The Fuji Roubaix Elite is Fuji Bikes Hidden Jewel
The Fuji Bikes brand is an iconic name in the cycling world that is known globally. Fuji Bikes has a stellar reputation for providing a solid product line without breaking the bank, and the Fuji Roubaix Elite frameset is no exception and is a hidden jewel.
With so many companies cranking out just carbon bike frames, it is nice to see some innovation being used in the aluminum arena.
The Fuji Roubaix Elite was on display at the 2016 Interbike trade show and as I was walking out of the show It caught my eye. The Fuji Roubaix Elite looked like something new and was very clean looking and was something I hadn’t seen before in the Fuji line up. The Fuji Roubaix Elite looked very similar to the Fuji SL Carbon bike. Sure enough, it was modeled after the Fuji SL but is an aluminum version. This is similar to what Cannondale did with the CAAD 10 and CAAD 12 frames, which were based on their more expensive carbon bikes.
This is a good move for Fuji bikes and great for the consumer who is looking to get a similar geometry of what the top end Fuji SL road bike feels like without breaking the bank.
If you can handle the slightly harsher ride and minimal weight penalty than the high-end full carbon Fuji SL, then this bike could be a great starting point for you.
The Fuji Roubaix Elite starts with A6 – Super Butted Aluminum tubing throughout the frame. This allows Fuji to manipulate the tubing without sacrificing any stiffness or weight gain while giving you a light and responsive frameset.
The SoCalCycling.com Team raced on the Fuji Roubaix Elite bike with great success throughout the 2017 season. The Team finished on the podium twenty-six times with eleven wins, so it’s safe to say that the Fuji Roubaix Elite handled the pro-am races just fine.
Personally, I really like the way the Fuji Roubaix Elite feels underneath me as it feels very lively and responsive when cornering, sprinting and climbing highlighting the characteristics of the Fuji Roubaix Elite.
The steering is very stable and comfortable with the steer tube using a 1 1/8 to 1 1/2 bearings on the bottom to add stability to the handling. The fork is a high modulus carbon fork with oversized fork blades for added stiffness and comfort.
The cable routing is internal and allows for all-electric groupsets and non-electric groupsets to be used and provides a very clean look throughout the frame.
The price tag is affordable with an MSRP of $ 799 for the Fuji Roubaix Elite frameset. You can build a bike up from the frameset alone for a custom build or Fuji has already built up options if you want to go fast right out of the box. Riders looking for a great crit/road bike as a second bike might want to take a closer look at the Fuji Roubaix Elite.
All in all, the Fuji Roubaix Elite handles all aspects of riding really well. So, if you’re an aspiring pro rider to an entry level rider or maybe someone who just wants to shred on the group rides, Fuji has done a great job of accomplishing that with the Fuji Roubaix Elite.
Visit FujiBikes.com for more information on the Fuji Roubaix Elite or to find a dealer near you.
