introducing...... ruby

[caligurl]

i have a bittersweet addition to our stable of bikes....

i had a deposit on a ruby pro since last summer (august)... i FINALLY got in! during the course of my waiting (and my frantic call when i saw posts on here from ladies riding rubys before reading further to realize they weren't the pro) my lbs told me i was #3 on the "list" at specialized to get a 48.. (who was getting 1 & 2???????????)

i had her made up in a triple... i didn't want to not be able to do any of the climbing rides i did last year because i didn't have a triple on it... it's still gorgeous (well.. it looks the same.. just with one more ring in there!) (anyone want to buy a dura-ace double crank 167.5? :) )

i love the little handlebars with the little flat top! of course bar phat i'm already familiar with and would have gotten no matter what brand bike i got! the pro has a different version than the expert and comp... shorter reach, etc... they are tiny!!!!

i'm 5'3"... and as i said... got the 48... i have no toe overlap.. with a few centimeters to spare! (and to think... when i was planning to have a custom built.. she swore she couldn't make me a 700 cc bike without EXTENSIVE toe overlap! so glad i didn't deal with her!!!!)

i had the stem flipped to the "comfort" position vice the flat racing position. tried it both ways in the store...

the ride is much smoother than on my dolce... really noticeable.. although.. unlike the ladies with the expert and comp versions of the ruby... mine didn't make me any faster! :D my overall average after my first ride was the same as normal!

i took a couple pics today... but forgot to take my honkin' white water bottle off! so i will take more.... plus... i couldn't use the carbon cages i bought ahead of time.... bottles won't fit (i use 24 oz polars)... so i had to order some side entry ones... i'll have them tomorrow (i ordered arundels... anyone familiar with them? i hope i like them! they look like they will be really nice on the bike!)

i'm undecided about the jett seat.... my tookis is a bit sore... but that could be from not riding for the past several days rather than the saddle itself... i hope.. cuz the saddle looks really purdy on the bike! it didn't start bothering me til the end of the ride (unlike when i attempted to try a butterfly last year and was sore from the first mile!)

i spent the morning at home with brie and the cats (but brie still pouted when i left to go ride!) it turned out to be quite a pretty day (although cool for the desert)

hmmmmm that's all i can think of... i will post pics (cuz i know you are gonna ask! lol!)

OH... i ordinarily ride with a small handlebar bag on my dolce... well i just couldn't put it on ruby yet.... i'm sure eventually i will (like when i do longer rides or centuries)... but she's just so sleek without it!

[Pedal Wench]

Congrats! I do wanna see pictures - soon!

I'm curious about the handlebars - what kind are they? And, what size? I'll need new bars on my new-2-me Colnago. They came with massively large 44 cm bars. I have 38cm's on one of my Bianchis, but they're just off-the-shelf Bontragers.

Pictures - we want pictures!

[caligurl]

they are the handlebars that came on the bike... here is what specialized's site says:

S-Works F.AC.T. Carbon Ergo Women's Handlebar, short-reach drops, ergonomic shaping, 31.8mm clamp

for my size bike.. the handlebars are 400mm... the drop is really shallow... nice... they just look tiny! cute!

[massbikebabe]

YAY!!!!

I love the looks of those...pictures??? Best wishes on your new ride!!


karen

[DirtDiva]

Enjoy your new ride. :)

[luv'nAustin]

I'm new here and wanted to say... Congratulations caligurl! I am sure you and Ruby will have many wonderful miles together.

karri

[caligurl]

ok.... i took some pics of ruby today...

