Ruby Tuesday

[smurfalicious]

Despite my burning desire for a BMC Road Racer (totally not Tyyyy-luuuhr related but it doesn't hurt) I've realized that it's nothing but a heartbreak kid. They don't sell completes in the US to the best of my knowledge and the cost of build kits makes me want to spew.

So in casually exploring my options I realized that I could score an '08 Ruby Expert in carbon/gold for super cheap. Disgustingly so. I test rode one today in a 51 and it felt like a pretty good fit. And the next size down is 48 so that likely won't do.

I must say she wasn't without her shortcomings, but they were slight. She was, as I was warned, a little flexy. Hard efforts seemed to lag a second but after riding her over a wood bridge that bludgeoned me even on my steel bike I was impressed with the ride quality.

I adore how snappy she is. Oh goodness I almost dumped her once or twice because I've been riding pokey "sport-touring" geometry from the 80s. Should get over that in a hurry once I'm not worried about wrecking someone else's bike!

The thing that really weirded me out though, was it felt like the front end was gonna, don't know how to put this, pop out from underneath me. Maybe it was being on a familiar route and gearing it how I thought I needed to, when such a lightweight bike I could have been pushing a bigger gear? Or maybe it was the pointed skyward good position? Dunno, it was weird. Any theories out there?

I sure do like her. She's pretty. I'm so anti big name brand, I feel like such a sell out. No offense to anyone rocking the Specializeds they make nice stuff but it's just not me, usually. *sigh* I've already picked out gold shiny Look bartape for her. I just wish they'd let me take her out a little longer. How the hell do I buy a bike I plan to ride 2-4 hours a time in 15-20 minutes? My back didn't get angry at all, so that's a start! Usually back anger happens in a few minutes.

[Miranda]

I'm in the market to buy a new bike myself. So far I haven't been able to evn find one to ride for the 10-15 minutes you took. However, I will add that you might ask the shop, or contact someone at Specialized, about dealers wtih demos.

One of my shops just started carrying Specialized. They have a couple demos that they will rent for $25 for 24 hours. The demo that's close to my size is the Rubert expert, in a 51 no less. The demos come in different colors that are not of the stock line. For 09 this demo was green. We still have snow here. Thus, the shop just has the bikes built and not even tagged yet.

I think it must be some expense of dealer choice that the shop works out with the manufacturer. It might require some travel of course finding a shop with a demo. But, if you want some more buying confidence, especially for the amount of $, it would be worth it IMHO. I know I'm willing to do it. I just have yet in calling to find anything besides this one carbon bike to try.

I can only speak from reading here, and what shop peeps tell me, but the "pop out from underneath you" is what they call 'twitchy' or 'squirely'... something like that. I think different bikes have it to different degrees. I think in time, you just adapt. Glad you didn't dump either one of you on the test ride! I did that once in a parking lot.

Good Luck!

[7rider]

My DH also reeeallly wanted a BMC Road Racer.
Until he rode one. (maybe it was the RR - not 100% sure on the model)
Our LBS was briefly a dealer for them.
If everyone found the the ride as brutal as my DH (who loves an uber-stiff frame that springs off the line and carves up the road like it's on rails), it's no wonder the offerings were short lived.

[Aggie_Ama]

Our LBS stopped carrying BMC because as one guy told us "We needed a full time warranty guy just for the POS frames". They had a lot of problems with frames cracking, I think it was mountain not road. Cannot remember it has been a couple years.

On the test ride, I really wanted a Cannondale. Although they are big name they are less owned around here so they felt pseudo boutique. I didn't want Specialized because I don't know, the Synapse Frame from 2007 looked better to me and hell I am dropping $2500 I better want to look at it. I feel you on not wanting to sell out, it is hard to justify they are good bikes when you feel a bit generic.

I went to the shop and they wanted a $200 deposit to do longer than a local shop area test ride (WTF?). The $200 could be applied to a bike only so I was locked into a Cannondale, Felt (no women's in the shop) or Orbea (which was out of my budget). So I found a compromise- the shop was on a nice hill. I took my Cannondale for impromptu hill repeats. The hill ends with a cove so I could even sort of get a feel for cornering. Wasn't perfect but better than a parking lot.

On the front end thing. Do you ride little bars normally? I think a 51 cm like a 48 cm will have 38cm bars. They feel kind of weird if you are used to bigger, almost like the bike is lost under you or disappearing. From what I know of the Specialized it is a relaxed racing geometry so it might be your body going "huh? What is going on here?". Make sure they do a thorough fit and guarantee it if you buy.

[kenyonchris]

I have this lovely bike...black and gold '08 Specialized Ruby Expert. I have yellow bar tape on her, and a saddle brown Brooks saddle and she is BEAUTIFUL. It is a nice ride, good components. HOWEVER, I will tell you that that front end wobblyness you feel, I feel. I was going down a hill in the drops, cruising along at 35 - 40 mph, when a gust came along (a strong gust) and nearly knocked me over. Now, I am light, the bike is light, so a crosswind can do that, but what was weird was that the front end just sort of cratered...the rest of the bike felt ok. I have had that sensation a few times, generally in a crosswind, but sometimes going fast down a hill without the wind. I talked to LBS about it, they said that if I weighed over 120lbs, I might not have the problem. Certainly cookies sound like a fun solution, but I work hard at my 115 lbs and am not convinced that a few pounds are the problem.
I have messed around with the gearing, my position, speed, etc. I can't get a consistent read on it.
Having said that, it is a GREAT bike 90 percent of the time. Since I do century rides, fitness type biking, and the occasional Tri it works for me.
And it is pretty...

[smurfalicious]

*laughs* I live in Colorado, just to get out of my neighborhood I have to take one of two hills that I can easily get above 30 MPH on. I don't think I can deal with the squirrelyness, and I have a good bit more weight on me than you.

It was a nice ride for sure, but I think they tried to create a racey feel and then buggered it all up with the women's geometry somehow. Oh well, think I've found a new love, gotta try it out again on Saturday when it's not blowing wind in every direction and about to snow.

BTW, Look makes shiny gold bar tape that would match that bike perfectly.

[Aggie_Ama]

I have had that sensation a few times, generally in a crosswind, but sometimes going fast down a hill without the wind. I talked to LBS about it, they said that if I weighed over 120lbs, I might not have the problem. Certainly cookies sound like a fun solution, but I work hard at my 115 lbs and am not convinced that a few pounds are the problem.

Hmmm... I have this problem and I am 145. I chalk it up to being 5'2". My bike is midget sized (47 cm). Seriously it looks like you took a real bike a shrunk it in the wash. We go to races and the upper juniors have the same size frame. If I get in the drops I am suddenly rolled like a pill bug, I think it is just my stature that makes the bike squirrelly not my weight.