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Roux Foray P19

7
£799.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Well built and versatile city/urban bike, with a good spec for the money
Weight: 
10,900g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Roux Foray P19 is a solid performer. You get a good quality build on a nicely finished frame, and the ride is solid too: it's a pretty comfortable and capable hybrid. For the money, it's pretty good value too.

The bike is built around a 7005-series double butted alloy frame, which is nicely built and finished. The welds are smoothed where you're likely to notice them – head tube, seat tube junction – and left more weldy where you're not, such as round the bottom bracket. It's a bit of an odd approach but visually it works pretty well. The white finish is brought over to the carbon-bladed, alloy-steerer fork.

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You can fit mudguards and a rack, and there are separate mounting points for both at the rear dropout. The Shimano hydraulic disc brake sits in the rear triangle so it's not in the way of stays or rack supports.

Roux Foray - rear disc.jpg

The transmission is 10-speed, using Shimano Tiagra derailleurs and shifters. That's good spec for the money. The chainset is an FSA Gossamer MegaEXO and the brakes non-series Shimano hydraulic discs. Decent alloy finishing kit is used and you get lock-on grips and a decent sporty saddle.

Roux Foray - lever.jpg

The wheels use Formula CX centre lock hubs with Ryde DP18 alloy rims, and they're fitted with Continental Contact tyres in a 28mm width. The bike has plenty of clearance for bigger tyres if you're planning more mixed riding.

The ride: solid, comfortable

The Roux is a good bike. It's comfortable to ride and capable of keeping up a decent pace. Roux says it's 'an alternative to a drop bar bike and comparable in performance, it merely swaps some aero advantage for a more alert and comfortable position', and that's a fair summation. You won't go as fast as you do on a road bike, but the position and controls are a bit more tailored toward city riding and it's a pleasant experience riding the Roux into, and around, town.

Roux Foray - riding 2.jpg

The steering is pretty much the definition of neutral, and there's enough stiffness through the tapered front end to make the bike feel precise without ever edging over into twitchy. The frame is stiff too: It's not a bike you'd often sprint on but I did for the purposes of testing and there wasn't anything to worry about in terms of stiffness.

Roux Foray - top tube.jpg

The Roux doesn't look like a bike that's been whittled away to provide a bit of the fabled vertical compliance for a softer ride. You get mostly standard tube profiles and the seatstays are attached in the normal place and fairly chunky, rather than being slimmed down or dropped for a bit more flex. Not that it's really a problem: the Roux isn't an uncomfortable bike. It's firm in terms of ride, but if the frame is stiff (it looks stiff) then that's mitigated by the 28mm tyres and the grips and saddle, which are both pretty comfortable. There was the odd time when it felt a bit lumpen hitting a pothole or dropping off a kerb, but overall it's fine.

Roux Foray - rear.jpg

With the precise-but-neutral steering and the reasonably upright riding position, the Roux is a very capable machine at cruising speeds. The Shimano/FSA transmission was faultless, and the wheels and tyres roll reasonably well once you've got them up to speed. The Continental Contact tyres certainly aren't the fastest option out there but they're a sensible choice with good puncture protection and a sizeable air chamber to smooth out road chatter and small hits. I was running them at about 70psi, which seemed the best compromise between speed and comfort. I didn't get a flat during testing, if that anecdote is any use to you.

Roux Foray - rim and tyre.jpg

Once you try to wind the Roux up to go a bit faster it's really the increased air resistance from the upright riding position that's the limiting factor over a road bike where you can hunker down a bit more. If your commute is long, or you habitually need to (or want to) do it quickly then you'll find the Roux's limit. When I say 'long', I'm talking probably 45 minutes to an hour. Below that – or if you're not in a hurry – you're unlikely to be at much of a disadvantage.

Roux Foray - front.jpg

Descending on the Foray is assured: there's plenty of stopping power on offer from the hydraulic brakes, and that and the steering inspire confidence. The tyres are pretty good too.

Roux Foray - front hub.jpg

On the uphills the main issue is the weight. At nearly 11kg this isn't an especially light bike, especially if you're used to something more exotic. Gearing's not really an issue, with the 50/34 chainset and 11-30 cassette giving plenty of range and some good low gears for the steep stuff. Assuming you've got the legs there's no reason why you won't get to the top, just don't expect to do it in a massive hurry. You're better off seated, with the bike feeling a little cumbersome and the rear tyre a little scrabbly out of the saddle.

Value?

