We’ve said it before, if you’re going to do a launch then make it cool. While ChainSlap didn’t get an invite with the international media for the launch of new Roubaix and Ruby, the lucky ones who did were treated to some real-world testing on the pavé of Belgium and Northern France, from where the bike’s name was taken. Throw in King of Roubaix Tom Boonen and you have a pretty good event right there.

After we got over the disappointment of not being flown to Europe, we consoled ourselves with the knowledge we’ve been carrying around in secret for the last few months since the NZ Go To Market event: there’s a totally new Roubaix, and it’s more bouncy (well, compliant). Specialized have done away with the Zertz dampers that have been a feature of their endurance road fleet for a long time, and unveiled a radical departure in the way to dampen the ride over rough roads. Or in the case of the launch, brutal Flandrian roads, the breeding ground for hardmen and now, softer bikes..

The new Roubaix features less-swoopy lines, making for a more striking package than its predecessor. Seatstays have been shortened up for more stiffness while the frame soaks up more of the bumps. This is Boonen’s own bike.

Clean lines around the head tube, and the damper under the stem is almost indistinguishable at first glance.

New straight bladed fork, no Zertz, looks good. Specialized have also released a new Roval carbon wheelset, the CLX 32.

A neat seatpost clamp integrates into the frame and stays, while the post itself kind of floats inside the seat tube, damped by elastomers, adding more comfort for the rear.

The Cobble Gobbler R seatpost may look strange, but it has a job to do.

The steerer tube is where the magic happens. The stem clamps onto the steerer and provides 50mm of axial (straight up and down) movement. There is a cartridge damper inside the steerer to help control the bounce.

Springs can be swapped out to fine tune the ride for the rider’s weight.

SWAT gets a look in too, with this tool box at the BB junction. Removable, luckily, which is what we’d do (for vanity of course).

The most authentic place to ride road bikes.

That’s how you test a bouncy steerer thingy, give it some launch!

The Ruby has all the new features of the Roubaix in a purpose-built women’s package. Tube sizes and carbon lay-ups are tailored to each frame size for a consistent ride for all size riders.

From our brief rides around the gravel track and winery access roads at the launch, we were impressed with the steerer damper’s performance, not so much the damping aspect (which does work) but more for its resistance to bobbing when climbing out of the saddle and wrenching side to side on the bars. There was little detectable movement at all, but when seated and pedalling across rougher ground, the damper did a good job of minimising vibration. Over proper long rides on rough roads or even gravel or dirt roads, it should really come into its own, cutting down fatigue.

Tommeke, at home, in his domain.

We’re looking forward to some real riding on the Roubaix soon, and will bring you our impressions then. For now watch the obligatory make-you-want-to-ride video and for more info head to Specialized.com