Specialized Dolce Sport

I've only been riding for about a month and bought a Specialized Hardrock. While I like the bike, it's not meant for streets. When you live rurally, you can't get past having to use both streets and large gravel roads so I was looking for a street bike to use just for streets and keep the Hardrock for the back roads. I'd be traveling on hilly highways, not neighborhood streets.

My LBS had me try a Specialized Dolce Sport which I really liked. Does anyone have one and like/hate it? He'd have to special order me one for my size and need to talk to my better half if I go for it.

The only thing I've found online is issues with the gears like my Hardrock has. They are just picky, but I love the aggresive look and feel of the Specialized bikes after trying several other bike companies.

My only other concern is lack of experience. I haven't been on a bike in 20 years and only have 70 miles on my Hardrock after a month. I did 7 miles on Sunday which is the most I've ever gone at one time. I worry that maybe I need to put longer rides in before going to a completely different style of bike.

Anything comparable in the Trek line? My bike shop sells both Trek and Specialized.

Thanks for any help.

I've owned a Dolce Sport for a little over a year and love it. In fact, it started my love affair with road bikes (I have three others plus a dropped bar single speed). As my first road bike in over 30 years, it was much more comfortable than what I ever thought it could be. It took a couple of rides to get comfortable with the feel of it on the road, but that was it. I actually started riding it on a trainer first. I think the Dolce Sport is a great starter road bike.

Enjoy,
P2

I have a Specialied Ruby Elite, which is the carbon version of the Dolce, but I first rode the Dolce and fell in love with it.

Good luck and let us know what you decide!

Shannon

I have a Specialized Dolce Sport. My only regret is getting a compact and not a triple. Great bike!

I tested one out and liked it, though if I buy a Specialized bike, it'll be some version of the Ruby.

In terms of Trek, look at the Lexa series.

I have a Dolce Comp with a triple. And after todays winds, that triple came in handy! Great bike.

The guy at the LBS gave me a book that had women's/men's bike and did see the Ruby. Very nice bike. It too bad he didn't mention it or have one on the floor.

DH did say I could have the Dolce but I'm still leary because of my skill level. I tried it out in the parking lot and given the gear shifting difference between a mountain bike and street bike, I can see myself crashing it as soon as I brought it home. LOL.

The guy was really sweet and showed me a lot about fitting a bike and working with one. I wish there were "beginner" classes to have a better idea of how you and the bike work together.

After learning a couple of things, I tried them out on my Hardrock. The difference was amazing. I averaged 13-14 mph on the road instead of 8-10 and even on the gravel, I was doing pretty good. I still had to walk up the 1/2 mile gravel hill, but I hit 31 mph going down the opposite side to my house and didn't panic. Usually I hit about 14-18 mph down as I'm such a wimp. It was the best 4 mile trip I've had since I purchased the bike.

I also took my first trip into town with my son and in one part it's safer on the sidewalk than the road. I found myself hopping over the street curbs with ease and going over the uneven sidewalk with skill. For the first time I'd stopped worrying about my bad back and had some fun. If I truly wanted to get major highway miles, I'd still need something like the Ruby or Dolce.

I'm going to take the time to gain some more confidence before buying the Dolce or the Ruby. I know I can have it when I'm ready and that will keep me motivated.

Thanks for all the help!

I have a 2006 Specialized Dolce Elite. The reviews that say shifting is an issue are spot in. I don't know what it is about the triples but they have definite shifting problems. My chain would slip when going from the smallest ring in front the the second gear. Drove me nuts. I finally had the LBS put a compact double on it and it works much better. I have read in other forums and reviews that I'm not the only one with the problem so I figure it is something with the model. Of course, mine is a 2006 and the newer ones may have fixed the problem. Once I got the compact I love my bike. We get along great and put in a lot of miles.
:)
Hope this helps.

I had a Dolce Comp 05 my first road bike and I certainly loved her. A couple of years and 4000 mi later my dh surprised me with a Ruby Pro only because of wanted to switch to a carbon frame. Needless to say after 10,000mi Ruby will not be replaced anytime soon, I just love her. I missed my Dolce for rainy day and a just scooting around bike and loath and behold I won an 2012 Dolce Elite in a raffle last year. She has Sram Apex and is a compact. Now I have the best of both worlds and couldn't be happier :)