At £800 the Roux compares favourably in terms of spec to many other flat-bar bikes out there. I preferred the ride of the Kinesis Tripster ACE as overall it's just a bit more fun to ride. It's giving away a bit in terms of spec to the Roux, though. Similarly, if you spend an equivalent amount on a Trek you're getting Shimano Sora, not Tiagra. It's not exclusively the case though: Giant's Rapid 3 has a very similar spec at the same money, and the Boardman Hybrid Team gets Tiagra for £100 less.

Realistically, the functional differences between Sora and Tiagra are pretty small, and so are the weight savings. You probably won't notice the extra sprocket on a day-to-day basis either, but the better-made Tiagra kit should stay slicker for longer.

> Read our guide to the best hybrid/urban bikes

Overall, the Roux Foray P19 is a sensible choice for day-to-day city duties: it's well built and versatile, with a good spec for the money. You wouldn't say it was the most engaging ride, but if you're looking for an easy, reliable ride for your daily commute it certainly delivers that.

Verdict

Well built and versatile city/urban bike, with a good spec for the money

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Roux Foray P19

Size tested: XL

About the bike

State the frame and fork material and method of construction. List the components used to build up the bike.

Frame: 7005 Series Alloy Double Butted Smooth Welded

Fork: Carbon Blade Forks with Disc Mount

Rear Gear: Shimano Tiagra Road 10 Speed

Freewheel: Shimano 12-30 10 Speed Cassette

Gear Shifter: Shimano Tiagra 20 Speed

Brakes: Tektro T290 Hydraulic Disc Brakes Front and Rear

Wheels: Formula QR Lightweight CX Disc Hubs Centre Lock, Triple Chamber Light Alloy Rims

Chainset: FSA Gossamer Megaexo 50/34

Tyres: Continental Contact 700x28c

Stem: Ahead Road

Handlebars: Kalloy Alloy Light Weight Flat Bar

Saddle: DDK Padded Road Design

Extras: Lock-on Grips and Colour Co-ordinated Alloy Parts

Sizes c/t: 52/55/58

Tell us what the bike is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?

Roux doesn't say much specific about it, it's a pretty standard fast hybrid type of a bike. It claims: "It is an alternative to a drop bar bike and comparable in performance, it merely swaps some aero advantage for a more alert and comfortable position" – that's broadly true although you do sacrifice a bit of speed on a bike like this.

Frame and fork

Overall rating for frame and fork
 
8/10

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

The finish is generally good; the fact that some welds are smoothed and others not is odd.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?

7005 alloy for the frame, fork is carbon blades/alloy steerer. Standard stuff.

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

Roux doesn't publish specific geometry, I found the 58cm to be a good fit. I'm 1.89m.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

Yes, pretty good overall. It's a firm ride but there's enough give between the tarmac and your bum/hands to soften things up.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

No issues with stiffness even when sprinting, but it's not really a bike you'd sprint on anyway.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

Yes, efficient 10-speed transmission.

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so, was it a problem?

Sometimes on flat pedals, not with SPDs.

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively, neutral or unresponsive? Neutral.

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

It's an easy bike to ride. It's not especially lively.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?

Tyres are decent, saddle and grips too.

Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for acceleration:
 
6/10
Rate the bike for sprinting:
 
5/10
Rate the bike for high speed stability:
 
7/10
Rate the bike for cruising speed stability:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for low speed stability:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for flat cornering:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for cornering on descents:
 
7/10
Rate the bike for climbing:
 
7/10

The drivetrain

Rate the drivetrain for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the drivetrain for durability:
 
9/10
Rate the drivetrain for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the drivetrain for value:
 
8/10

Wheels and tyres

Rate the wheels for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the wheels for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the wheels for weight:
 
5/10
Rate the wheels for comfort:
 
7/10
Rate the wheels for value:
 
7/10
Rate the tyres for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the tyres for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the tyres for weight:
 
6/10
Rate the tyres for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the tyres for value:
 
7/10

Controls

Rate the controls for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the controls for durability:
 
9/10
Rate the controls for weight:
 
6/10
Rate the controls for comfort:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for value:
 
7/10

Your summary

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes, it's a good urban all-rounder.

Would you consider buying the bike? Yes, good spec for the money and a decent ride.

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes

Rate the bike overall for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the bike overall for value:
 
8/10

Use this box to explain your score

Better than average spec for the money and rides pretty well. A solid buy.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 43  Height: 189cm  Weight: 92kg

I usually ride: whatever I'm testing...  My best bike is: Kinesis Tripster ATR, Kinesis Aithein

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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