Features Road More race bikes from Paris-Roubaix By James Huang in Roubaix, France published 12 April 2009 Team Astana went with proven modifications for their Trek Madones to gain a little extra stability... Comments Image 1 of 100Astana used modified Trek Madone bikes for their run at Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: James Huang)Caisse d'Epargne put half of their riders on 'cross bikes(Image credit: James Huang)Most of the Katusha riders used hybrid Ridley creations(Image credit: James Huang)TestTeam bikes were fitted with unmarked forks(Image credit: James Huang)Cervélo TestTeam rider Heinrich Haussler(Image credit: James Huang)Astana used modified Trek Madone bikes for their run at Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Rear dropouts borrowed from elsewhere in the Trek family effectively extend the chain stay length for greater stability.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Astana also swapped out their usual Madone forks for ones with extra clearance around the tire.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)There's roughly 10mm of room between the tire and crown here.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The non-tapered 1 1/8" alloy steerer tubes required a step-down adapter to fit the tapered head tube.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The matching paint job helps but there's still no mistaking the transition between the fork and head tube here.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)This Astana team tire was badged as a Bontrager Race XXX Lite tubular…(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)…but this one clearly says 'Hutchinson'.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)A steel cage on a SRAM Red front derailleur body adds rigidity as compared to the stock titanium unit.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Double-wrapped bars are ready to take on the day.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Many teams set off with Gore sealed derailleur cables and housing in order to maintain shift performance regardless of weather conditions.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)This Astana team bike crankset was fitted with the usual upsized inner chainring - but shouldn't that little tab be behind the crankarm?(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Caisse d'Epargne put half of their riders on 'cross bikes at this year's Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The aluminum frames were punctuated by carbon fiber seat stay assemblies to help damp vibration.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)There are no cantilever brakes in Campagnolo's catalog so the team make do with Shimano stoppers.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Butted 7005-T6 aluminum is nice stuff but it still doesn't compare to the team's usual Pinarello Prince carbon bikes.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)TIG welding joins the tubes together.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Though the frames may not be ultra-special the parts are Campagnolo's still-elusive Super Record 11.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Caisse d'Epargne riders set off on 25mm-wide Continental tubulars reinforced with extra sidewall protection.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The other half of the Caisse d'Epargne team set forth on their usual Pinarello Prince road bikes.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Milram's Focus bikes ready to go just before the start.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Milram rider Niki Terpstra used a Focus Mares Team 'cross frame for Wednesday's Gent-Wevelgem but opted for a regular road bike for Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Milram's special Continental tubulars were roughly 25mm wide and wore a fine tread for extra grip.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Sealed derailleur cables and housing from Gore keep road grime from interfering with shift performance.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)fi'zi:k's new dual:tape already includes a layer of padding down its center but a little bit extra beneath is a good way to go at Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Lampre riders adopted a familiar formula for their Paris-Roubaix bikes, combining attributes of road and 'cross frames for a special ride.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)A seat stay assembly borrowed from a 'cross bike provides extra tire clearance.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Double-wrapped bars and supplemental brake levers were common sights at this year's Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Most of the Katusha riders used hybrid Ridley creations based around their X-Fire cyclo-cross frame.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Katusha riders were prepared for nasty conditions with lots of tire clearance both front and rear.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)We're not sure how bad conditions have to be to justify this much room though.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)A mid-level road fork with carbon blades and an alloy crown and steerer is used up front.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Save for the team-specific logos and sponsor-appropriate parts, these bars could have been found on just about anyone's bike at Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)It's not often that you see this much tread for a road race but then again, Paris-Roubaix is no ordinary race.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Buried within the stack of Ridley X-Fires was the lighter and faster Damocles of eventual second place finisher Filippo Pozzato.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Cervélo TestTeam rider Heinrich Haussler built on his second place finish at Ronde van Vlaanderen with an impressive seventh at Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)TestTeam bikes were fitted with unmarked forks that had longer blades and more clearance around the tire than usual.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Plenty of room for mud here.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)TestTeam forks used at Paris-Roubaix had alloy tips installed instead of the carbon ones the team usually uses on the 3T Funda Pro.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The RS frames' longer head tube relative to the R3 required more sharply angled stems to replicate the fit.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Gently curved seat stays on the RS are said to be even more comfortable than the ones on the R3.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Cervélo have historically fitted Paris-Roubaix bikes with full-length rear brake cable housing but here they've opted for standard stops and sealed Gore cable and housing.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Haussler opted for a two-bolt seatpost for additional security.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Haussler was the only rider on the team to use Dura-Ace 7900 for Paris-Roubaix - the rest used the older 7800 version.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Haussler was also the only TestTeam rider to use Rotor Q-Rings for Paris-Roubaix while the rest were on round rings. All of the riders were on FSA cranks.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)TestTeam riders used Vittoria Pavé EVO-CG tubulars.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Quick Step weren't the only team riding Specialized S-Works Roubaix SL2 bikes today.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The Zertz viscoelastic inserts supposedly help damp harmful vibration.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The radical curves on the seat stays aren't just for show; Specialized say they also help with the ride.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Saxo Bank bikes used full-length rear brake cable housing.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Gore sealed cables and housing seal out muck in the shifting system, too.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Speedplay's special Paris-Roubaix pedals were more common this year.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Saxo Bank bikes were fitted with Specialized S-Works carbon cranks…(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)…with bigger inner chainrings.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)This set of Saxo Bank bars is just single-wrapped.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Paris-Roubaix apparently gives Ambrosio a fair bit of business.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Tires are critical to overall performance at Paris-Roubaix and many teams apparently sprung for special handmade rubber.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Team Columbia-Highroad bikes looked to be only slightly changed with different rear dropouts and standard seatposts instead of the usual integrated masts.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Some riders passed over the box-section aluminum tubulars in favor of more aggressive deep-section carbon wheels.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Most of the Columbia-Highroad riders were on Dura-Ace 7800…(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)…but a couple were on 7900.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Ambrosio was a popular rim make at Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)25mm tires as seen on this Columbia-Highroad bike were among the narrower ones seen at Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Liquigas riders used Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod frames for Paris-Roubaix this year.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)The slightly curved seat stays and modestly flattened chain stays supposed make for a softer ride.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Manuel Quinziato added a single top-mounted brake lever to his Paris-Roubaix machine.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Quinziato decided on deeper-section carbon wheels from Mavic.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Campagnolo provided their Paris-Roubaix teams with special 53/44T chainrings.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)BMC split their riders between the Racemaster SLX01 and Pro Machine SLC01 frames at this year's Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Frames were supposedly bone stock but Easton provided special forks with wider crowns for extra clearance.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)BMC were among several teams that were using Speedplay's special pared-down pedals.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Yup, more double wrapped bars. On Paris-Roubaix's cobbles, you can never have too much cushioning.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)Most Campagnolo-sponsored teams are still using standard Record 11 instead of Super Record.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)BMC ran tight 11-23T rear cassettes.(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)