Got a new bike it's a 2012 Specialized Ruby Apex: what is your opinion of the apex?

[greta]

I had a 2009 Ruby Elite with all 105 before and just sold it this spring. This bike was on sale at LBS for $900 off due to last year model, never used brand new. I put it on layaway in early summer and just got it paid off. I had crank bros candy pedals on the elite and DH got me some new ones for the new bike. I was looking up online what others think of the changes to sram and DT 2.0 wheels and apparently they are quite heavy. I don't notice a lot of difference between the shifting once you get used to the sram double tap but was curious about others opinion.

[TigerMom]

I had a 2009 Ruby Elite with all 105 before and just sold it this spring. This bike was on sale at LBS for $900 off due to last year model, never used brand new. I put it on layaway in early summer and just got it paid off. I had crank bros candy pedals on the elite and DH got me some new ones for the new bike. I was looking up online what others think of the changes to sram and DT 2.0 wheels and apparently they are quite heavy. I don't notice a lot of difference between the shifting once you get used to the sram double tap but was curious about others opinion.

I think that you got a new bike....so Congrats!

As to Shimano vs. SRAM, it is just a preference thing. I am a Shimano woman but can change to SRAM if the price is right for the quality.

[ny biker]

I switched from Shimano to SRAM Rival with no problems. I found more differences within Shimano (Tiagra vs Ultegra derailleurs) than between the two brands, in terms of shifting quality and frequency of needing adjustments.

[luvmyguys]

I have that very bike.

In general, I love it. My only beef (and it's minor) is that I feel like I have to baby the front derailleur, using advice I took from another Apex owner. I really have to slow down my pedaling at the top of a hill before I shift up to the big ring, otherwise it really struggles in shifting (and wears down the pins). Part of that may be the size (44 cm), which I'm told is harder to get properly adjusted. All I know is that after about 1200 miles, about 350ish was with significant hills, the pins on the big ring had worn down such that the rings had to be replaced. The LBS owner replaced the ring as warranty work, and I haven't had too much trouble since, but I am careful about how I shift up.

[Owlie]

I have Shimano on my roadie and SRAM Apex on my CX bike.

It's sort of like Mac vs PC--they do the same thing, they just do it in a different way. It's a preference thing. SRAM's higher end models (Force, Red) tend to be lighter than their Shimano counterparts, but probably not enough for the average user to notice the difference. I do find that SRAM is a little easier to use with winter gloves on (I'm talking lobsters, not regular full-fingered gloves), but that's really not an issue any more. The only place where I say that Shimano is definitely better than SRAM is on a touring bike, solely because of the ease of getting parts.

I have noticed a difference in shifting in the front. I have a triple on my roadie with 2300 (bottom end at the time) shifters, and I have an easier time shifting up front than on the full-Apex compact double on my CX bike. It's a very long throw and I have a hard time with it. That's the only thing I don't like about it. If I get another job at a bike shop or get a ton of money, I'd consider upgrading the shifters to Rival to help with that throw. I prefer Shimano for my road bikes*, but that doesn't make it better.

*There are certain engineering-related things that seem to make SRAM better for off-road bikes, but I can't remember what it is.

[rollinonsugah]

I have that very bike.

In general, I love it. My only beef (and it's minor) is that I feel like I have to baby the front derailleur, using advice I took from another Apex owner. I really have to slow down my pedaling at the top of a hill before I shift up to the big ring, otherwise it really struggles in shifting (and wears down the pins). Part of that may be the size (44 cm), which I'm told is harder to get properly adjusted. All I know is that after about 1200 miles, about 350ish was with significant hills, the pins on the big ring had worn down such that the rings had to be replaced. The LBS owner replaced the ring as warranty work, and I haven't had too much trouble since, but I am careful about how I shift up..

I'm looking to buy the Ruby Apex 2012 and swap out the components. Looking for the FD size if its a clamp on.

Thanks