Paris-Roubaix is a brutal race; it physically tears riders apart, mentally breaks them and destroys equipment. Every year teams spend countless hours and large amounts of money to ease the pain of the pavé and assure the bikes survive to the velodrome in Roubaix. Road Bike Action takes a close look the bikes and equipment of the 2009 Paris-Roubaix and finds out what it takes to make it to the finish.

Fabian Cancellara’s Specialized Tarmac SL2
Although his race bike was a custom Specialized Roubaix SL2, Fabian Cancellara’s backup bike was a standard Tarmac SL2. Cancellara’s Tarmac SL2 was a stock frame other than the standard replaceable rear derailleur hanger has been swapped out for a non-replaceable solid dropout to increase shifting performance under extreme loads.

As we reported last month Saxo Bank recently made a switch to SRAM's components and is currently running Red components. After Cancellara broke his chain on the Koppenberg climb in the Tour of Flanders it was reported that Saxo Bank swapped out the chains for Dura-Ace 7900 chains.

Cancellara had the new Zipp 303 wheels on his back up bike. The new wheels use a toroidal profile that features a wider midsection and use an angled brake surface similar to the Zipp 1080s. One thing that Road Bike Action noticed was that the new wheels lacked Zipp's trademark aero dimples. No word on whether they will reappear on production models. Cancellara’s bike is completed with the addition Speedplay Zero pedals, a Prologo saddle, and an FSA seatpost, stem and handlebar.

The SRAM Red brakes on one of the Saxo Bank Specialized Roubaix SL2s left little clearance with the oversize tires

BMC
The BMC team made their Paris-Roubaix debut on stock BMC Pro Machine SLC01s outfitted with Campagnolo record components and DT-Swiss wheels. Several of the team riders were running deep section rear wheels with a box section front for better handling on the pavé and in cross winds. The only other modification for the pavé was an extra layer of bar tape. Aside the Pro Machine the team also had the new aluminum-and-carbon Racemaster SLX01 at their disposal.

Française des Jeux
Another team running a surprising stock setup was the Française des Jeux team of former two-time Roubaix winner Marc Madiot. The team was split between the top of the line X-Lite frameset and the mid range S-Lite frameset. The S-Lite is a slightly more performance oriented model with longer chainstays, increased fork rake and curved seat stays for more vertical compliance.

Despite what appears to be a standard bike setup the Française des Jeux team wasn’t running tubulars but 28-millimeter tubeless tires. The team has been at the forefront of the tubeless movement. Shimano and Hutchinson, the two main innovators in the tubeless movement, sponsor the team. The tubeless design is more resistant to punctures than traditional clinchers and handles similar to tubular when flat.

Cervélo
Last year Cervélo modified R3 frames for the CSC team but this year’s Classics bike is based on the RS, which features longer chainstays, a taller head tube. The RS is also designed to absorb road shock with curved seat stays The team bikes are modified from the stock RS with additional tire clearance created by raising the brake bridge and longer fork blades on the 3T Funda Pro fork. Due to the raised brake bridge and longer fork brakes, long-reach brake calipers are used.

The Cervélo team was running new Zipp 303 wheels. The new wheels use a toroidal profile that features a wider midsection and use an angled brake surface similar to the Zipp 1080. For Roubaix the team was spotted running FSA K-force light carbon cranks instead of the team sponsor Rotor cranks.

Garmin-Slipstream
The Garmin-Slipstream team, like most other teams, was running double fi’zi:k tape on the handlebars. The team stuck with their team issue Felt F1 frames with full carbon forks. Surprising the team was running last years Dura Ace 7800 components instead of the new 7900. No reason was given for the switch back to the older components but we can only guess it was for durability. To withstand the punishment of the pavé the Garmin-Sliptream bikes switched to aluminum 3T handlebars and stems. This particular Garmin-Slipstream rider chose to use Cane Creek cyclocross levers to add a bit of control on the pavé. For Roubaix the team also switched to what appeared to be Thomson seatposts. This was presumable done to prevent the chances of carbon posts breaking on the cobbles. Vittoria tubulars and Garmin Edge 705 computers completed the Garmin setup.

Stijn Devolder's Roubaix SL2
Last year Tom Boonen was the only rider on a custom Roubaix SL2. This year Stijn Devolder and Fabian Cancellara had one as well.  All of the Roubaix’s unique frame features are in place, including the shock absorbing Zertz inserts, longer chain stays and wheelbase, increased fork rake and more relaxed head tube angle. All this is mated to what is essentially a Tarmac SL2 front triangle. This gives Devolder, Boonen and Cancellara the benefits of a Roubaix but allows them to keep their positions they have become accustom to on their Tarmac SL2s.

The wheels on Devolders bike are box-section aluminum tubulars commonly found on Quick Step bikes at Paris-Roubaix, built with what appear to be DT Swiss hubs, classically-designed Roval rims) and Sapim spokes laced in a three-cross pattern. The attached tubulars had no markings (most likely they are FMB) and were found on all the Quick Step bikes.