Thinking about buying a Specialized Ruby Comp

[li10up]

I'm supposed to go for a fitting on Thursday to get my Allez to fit better and then they can transfer those to a new bike.

Since I don't understand what you all are saying I'm wondering if I should even go forward with buying a new bike. If I'm going to plop down $2000 bucks for a new bike shouldn't I be better informed? Relaxed geometry vs. agressive...top tube angles, etc., etc. ....I'm lost.

[Kathi]

Find out the credentials of the fitter. If they have had training from a company, ie Serotta, then trust them. If they just read a book find someone else. My LBS in Cincy had experience eyeballing people but he missed the short arm, short femur issue and was fitting me like the guys. The more you know about fit the better off you are.

I just posted these on another thread but are a good start. It shows the kind of things a good fitter looks for.

http://womenspecific.com/daily-feed/...r-next-bicycle

http://womenspecific.com/cycling/35/...women-specific

Also, Andy Pruitt's book "Complete Medical guide for Cyclists" is a good source on bike fit.

[li10up]

Well, I've had to postpone my bike fit until next Tue. I've read the links that were given me and feel like I'm a little more informed. Sounds like what my LBS is going to do is just a basic fit - even if I buy a new bike from them that's all I'll get unless I want to fork over some $. Seems like they shouldn't charge for a fit if I buy a bike...esp. a $2000 bike! IMO.

I'd like to get your opinions. The Specialized Rep recommended a Ruby Comp for me. Granted she didn't do anything more than just look at me and ask some questions. So, I'm 5' 5.5" and 165 pounds (working on that ). I want to improve my speed - currently avg. about 15 mph on rolling terrain on a 20 mile ride. I want to be able to keep up with the guys on the club rides without one of them having to come back to me or them waiting on me, and I want to improve on my climbing. I also want to start incorporating longer rides - perhaps 40 to 50 mile rides on a Sat. or Sun. I also want to ride a couple of tours each season. I've done 2 metrics but I want to do an imperial century (is that the correct term?). This will be my 3rd season of riding.

So, knowing all that do you think a Specialized Ruby Comp would be a good bike for me? It's carbon. Am I too heavy for a carbon bike? Will I have to baby it going over RR tracks, etc?

[Eden]

Am I too heavy for a carbon bike? Will I have to baby it going over RR tracks, etc?

If big 6 footer racing guys can ride carbon you should not worry... really they build airplanes out of the stuff - its not as fragile as everyone would like to think. The thing is if you do damage it then there isn't anything you can do to fix it, but you don't have to worry about pot holes/RR tracks cracking the frame. Even when big George broke his bike last year at Paris Roubaix it was an aluminium steerer that broke not the carbon parts of the bike and that was from riding it after he'd already crashed.

[li10up]

Are you familiar with this bike? If I can get a good fit does it sound like a good bike for me and what I want to do?

[mimitabby]

Everything I've heard about this bike has been good.
The thing I don't like is that they're charging you extra for fitting the bike.

A LBS here does the Serrotta fit thing and then if you buy a bike, they
discount the fit (i think 200 goes to 100) price. seems like it would be worth it, I've already spent more than that just trying to fit myself to my Bianchi!

[caligurl]

if the ruby fits you.... it's the perfect bike for you! i LOVE LOVE LOVE mine!

it's light for climbing..... it's comfy for long rides..... you can't go wrong with a ruby!

and i agree... it's total BS that they want to charge you to fit a bike you are buying from them!!!!!! absolute total BS!!!!!!!

[xeney]

The only thing I wondered about was this sentence in your post:

I also want to ride a couple of tours each season.

As long as you don't mean loaded touring, and as long as the bike fits you, it sounds like it would fit your needs. (And let us not forget how pretty it is.)