What Happened to the Roubaix Bike?

Paris-Roubaix is an event steeped in cycling history, lore, and tradition, held annually in April, often on Easter Sunday, it's the second-oldest men's one-day race on the professional calendar, with the first edition running in 1896. (The women’s edition began 125 years later, in 2021.) The race presents a unique, almost mythical, challenge for the racers that contest it each spring. And it’s also a notoriously brutal test for cycling equipment. Starting in Compiègne for the men and Denain for the women, with both races finishing on the velodrome in Roubaix, Paris-Roubaix’s challenge—and the biggest draw for cycling fans—is the cobblestone roads of northern France. Some of these roads (or sectors) have been made famous by the race, including Trouée d’Arenberg, traditionally considered the first decisive point in the men’s race. Along with the fearsome duo of Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l’Arbre, these three sections are considered Roubaix’s most difficult. The countless cobblestones (also called pavé) that make up these roads aren’t the typical brick pavers used in suburban driveways or to line city streets. For starters, at about 8 inches by 8 inches, the pavé are larger and bulkier. Years of weather have swept away the dirt that once smoothed over the gaps between stones, making for a jarring and uneven surface. It is perhaps the worst road surface imaginable for a road bike. But it’s the cobbles that define Paris-Roubaix and have made it the best-known single-day bike race and perhaps the most famous cycling event outside the Tour de France. The pavé’s unique demands give Paris-Roubaix its character, but they also create a technical challenge for the racers and modern road-racing bicycles. The special Roubaix bike is a relatively modern invention. As the late French racer and co-winner of Roubaix’s 1949 running, André Mahé told Procycling magazine in 2007: “[Back then], we rode the same bikes as the rest of the season. The frames moved all over the place. When I attacked, I could feel the bottom bracket swaying underneath me.” [View in Browser]( [Bicycling]( [SHOP]( [EXCLUSIVE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [What Happened to the Roubaix Bike?]( [What Happened to the Roubaix Bike?]( [What Happened to the Roubaix Bike?]( Paris-Roubaix is an event steeped in cycling history, lore, and tradition, held annually in April, often on Easter Sunday, it's the second-oldest men's one-day race on the professional calendar, with the first edition running in 1896. (The women’s edition began 125 years later, in 2021.) The race presents a unique, almost mythical, challenge for the racers that contest it each spring. And it’s also a notoriously brutal test for cycling equipment. Starting in Compiègne for the men and Denain for the women, with both races finishing on the velodrome in Roubaix, Paris-Roubaix’s challenge—and the biggest draw for cycling fans—is the cobblestone roads of northern France. Some of these roads (or sectors) have been made famous by the race, including Trouée d’Arenberg, traditionally considered the first decisive point in the men’s race. Along with the fearsome duo of Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l’Arbre, these three sections are considered Roubaix’s most difficult. The countless cobblestones (also called pavé) that make up these roads aren’t the typical brick pavers used in suburban driveways or to line city streets. For starters, at about 8 inches by 8 inches, the pavé are larger and bulkier. Years of weather have swept away the dirt that once smoothed over the gaps between stones, making for a jarring and uneven surface. It is perhaps the worst road surface imaginable for a road bike. But it’s the cobbles that define Paris-Roubaix and have made it the best-known single-day bike race and perhaps the most famous cycling event outside the Tour de France. The pavé’s unique demands give Paris-Roubaix its character, but they also create a technical challenge for the racers and modern road-racing bicycles. The special Roubaix bike is a relatively modern invention. As the late French racer and co-winner of Roubaix’s 1949 running, André Mahé told Procycling magazine in 2007: “[Back then], we rode the same bikes as the rest of the season. The frames moved all over the place. When I attacked, I could feel the bottom bracket swaying underneath me.” Paris-Roubaix is an event steeped in cycling history, lore, and tradition, held annually in April, often on Easter Sunday, it's the second-oldest men's one-day race on the professional calendar, with the first edition running in 1896. (The women’s edition began 125 years later, in 2021.) The race presents a unique, almost mythical, challenge for the racers that contest it each spring. And it’s also a notoriously brutal test for cycling equipment. Starting in Compiègne for the men and Denain for the women, with both races finishing on the velodrome in Roubaix, Paris-Roubaix’s challenge—and the biggest draw for cycling fans—is the cobblestone roads of northern France. Some of these roads (or sectors) have been made famous by the race, including Trouée d’Arenberg, traditionally considered the first decisive point in the men’s race. Along with the fearsome duo of Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l’Arbre, these three sections are considered Roubaix’s most difficult. The countless cobblestones (also called pavé) that make up these roads aren’t the typical brick pavers used in suburban driveways or to line city streets. For starters, at about 8 inches by 8 inches, the pavé are larger and bulkier. Years of weather have swept away the dirt that once smoothed over the gaps between stones, making for a jarring and uneven surface. It is perhaps the worst road surface imaginable for a road bike. But it’s the cobbles that define Paris-Roubaix and have made it the best-known single-day bike race and perhaps the most famous cycling event outside the Tour de France. The pavé’s unique demands give Paris-Roubaix its character, but they also create a technical challenge for the racers and modern road-racing bicycles. The special Roubaix bike is a relatively modern invention. As the late French racer and co-winner of Roubaix’s 1949 running, André Mahé told Procycling magazine in 2007: “[Back then], we rode the same bikes as the rest of the season. The frames moved all over the place. When I attacked, I could feel the bottom bracket swaying underneath me.” [Read More]( [Read More](   [11 Tips for Planning Your Own Century Route]( [11 Tips for Planning Your Own Century Route]( Steal this advice on mapping out the best route near you, so you can celebrate a 100-mile finish. 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