Yet Another Ruby Question...measurements

[Bluetree]

Did you buy a Ruby frame and build it up, or was Campy an option when you ordered?

I bought the frame and built it up myself.

Unfortunately, few women's bikes come equipped with Campy Chorus or Record (Specialized no exception) and the total costs of a self-build ends up costing much more than buying a whole bike with comparable parts.

On the positive side, I didn't care for the stock wheels, saddle, or handlebars so I was able to build up my Ruby with exactly what I wanted.

P.S. Frame-only options:
For 2008 Specialized added the module-only option of the Ruby-Comp for about $1300. In 2007, when I bought my frame, all they offered was the S-Works for $3300.

[Starfish]

$3000 for a 2007??? I hope that's for the Pro.

Yes, the Pro, with full DA.

Okay, I had to measure my fingers too...Be specific!

First, we are NOT worse than men, believe me! (Whatever worse means...)

I don't know what an MCP joint is. I hold my hand up flat in front of me (like vertically, in front of my face, looking at the edge of my hand, with the thumb towards me). I tilt the finger I want to measure (say the middle finger, my longest ) just a centimeter or two down, toward my palm, keeping the finger straight. I measure from the base of the finger, in the little crease where the finger tilts...to the tip.

I think if I measured the top of the finger, from the knuckle on the back of my hand, to the tip, I would add about .5 inch to the overal length. I guess I measured the underside because when I put my hand on the bar, that underside is really what has to reach around the bar to the levers.

[OakLeaf]

I guess I measured the underside because when I put my hand on the bar, that underside is really what has to reach around the bar to the levers.

That makes sense.

Just to clarify, hand bones are metacarpals and finger bones are phalanges. Thumb is #1, pinky is #5. So the joint between the palm and the finger is the metacarpo-phalangeal or MCP joint. All the fingers except the thumb have two interphalangeal joints, proximal and distal or PIP and DIP.

Measuring that way, I get 3-1/8" for my middle finger and 2-7/8" for the index finger on the left, about 1/8" shorter on the right. So a bit longer than your fingers but in the same ballpark!

[dex]

When I measure that way, I don't have a single finger that manages to nudge past 2.75". Short, stumpy little fingers have I...heh.

[Starfish]

Aah, Oakleaf, thanks for the education. Now I know!

And, Dex, that's right...we are in the same ballpark. I still might take you up on your offer of checking out your bars and levers when I come to Seattle to test bikes.

[ehirsch83]

Another question for all you Ruby women.

I am looking for a new bike and think I have settled on the Tarmac, I like the more aggressive positioning, where I feel that the Ruby is set up more like the Roubaix- so more of a distance bike.

Is this true? The LBS doesn't have a Ruby in, in my size, at the moment so I haven't riden one, only the Tarmac- which I love.

Is the Ruby deceiving? Is it more aggresive then it looks? I would love to hear all your opinions.

[Bluetree]

I am looking for a new bike and think I have settled on the Tarmac, I like the more aggressive positioning, where I feel that the Ruby is set up more like the Roubaix- so more of a distance bike.

You are correct, Emily, the Ruby is modeled after the Roubaix. However, I've seen a number of smaller women crit racers with Rubies because the Tarmac does not go down so far in size. Taller women racers on Tarmacs? Yes!

Unless I find a more aggressive racing bike in my size (unlikely) I plan on modifying my Ruby for crits later this year.

[Starfish]

I am looking for a new bike and think I have settled on the Tarmac, I like the more aggressive positioning, where I feel that the Ruby is set up more like the Roubaix- so more of a distance bike.

I don't know this from any experience...just what the bike shop guy told me as we were comparing all the geometry numbers with the Ruby, the Roubaix, and the Tarmac (I'm also interested in the Tarmac). He said the Ruby fell somewhere between the Roubaix and the Tarmac.

[Bluetree]

I stand corrected. You are right, Starfish. I spoke with my Specialized guy and he said the same. However, the name "Ruby" was an offshoot of the word "Roubaix" when they designed it. Also, the Roubaix is not considered just a long-distance bike. Many use it for hilly road racing, esp the S-Works.

...Darn, I wish I was taller. He's selling an S-Works track bike with DA cranks/Zipp 404 tubulars for $2400. But it's a 56.

EDIT: I got an email back from my other Specialized guy:

The Ruby is really in a class of it's own, but in reality, it's between the two in terms of positioning. If I were to place it closer in design to one or the other, it would be the Roubaix. I have not heard of any plans to introduce a Tarmac WSD, but it doesn't mean it won't happen. Specialized keeps any new designs very close to their chests until they want the press to release the information about anything new to the public. If I hear anything at all, I will surely let you know.

[Eden]

In the really small sizes (like mine and Bluetree's) its pretty difficult to get a really aggressive position period - if you want to keep the bigger wheels you are kind of limited (and even with 650's its only marginally better) as to how low you can get the handlebars, because you can only make the head tube so short....... On most (probably all?!) of my bikes the down tube and the top tube pretty much meet, so its not like I could get those bars down futher. A Terry style bike with differently sized wheels would make it possible to get lower, but wouldn't be legal for races. I've given myself a little more drop by putting an angled stem on.

[kelownagirl]

Eden - I think I read somewhere that the Madone 5.1 is a more aggressive bike than the Ruby. Do you know if that's true?

[Eden]

I'm not sure - I think I compared the geometries side by side once and they are very slightly different, but I don't really know how it would affect the feel and handling.

(I looked again - on the smallest size, the Madone's head tube is longer than the Ruby's (so I'd think that would put it more upright???) - but a lot of things are slightly different, and I can't really picture the whole - I'd have to see them side by side)