This year model vs last year model?

[kajero]

I was ready to buy the Specialized Ruby bike I'd been hungering after the last couple of weeks. It's the 2012 model and was $2,100. When looked at it again, I noticed there was a bike next to it that was on closeout. It's the same bike, only it is one grade up. It's marked down from $2700 to $2100. Now why wouldn't I jump on it? I don't like the color. For $600 and a better bike, do you think I could come to like the color or will I regret not getting the pretty black and pink or the white one? :confused:

[ny biker]

What are the upgrades on the better bike?

[jyyanks]

Is it the 2011 Ruby Comp $2700
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=52879&menuItemId=0

vs the 2012 Ruby Elite Apex? $2100
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCProduct.jsp?spid=62082&scid=1101&scname=Road

If so, they are almost the same, except that the 2011 has Shimano 105 and an 11-28 cassette.

The 2012 is equipped with Apex (which many have said are comparable to 105's if not better) and has a 11-32 cassette.

Is the 2011 a triple?

I have to admit that color matters to me. I would buy a bike if it fits and I "don't mind" the color but I wouldn't buy it if I hated the color. It might just be me, but if I don't enjoy looking at it, I won't be inclined to ride it. I would continue to have "bike envy" which would lead into me replacing the bike sooner rather than later.

If they both fit and your heart is set on the 2012, I would probably go with that one but I'll let the real bike experts chime in.

[ny biker]

I don't know enough about SRAM Apex, but I'd hesitate to pay $2000 for a full Tiagra group regardless of the frame color. I had a few Tiagra components on my first road bike, including the front derailleur, and it never worked right.

[zoom-zoom]

I don't know enough about SRAM Apex, but I'd hesitate to pay $2000 for a full Tiagra group regardless of the frame color. I had a few Tiagra components on my first road bike, including the front derailleur, and it never worked right.

I have Apex on my CX bike and it is just as reliable as my Rival...just heavier. Not a fan of Shimano, much less low-end Shimano.

[bluebug32]

I'm also not a fan of Shimano. But I say go with the frame you like better and you can always change the components. The frame is something you'll have long term, so be sure it's the one you want.

[Owlie]

I'm with the people who say that the Tiagra-equipped bike shouldn't be on the table. There's no comparison.

[ny biker]

I'm happy withe SRAM Rival components on my current bike, but I was also happy enough with the 105 components on my previous bike. And after the crap Tiagra derailleur broke, I had an Ultegra which never gave me any trouble.

I got the new bike because I needed a frame that fit me better. I expected to get a 2011 Madone 4.5 with Shimano components, but the LBS happened to have a 4.7 from 2010 on sale for the same price, and it came with SRAM Rival. If the 2010 bike had not been available I expect I would have been happy with the 4.5 and its components.

[roo4]

When I looked at my bike in the store, I thought it had the ugliest color scheme ever. Then I gave her a test ride. I was in love. She is beautiful.

Go ride. Choose your love, love your choice. :)

[smittykitty]

Well, I have the beautiful blue 2011 "105". DIL has 2012 dark grey with pink trim Apex. Both of us really love our bikes. I probably should have gotten the Apex cuz it is a little lower geared and I run out of gears on hills. Apex was new last year and I went with 105 because it was a known product. Also, 105 was an upgrade throughout the bike, however I probably wouldn't have noticed the difference. Both rode very well.

DIL can get up the hills just fine either way. We've both been very happy.

By the way, my fav. color is blue. Her's is pink. We're both happy.

Both seem to be very good bikes. If they both ride well, color wins. (I can't imagine not picking the blue though .

[Kiwi Stoker]

Don't forget Tiagra had a major upgrade last year..

[kajero]

I am not into bike technicals. I just want a bike to ride. So when I look through posts I don't understand what goes with which bike and what each thing does.

I liked the way the shifters worked with brake on the blue one. That is not available on the pink and black one. But does that really matter?

Are you saying that the lower priced ruby is better?

I don't have much selection in bikes because the sales guy fitted me for a 44 and there aren't too many bikes to pick from at that size. I will be taking it for a long test ride before I actually put the money on the table. I took a test ride today on a different bike today but was so nervous and tired (Long fast ride this morning) that I kept shaking and just went up the street. I'll be better with one I think will be mine.

Oh, my significant other thinks the blue bike is very pretty.

[pll]

Hi kajero,

I'd say for bikes priced the same, go with the better components. It seems that blue one is the one with better components and you liked how the shifters worked (go for it!).

It's all guesses for us not knowing what you are looking at... from your description, it sounds to me like these two:

2012 Ruby compact carbon/pink with Tiagra (http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCProduct.jsp?spid=62083&scid=1101&scname=Road)
2011 Ruby compact in blue/white (http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=52879&menuItemId=0)

The latter has Shimano 105 and the carbon/pink has Shimano Tiagra. 105 will be better quality and lighter than the Tiagra set. The wheels on the blue one will also be better than on the black one. Yes, you could swap the components later, but that is a pricey proposition.

Anyway, a new bike is very nice. Ultimately, what matters is how the bike feels and rides.

[smittykitty]

2011 BLUE is better quality, has more upgrades than Apex or Tiagra (pink).

Besides, the color is Assume! Done deal. Glad we could help! (so long as it fits, of course).