first... here's one from my maiden "test" ride at the bike shop on wednesday:

http://caligurl.com/bikergurl/pics/ruby/lbs4.jpg

then from today:

http://caligurl.com/bikergurl/pics/ruby/ruby1.jpg

http://caligurl.com/bikergurl/pics/ruby/ruby2.jpg

http://caligurl.com/bikergurl/pics/ruby/ruby3.jpg

http://caligurl.com/bikergurl/pics/ruby/ruby4.jpg

http://caligurl.com/bikergurl/pics/ruby/ruby5.jpg

[caligurl]

http://caligurl.com/bikergurl/pics/ruby/ruby6.jpg

arundel sideloader carbon cages

http://caligurl.com/bikergurl/pics/ruby/ruby7.jpg

dura-ace hollowtech triple w/speedplay X/1 titanium pedals

http://caligurl.com/bikergurl/pics/ruby/ruby8.jpg

this one shows the carbon under the colorcoat:

http://caligurl.com/bikergurl/pics/ruby/ruby9.jpg

that's all i got.. cuz it was uber windy.. and it almost blew her over twice... i was standing right next to her and caught her both times.. but decided the wind was trying to tell me something!

[Trekhawk]

Yeeaahhh Caligurl pictures. We love pictures. The bike is beautiful. My husband has a Roubaix and I keep telling him we would look good on a matching pair - hint hint Ruby for me- but he keeps ignoring me :D

Trekhawk adding Ruby to already long list of bikes to buy when I win Lotto. :)

[aka_kim]

Very nice. And I really like the bottle cages!

[massbikebabe]

BEAUTIFUL!!

How much were those water bottle cages?? May be of great benefit to me when I ride again.

karen

[caligurl]

How much were those water bottle cages?? May be of great benefit to me when I ride again.

39.99 they are Arundel Sideloader Carbon Fiber Water Bottle Cage... i got them from bike world (http://www.bikeworld.com/components/catalog/product.html?cat=2&pid=2227) but all the other places i looked were the same price (bike world had better shipping charges)

if you don't need sideloaders.. the arundel dave-o's (http://www.bikeworld.com/components/catalog/product.html?pid=2226&cat=22) look gorgeous too! i was thinking of ordering them for hubby to replace the serfas ones he has!

[KatieBelle]

The Ruby Pro is beautiful! Great to have you in the Ruby club Caligurl! I can't wait to get out and ride my Ruby tomorrow. :)

[Jo-n-NY]

Cali, your bike is simply beautiful. I meant post this from my previous post dolce vs ruby and time just went by.

I wish you much luck with it and many happy riding miles.

It sure is nice putting a face with your posts also.

~JoAnn

[caligurl]

awwww.. thanx!

i did my first organized ride on her last saturday.... i'm still undecided about the saddle! i'm leaning toward not liking it though :( i could ride centuries on the dolce stock saddle (that is more cushiony) with no problems.... i've been feeling this one.... soooooo i'll give it a few more rides (or at least the ride this weekend!) then i may have to look for another saddle.. or *gasp* put a dolce saddle on her! :eek: :eek:

she created a bit of a buzz at the ride with a few women... i try to melt into the crowd (believe it or not.. i'm actually shy unless i know someone! i'm not good with meeting new people in person!) but i did ok talking about her when asked! lol! cycling has helped a tiny bit to bring me out of my shell!

at least everything else seemed comfy on her... except the seat! i keep hoping i'll get used to it! it was the longest ride i've done since getting her! and next weekend is longer still!

now i just need to clean up my eating and get prepared for the long, climbing rides this summer! i've been naughty.... and i don't want to haul the few extra pounds up the hills!!!!!! (lost them on the bike and added them to my arse!)

[slinkedog]

Hey CG! Gorgeous bike and you look fabulous, as well!! :) I hope you two have a long and happy life together! ;)

[massbikebabe]

Cali;

Do you know if they sell dear sweet ruby "frame only"? Web site does not say or at least my 1/2 brain could not find it!



karen
broke, yet having bike wishes

[CorsairMac]

Cali;

Do you know if they sell dear sweet ruby "frame only"? Web site does not say or at least my 1/2 brain could not find it!



karen
broke, yet having bike wishes

ok - so I gotta ask, if you were only using 1/2 your brain to look for it.....what was the Other 1/2 of your brain doing??

