Litespeed vs Specialized Ruby

[cdavis]

I need opinion/review on the Specialized Ruby Pro. I have been riding a Litespeed Tuscany (47') for five years...just have never loved the fit since my previous four bikes were custom builds (steel). So before I go custom Litespeed...I was told about the Specialized WSD bikes. I'm 5'1. Thoughts on the Ruby Pro anyone...thanks. I am a seasoned rider. Prefer road racing to time trialing. & occasional long distance triathlons.

[Eden]

This is all just subjective opinion -
I don't have a Litespeed, but I do have a ti bike. My ti is a 47cm with 650 wheels, I also have a 44cm 06' Ruby Pro, with 700c wheels, that I race.
Personally I find that the carbon bike is snappier and quicker. I think that the geometry of the carbon bike suits me better (short, longer legs than torso, relatively long thigh bones - I have to push my saddles back fairly far to get good knee position)
The ti bike is very smooth - I recently put a carbon seat post on it and I bumps and road noise are virtually gone. Not that the Ruby isn't smooth, compared to my old alu/carbon its very nice, just not quite as much as the ti.

[Flybye]

Hey there, I purchased a Ruby Comp in June quite by "accident" I guess you could say - I wasn't looking for one, but when faced with a great deal, shell out the bucks, right?
My bike prior to the Ruby was a Giant OCR 2 aluminum frame, not women's specific. I liked this bike ALOT, or so I thought, until I rode the Ruby. It was all over for me then. Hand over the money
My speed has increased greatly - I am a complete beginner - from 14 to17/18 mph with a medium amount of effort, but I consider that a compliment to the bike. I too, am getting stronger, but having this bike has made it more encouraging to work on things like speed, distance, and cadence.

I am much more comfortable on this bike that I was on the Giant.

I had the opinion prior to purchasing a WSD bike that it was all marketing to make women happy - after all, a bike is a bike, right? Now I am starting to rethink that a bit.

I love the saddle that came with the bike, but may switch it out for longer rides (ie a century) because it is a bit squishy. It has been fine for 25 mile rides, and on those rides, I have ridden hard.

I also went from a triple to a double and can not really tell a big difference. I can handle hills just fine with a double.

I like the shifting on this bike.

I like this bike.....
Hope my $ .02 helps!

[cdavis]

May I ask why you race the Ruby Pro versus the ti bike? You sound like the same size as me ..only I don't have the longer legs. darn. but I do like to sit back and pedal a harder gear...what size cranks do you have? thanks for the feedback

[Eden]

I've had the Ruby longer than the Ti bike. (I won the ti frame in a season long point competiton last year). I still race the Ruby because I honestly believe that for me it is faster, better acceleration, better climbing, plus I don't have to worry so much about having non-standard equipment at races. Being able to use neutral support is kind of comforting, even though I've very rarely had to take advantage of it.
I use the ti bike all winter long - as ti is pretty indestructable, and for flat crits sometimes.
I have 165 cranks on it.
btw I am 5' even and have about a 28.5/29" bike inseam.

[cdavis]

thanks much for the info...wish I lived closer so I could see your Ruby Pro. It's hard to hand over that much $ and not be able to test drive the model (Houston bike shops just don't carry small bikes of this calibur). I'm just a little over 5' with a 27 inch inseam..have been riding 165 cranks and 650 wheels from the beginning...do you notice the difference between the 650s and 700s?

[Eden]

I switch back and forth between the bikes pretty regularly (I also use the ti bike as my commuter) and I don't really notice any handling differences, they corner similarly enough at least.
I had to order mine pretty much sight unseen too, but I'd been riding another bike with nearly identical geometry so I was pretty darn sure it was going to work for me. You can always see if any of your local shops has a 44cm Dolce in stock - even though its a different material, I believe its the same geometry.