporfly Next% wins our Tech Innovation Award
Nike's incredible ZoomX Vaporfly Next% shoes sprint to victory in our innovation award, thanks to their game-changing results
By T3.com Published
-
T3 Awards 2020: The Xiaomi M365 is crowned the top electric scooter you can buy
An excellent balance between weight, range, speed and price, the Xiaomi M365 is the best electric scooter you can buy
By Spencer Hart Published
-
T3 Awards 2020: The Shackleton Endurance Down Parka is the ultimate winter jacket
Our Best Winter Jacket Award goes to the Shackleton Endurance Down Parka, a snug, stylish jacket which can be worn anywhere
By Spencer Hart Published
-
T3 Awards 2020: Whyte S-150C RS V2 reaches the mountain bike peak, leaves the rest trailing
It's a 29er… but only when you want it to be
By Duncan Bell Last updated
-
T3 Awards 2020: VanMoof S3 is the electric bike that this year was crying out for
The VanMoof S3 is theft-proof, idiot-proof, sleek, chic and effortlessly slick
By Duncan Bell Last updated
-
T3 Awards 2020: Fitbit Charge 4 is the best Fitbit ever for more intense activity
Charge 4 is also a very capable counter of steps and tracker of sleep, of course, but it's the more sweat-friendly functions that make it our winner
By Duncan Bell Last updated
-
T3 Awards 2020: Wild Country's updated Zephyros tent is a lightweight winner
The small but mighty Zephyros Compact 2 bags the award for Best Tent 2020
By Mark Mayne Published