[SnappyPix]

Cali,

That is one sweeeet bike and I'm SO jealous.
Thinking of relegating my Spesh Allez Elite to a winter hack next year - so on the lookout for something new and pretty!
I'm fast developing bike envy - love the colour.
You must be so thrilled - looks like you'll have lots of happy times together!
Also love the sound of the side loading bottle cages, mine is a compact frame and I have real problems with large sized bottles - would ideally love to carry a couple of 750ml bottles, but limited at the minute - side loaders would be just the trick.
I tried and tried with the BG Avatar saddle that came with my Elite, but we never bonded and I ended up replacing it with my trusty Dolce. Shame because the Avatar matched the paintwork! But comfort wins over looks when your arse it at stake!

Speaking of which - you look uber-skinny to me - lose any more weight and you'll be blown away in those winds!

[SnappyPix]

Bugger!

Have researched the Ruby, but it seems that only the Comp is available in the UK/NZ.
You girls in the US are so lucky sometimes! Still, at least I'm being forced to show restraint!
Would really love to check out the Expert - as I think the price might be a bit more agreeable and I'm drawn to the compact chainring, as the range of gears are lower than the Pro, without having to convert to a triple.

[Running Mommy]

What a PRETTY little lady you have there! I'm JEALOUS! Makes my little Specialized Dolce downstairs look downright dowdy! Of course like a good mom, I love my baby too. No matter WHAT she looks like! :D

[moogal]

Woah ... your picts had me drooling all over my table :p

Enjoy the bike !

[caligurl]

Cali;

Do you know if they sell dear sweet ruby "frame only"? Web site does not say or at least my 1/2 brain could not find it!



karen
broke, yet having bike wishes

i've never noticed it on their site either.. as being available "frame only".... like a few of the other frames are... so i assume it's not available that way... at least not now!

[caligurl]

Hey CG! Gorgeous bike and you look fabulous, as well!! :) I hope you two have a long and happy life together! ;)

thank you!!! :)

[caligurl]

Cali,

That is one sweeeet bike and I'm SO jealous.
Thinking of relegating my Spesh Allez Elite to a winter hack next year - so on the lookout for something new and pretty!
I'm fast developing bike envy - love the colour.
You must be so thrilled - looks like you'll have lots of happy times together!
Also love the sound of the side loading bottle cages, mine is a compact frame and I have real problems with large sized bottles - would ideally love to carry a couple of 750ml bottles, but limited at the minute - side loaders would be just the trick.
I tried and tried with the BG Avatar saddle that came with my Elite, but we never bonded and I ended up replacing it with my trusty Dolce. Shame because the Avatar matched the paintwork! But comfort wins over looks when your arse it at stake!

Speaking of which - you look uber-skinny to me - lose any more weight and you'll be blown away in those winds!

the color grows on my more and more! it's transparent.. and changes in the light!

i was sooo disapointed when my other carbon cages wouldn't work! i had had them for a while (along with all my other stuff)... but ultimately i'm glad they didn't work.. but the sideloaders.. although a bit heavier :rolleyes: are much prettier and look nicer with the bike! i'm still getting used to pulling the bottle out though!

lol... i'm not uber-skinny! i think i'm the only person who took up cycling and gained weight! i was just complaining to hubby yesterday... and he reminded me that i'm lifting heavier weights.. so yes... scale-wise.. i'm sure that some of that increase is muscle! but the rest is the cheating i've done cuz i've been riding.. it's so easy to say i can have the in n out burger.. or coldstone ice cream... or movie popcorn.. cuz i'm riding, after all! :rolleyes:

i'm SERIOUSLY considering putting a dolce saddle on my ruby... my tushie was SO sore after my century on saturday! the saddle may look nice.. but it's more important that my tushie not be that sore! that was also the first time i haven't been able to ride the day after a century cuz i was still so sore!