ENDURO Long-term Test 2015: Introducing the Juliana Roubion
What can I say about how I feel when I think about having the chance to ride this bike? It’s like a dream, instead of pinching myself I’m popping to the garage to check it’s still there! This beautiful bike is striking, it screams ‘capable’ and looks the absolute business. I’m setting my sights on most of the Enduro World Series in 2015, with some travelling and adventure thrown in along the way. My enduro journey will be perfectly matched with this, the pinnacle of the enduro bike market for women. The Juliana Roubion will be my partner along the way, I am very much looking forward to putting this bike through its paces in demanding conditions, it’s going to be an awesome year and I’m raring to go!
Juliana is the sister company of Santa Cruz Bicycles, so if you are looking at this bike and thinking ‘Bronson’ then you’d be right! The Roubion is a Bronson made female specific. I have looked at the choice of female specific bikes for enduro racing previously and had been disheartened. I contacted Juliana sponsored rider Anka Martin at the time and she alluded to the fact that the bike she races was a Santa Cruz Bronson in disguise but that it was all soon to change with the arrival of the Roubion. So here it is, a carbon frame with exactly the same geometry and sizing as a Bronson and with some subtle alterations for both the female market and performance!
I chose to go with a medium Roubion, I’m only 160cm but I’m right on the cusp of the small / medium boundary. My choice was the right one, after the initial drooling session over such an amazing looking bike I realised that it had come with a 70mm stem – enduro specific? I think not, current trends are for a short stem to enable quicker steering. Masters of engineering over at Hope soon set me up with a gunmetal grey AM/Freeride 35mm stem (and some awesome, light F20 flat pedals!) making the Roubion instantly more aggressive. Bringing the bars that small amount closer to me made it a perfect fit!
The Roubion is race ready in every way, apart from the change of stem I’m not going to have to alter anything at all, from the 650B colour coded Enve wheelset with Maxxis High Roller tyres to the 125mm Stealth Reverb dropper post, everything is geared towards race function and efficiency. I have however, been lucky enough to get the carbon frame fully protected by Invisiframe. This clear protective vinyl is custom designed for each and every frame, it literally covers the bike from top to bottom, keeping my Juliana looking her best and protecting her from scratches!
The Roubion comes equipped with a popular combination of 150mm RockShox Pikes and a Cane Creek DB Air CS shock, this is similar to my previous bike so it will be interesting to see this kit perform in a different setting. The Roubion and I will soon be off to visit suspension tuning specialists TF Tuned to get the bike perfectly set up for me. These guys kept my suspension in fine order last race season and will be doing the same this year.
Last few bits to mention are the brakes, drive train and contact points, the bike comes equipped with a combination of Shimano, SRAM and Race Face parts. The stopping power comes courtesy of Shimano XT-brakes with IceTech-rotors. The drivetrain is a simple and quiet 1×11 SRAM XO1 set up with a RaceFace 32 tooth-front chain ring and RaceFace Turbine-cranks. The bike hasn’t come fitted with a chain guide or bash guard – these components are usually pretty essential for me so it remains to be seen as to when I fit them and what I choose!
The contact points form the focus for the female specific changes. As with most bike manufactures creating a bike for the female market Juliana have changed the saddle, bars and grips for ones of a more women friendly variety. These parts are all Juliana’s own make, the bars are 720mm wide with slim grips attached and the saddle looks comfy enough. I usually find saddle choice to be a very personal one so I’ll keep you posted on that front!
I’m currently trying to heal up a broken hand as fast as possible and I can’t wait to get out and start putting the Roubion through its paces!
More information on www.julianabicycles.com
Words & Pictures: Rachael Gurney
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