Oh What to Buy... Road Bike Heaven

[Oneriver]

I am in the market for a new bike. YIPPEE!!!

I ride a Specialized Dolce Compact Comp. This is my 3rd year on her. She has been and is a FAB bike. Comfortable. I love my bike. Before that I rode a Specialized Hybrid. So I am partial to Specialized and strongly considering the Ruby. I am waiting for the 2012.

My favorite bike shop sells Specialized, Felt & Cervelo so I will ride the Ruby, the ZW4 (?) and the Cervelo RS I think. Other shops in town sell Orbea, Giant, Bianchi & Scott. (I am not interested in a Trek). My LBS is wonderful, close by and I would really like to give them a sale. They have graciously told me they think the Orbea, Giant, Bianchi & Scott are also worth considering. Of them all, I am mostly salivating over the Orbea. I don't want to have to drive far for bike service though. I do think my local bike shop would service it for me. I would just feel bad. :-(

Anyway, does anyone have any input about Ruby vs. Orbea vs. Cervelo? Those seem to be the favs thus far. I'm gonna be a snob about components so the bike will have to have Ultegra or SRAM Force at a minimum.

I am a recreational rider. I probably ride 80+ miles per week. I've completed one century and I am riding my 3rd MS 150 this year.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Owlie]

Giant generally seems to be better bang-for-buck than Specialized, but if you ride a Dolce comfortably (without many modifications in terms of stem length), I'd be a little leery of Giant's women-specific bikes (is that what you need?) because their top tubes tend to be on the long side. Doesn't hurt to try one, though.

They're all good bikes, so go ahead and test some out.

Out of curiosity, why aren't you considering Trek?

[Oneriver]

Hi Owlie,
No modifications to the Dolce. It just fits me great. :-)
Re: Trek. I don't like either the customer service or the quality of the mechanics at the LBS that sells Trek. My preferred LBS outshines them on both. There are actually two very good LBS's close to my house. Both sell Specialized - and then a few others. But not Orbea. Boo.

[Owlie]

Hi Owlie,
No modifications to the Dolce. It just fits me great. :-)
Re: Trek. I don't like either the customer service or the quality of the mechanics at the LBS that sells Trek. My preferred LBS outshines them on both. There are actually two very good LBS's close to my house. Both sell Specialized - and then a few others. But not Orbea. Boo.

Okay, then go ahead and test-ride a Giant. The Avail's top tube is too long for me, and while the Dolce in my size has a shorter top tube, I'd still need a shorter stem. But I'm some kind of freak , so it just might work for you with a shorter stem. They're nice bikes for the money...if they fit!

Part of me says to tell you to go ahead and get the Ruby if you like the LBS and your Dolce fits. But by all means, go ahead and try out all the bikes on your list just for comparison's sake.

[Oneriver]

Thanks Owlie. I'm hoping to ride some next week. I'll probably ride the Cervelo, Orbea, Felt & Ruby. I must say the Orbea looks and sounds sweet. :-)

[pll]

It seems to me that several of the bikes you mentioned (Cervelo RS, Felt Zw4, Specialized Ruby) and your Dolce have a more relaxed geometry than any of the Orbeas has... What is the reason you are upgrading if you are happy with the 3-year old bike, as opposed to, for example, getting some fabulous wheels on your Dolce?

[Lavigne]

I also had to make the tough choice between the Ruby and the Orbea. The Ruby was at the LBS and was a decent fit after a few adjustments. The closest Orbea was about 7 hours away (one way) but I just couldn't bring myself to buy the Ruby without at least testing the Orbea. So, I made the drive and fell in love with it. The fit is perfect, it rides like a dream, and it's GORGEOUS.

Like you, I felt a little guilty when I took it to the LBS for new tires. (They could have ordered it for me but I really didn't want to pay for a bike I hadn't tested.). My guilt was not necessary. When I rolled her in everyone was gawking, literally. They asked where I had gotten it and said they too would have driven to the ends of the earth for that bike. I get complements every time I ride. It's the Onix Dama TLT in black, white, and turquoise.

[Oneriver]

I also had to make the tough choice between the Ruby and the Orbea. The Ruby was at the LBS and was a decent fit after a few adjustments. The closest Orbea was about 7 hours away (one way) but I just couldn't bring myself to buy the Ruby without at least testing the Orbea. So, I made the drive and fell in love with it. The fit is perfect, it rides like a dream, and it's GORGEOUS.

Like you, I felt a little guilty when I took it to the LBS for new tires. (They could have ordered it for me but I really didn't want to pay for a bike I hadn't tested.). My guilt was not necessary. When I rolled her in everyone was gawking, literally. They asked where I had gotten it and said they too would have driven to the ends of the earth for that bike. I get complements every time I ride. It's the Onix Dama TLT in black, white, and turquoise.

Hi Lavigne. My Dolce fits me like a glove so I suspect I will love the Ruby. I'll keep you posted after my test rides. I just wish the 2012's would come out NOW!!! As I said to Miranda... I reserve the right to change my mind about the Orbea. LOL.

[Susie Derkins]

If the Dolce fits you well, you may find (as I did) that the Felt's ZW geometry is too relaxed for you.

I don't have any Orbea or Bianchi dealers anywhere near me, so those weren't on my list. Scott did fit me very similarly to Specialized.

In the end, though, I'm partial to Specialized. I went in planning to buy the Dolce Comp, and came home with a Ruby Comp instead. The angels sang, what can I say. If you really like the way the Dolce fits you, do you want to mess with success?

[Oneriver]

If the Dolce fits you well, you may find (as I did) that the Felt's ZW geometry is too relaxed for you.

I don't have any Orbea or Bianchi dealers anywhere near me, so those weren't on my list. Scott did fit me very similarly to Specialized.

In the end, though, I'm partial to Specialized. I went in planning to buy the Dolce Comp, and came home with a Ruby Comp instead. The angels sang, what can I say. If you really like the way the Dolce fits you, do you want to mess with success?

Hey Susie,
I think you have probably guessed the outcome. The Dolce is a lovely bike so I am 99% sure I will end up with the Ruby. But for that kind of money I want to test all the toys I can. I know this is stupid but I am waiting for the 2012 b/c I don't like the color of the 2011 (Expert.) And the Orbea's are so SWEET looking. :-) I'll keep ya posted.

[Owlie]

Hey Susie,
I think you have probably guessed the outcome. The Dolce is a lovely bike so I am 99% sure I will end up with the Ruby. But for that kind of money I want to test all the toys I can. I know this is stupid but I am waiting for the 2012 b/c I don't like the color of the 2011 (Expert.) And the Orbea's are so SWEET looking. :-) I'll keep ya posted.

Funny, I absolutely love the red of the 2011 Expert. Not that it really matters, since I'm pretty sure they're out of stock by now.

[Oneriver]

Funny, I absolutely love the red of the 2011 Expert. Not that it really matters, since I'm pretty sure they're out of stock by now.

I am just dying to find out the colors of the 2012 Ruby Expert. Can't find a thing. I think Specialized will announce the new line in the next 2 weeks or so. But I don't know if it will be available before later in the year. I've got a bike jones now. I'm riding my third Bike MS (150 miles over 2 days) this year and I'd love to do it on a new bike... :-) But I would want to be riding the new bike for about a month before hand. So much stress. HA HA.