Alternative comfort bars and stem for a S-Works Roubaix 2014

[bulldoze]

My hands hurt after 10 mins on my S-Works Roubaix 2014 bike (with zertze inserts not future shock). When I bought it the bike came with a Zipp SL 90mm stem with -6 drop and Aerofly bars and while the bike itself feels lovely for the quite terrible roads around here, the entire cockpit positioning is just wrong for a more comfort oriented older rider like me.

They look great on the bike of course and I want something light weight and commensurate with the rest of the components but what are my options here?

I am very new to road cycling.

 

[Webbo2]

My hands hurt after 10 mins on my S-Works Roubaix 2014 bike (with zertze inserts not future shock). When I bought it the bike came with a Zipp SL 90mm stem with -6 drop and Aerofly bars and while the bike itself feels lovely for the quite terrible roads around here, the entire cockpit positioning is just wrong for a more comfort oriented older rider like me.

They look great on the bike of course and I want something light weight and commensurate with the rest of the components but what are my options here?

I am very new to road cycling.

Is your position right l.e. too much weight on your arms. Also where are your hands on the bars, down on the drops on the hoods or on the tops.

 

[Sharky]

10 mins, seems to be a very short time to determine that you have a hand issue. The beauty of dropped bars is that you have multiple hand positions. I am always adjusting my hand positions on the bars to give me the most comfortable riding position.

Do you still have your old hybrid? Measure the relative positions of the bars(brake hoods especially), saddle and pedals and see if there are any wide differences.

 

[Shearwater Missile]

First thing I would do in your case is flip the stem and see if there is an improvement. I have had to flip all 3 of my bikes, not because of hand issues but neck. It all comes to getting that cockpit balance right.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Do you have scope to increase front tyre size and/or lower pressure?

Little tweaks to bar rotation can make a big difference to how hands sit and feel on the hoods.

 

[Mo1959]

Is it the correct size? I still have an old 2012 Specialized Ruby and it’s one of the comfiest bikes I have.

 

[EckyH]

Also where are your hands on the bars, down on the drops on the hoods or on the tops.

If on the hoods or on the tops of the brifters, then the shape of the brifters itself might be "incompatible" with the own hands.
Made this experience with Shimano Tiagra brifters for hydraulic brakes. Unfortunately I don't see any other solution than switch to "hand compatible" brifters" in this case.

E.

 

[bulldoze]

It is odd as I do feel a bit stretched out on the hoods and it does feel wrong and weight is definitely over hands. But when I am on the drops it feels correct and I am more comfortable.

I have ridden a few road bikes on holiday that feel nowhere near the quality of the Roubaix, particularly in terms of ride but they were all much more comfortable on the hands. Something is very wrong but i do not have the experience to work out what it could be.

Bike feels the right size at 54" I am 172cm. Tyres are a 30 and on Zipp 303s and they are as big as they can go I believe. Ride quality is not the issue though, It is an exaggeration for sure but I feel as though I am doing a plank for the entire - albeit short - ride.

I guess its a LBS issue or perhaps a bike fit.

 

[Webbo2]

It is odd as I do feel a bit stretched out on the hoods and it does feel wrong and weight is definitely over hands. But when I am on the drops it feels correct and I am more comfortable.

I have ridden a few road bikes on holiday that feel nowhere near the quality of the Roubaix, particularly in terms of ride but they were all much more comfortable on the hands. Something is very wrong but i do not have the experience to work out what it could be.

Bike feels the right size at 54" I am 172cm. Tyres are a 30 and on Zipp 303s and they are as big as they can go I believe. Ride quality is not the issue though, It is an exaggeration for sure but I feel as though I am doing a plank for the entire - albeit short - ride.

I guess its a LBS issue or perhaps a bike fit.

If you feel stretched on the hoods but comfortable on the drops there is something wrong there. Can you post a picture.

 

[steveindenmark]

Flip the stem to begin with and see if the change of angle helps.

I use a Redshift suspension stem and never have hand problems.

 

[cyberknight]

Is it a 54 "size " or a 54 top tube ?
Im 170 cm so the same size approx and looking at the geometry stats the 52 has a 53.7 top tube and the 54 has a 54.8 top tube and i would find the larger size too big without a shorter stem .

 

[cyberknight]

https://geometrygeeks.bike/bike/specialized-roubaix-sl4-sport-105-2014/

 

[bulldoze]

I measured the actual top tube and it looks bang on 53. I see that measurement is not in that table you linked to - no idea how I could accurately measure the effective top tube without guessing.

It feels the right size and I did take it to an LBS on purchase who said it was the right size. I have ridden a few other 54 from Trek and Speccy and if anything this feels slightly on the smaller side of 54 compared to others.

But when riding my weight is on my hands

 

[Sharky]

We're all guessing "blind", without seeing your riding position, but one thing worth checking ....

Too Much Weight: If you have numb hands, it is often caused by a saddle that is too high or tilted too far forward, forcing you to use your hands as a support prop.