11 Ride Captains have been carefully selected to lead participants during the London-Paris ride. All ride captains have been kitted out with Specialized bikes and equipment carefully selected to suit their needs during the demanding ride. The London-Paris Coffee Stop takes a look at some of the kit they will be using in the first of several features.
THE BIKES:
TARMAC
FROM THE PRO TOUR TO THE TUESDAY NIGHT TRAINING CRIT, THESE RACE-READY BIKES PUT LIGHT WEIGHT, SPEED AND EFFICIENCY ABOVE ALL ELSE. DEDICATED ROAD RIDERS LOOKING FOR CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING DESIGNS, LIKE THOSE RIDDEN BY SAXO BANK AND QUICK STEP, NEED LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE TARMAC
Whether it’s Quick Step taking the podium at Tour of Flanders or Saxo Bank at Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the Tarmac® proves itself to be the best handling, most high performance competitive road bike, time and time again. Thanks to the integration of critical components, ultra high modulus FACT carbon frames and stiff tapered head tubes on all models, we can proudly say that nothing is lighter and stiffer than the Tarmac.
From the thrill of the start line to the rigorous group training ride, competitive road riders’ need for speed lead them to bikes like the Tarmac® that put light weight, stiffness and razor-sharp handling above anything else. Proven fast at every level of competition, by the world’s best racers.
ROUBAIX
SMOOTH, FAST AND ENGINEERED TO TEMPER EVEN THE ROUGHEST ROADS, THESE ENDURANCE BIKES STRIKE THE PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN PERFORMANCE AND COMPLIANCE. IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A RIDE TO MAKE THE LONG ROAD FEEL SHORT, YOU’VE MET YOUR MATCHM WITH ROUBAIX
For the bike that invented the Endurance Road category and continues to conquer the cobbles of the Paris-Roubaix, it’s not a stretch to say “nothing is smoother and faster”. Combining best-in-class vertical compliance from the seatstays, top tube and Zertz inserts with excellent torsional rigidity from the down tube, head tube and bottom bracket, the Roubaix finds a way to not only make the long ride comfortable, but also make it fast.
From racers in the cobbled Classics to dedicated riders, who operate best at high mileage, endurance road riding is like a religion and the only bike to put your faith in is the Roubaix. Known for its flawless balance of compliance and stiffness, there’s a reason riders call 100 miles on the Roubaix “The Big Easy”.
There’s a reason Body Geometry shoe technology is better than the other guys. Because it’s rooted in science and medicine. We’ve been working with Dr. Andy Pruitt from the Boulder Centre for Sports Medicine for years to make sure that you get the maximum potential out of your power transfer. With scientifically and medically designed features like our Varus Wedge, Metatarsal Button and Longitudinal Arch Support, Body Geometry shoes and footbeds make the connection between body and bike more productive, more comfortable and less prone to injury.