Enjoy!!! New bikes are so much fun.

[kajero]

Is it the 2011 Ruby Comp $2700
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=52879&menuItemId=0

vs the 2012 Ruby Elite Apex? $2100
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCProduct.jsp?spid=62082&scid=1101&scname=Road

If so, they are almost the same, except that the 2011 has Shimano 105 and an 11-28 cassette.

The 2012 is equipped with Apex (which many have said are comparable to 105's if not better) and has a 11-32 cassette.

Is the 2011 a triple?
If they both fit and your heart is set on the 2012, I would probably go with that one but I'll let the real bike experts chime in.

Yes, those are the two bikes

[jyyanks]

Honestly, if those are the two bikes that they are comparable. The bike I linked to has Apex gears as opposed to Tiagra which are comparable, if not better, than the 105's on the blue bike. the 11-32 cassetts makes it comparable to a "triple". In simple terms, if the bikes you are choosing from are the ones I listed than the blue one is no better than the pink one.

People thought the pink one has Lower end components (tiagra) but with Apex, the components are the same. Therefore, I would go with the color that you like.

[Jo-n-NY]

I completely agree with jyyanks. When others were mentioning Tiagra I began to get confused with the links of the bikes and the posts.

Sram Apex & Shimano 105's are pretty much technically equal. The way you shift each is a bit different which for me is not an issue.

[kajero]

YOU PEOPLE ARE THE GREATEST! I finally KNOW I can pick the pink and black one and feel good about it!!! THANKS, THANKS, THANKS,

[smittykitty]

You know we'll need a picture as soon as she comes home. Oh, and she will need a name, but that may take a little time!

Congrats on the new bike!

[kajero]

:) I bought my new bike. Can't pick her up until Saurday. I feel like I bought the store out. :eek: I bought the shoes, the pedals. the water bottle cage and who knows what else. I also talked the guy I bought it from into installing the computer thing on the bike for no charge.

For now her name is "House Payment" I'll rename her in few months.

[jyyanks]

Congratulations! You will love her and she will be worth every penny and then some!

[kajero]

Well,

I didn't buy either bike. I fell in love with 2012 model of the "blue" bike and bought that. It's a really pretty whie and blue bike. My SO can't understand why I would pay so much for color. :D Uhm . . . I am not so sure I know why I did. I spent way more than I intended and am still trying to justify it. I don't know if I ride enough to have something that fancy.

My co-worker named the bike, "WEP" for "Worth Every Penney" and my biking friend added "On" to the end so now the name is WEPON! Altough I don't think I will use it that way.

I wish the nice riding season in Minnesota wasn't so short. Hopefully this year I will get to enjoy all of it. Last year I broke my hand in August and that pretty much ended the season for me.

Thanks everyone for the wonderful advice. Funny though . . . I didn' buy either bike discussed. ;)

[smittykitty]

Well first of all, blue is my favorite color! Helped me buy more bike than I intended. You made a great choice. I'm sure you paid more because you got better upgrades. Better upgrades mean a more pleasurable ride. Lots of little things that add up to quite a jump up in the quality of your ride. When you are more comfortable and your bike handles and rides better, you will enjoy riding a lot more.

And who knows, you may have just saved yourself a bunch of money! My husband and I are on our 3rd set of bikes. If we would have just started out with better bikes in the beginning, we would have been dollars ahead.

See, its not what you spent, its what you saved!

I just used my REI dividend today to upgrade my bike computer to add cadence. A couple of years ago, I couldn't have imagined caring about my cadence. We've upgraded from toe cages on our pedals (skip that one) to mountain bike shoes and pedals to road bike shoes and pedals (could never have imagined being one of "those" people. Oh, and the cheapo bike shorts to much better ones.

You were smart, you avoided a couple of bike upgrades. Now get busy figuring out what accessories you and your bike need. Enjoy.

[pll]

Pictures of "Wep", please... ;)

[Marquise]

I wish the nice riding season in Minnesota wasn't so short. Hopefully this year I will get to enjoy all of it. Last year I broke my hand in August and that pretty much ended the season for me.


As a Wisconsin rider I feel compelled to note that while the nice riding season may be short, with the right gear you can ride a lot longer. :) Hope you enjoy many happy miles on the new bike.

[rivergal]

The Ruby Apex 2012 looks like the white with blue that you bought. Very lovely bike.

I'm a bit lae, but I'll add my story on color and features. My entry bike was a Felt ZW100 that looks-wise, was purty - white with light gray and lavender accents. Mmmmm-mmmm. But, aluminum frame and a Sora/Tiagra mix. So I was looking to upgrade, despite the bike lust.

Over the years I never liked the fat down tube on Cannondales, and always liked white over graphite gray for color. That said, I picked up a carbon Synapse frame that had been spray painted black after being stolen from the original owner on eBay last year. Yep, Cannondale and after taking off the paint, graphite gray with Egyptian Blue. Scrimpted and haunted the LBS's, online stores, and eBay and built her out last fall.

When I got on her for the first ride, it was true love. I love her color now, and completely love the ride. Cinders fits me like my Felt never did.

Hope you have a great time with your WEPON, and be sure to share pics!