Do you have a question for Specialized Women's Product Team?

[ny biker]

I saw no problem with the OP. It's a chance to get info directly from someone who represents the company, similar to asking Susan questions about TE. And Rachael is looking for general cycling questions, not just Specialized-specific things.

I think I might have some questions about the different saddles. I just need to get my brain to formulate something more specific than "will I like one of them?"

[ekcjwc]

Welcome! I'm new too and love reading the posts. I have learned so much. I ride a Cannondale but wear almost all Specialized stuff. Silly, I know but I love what Specialized does for women. Have been glancing at the 2010 Specialized Riata shoes that support the Susan Komen Foundation.

[salsabike]

I thought you were perfectly polite and responsive to the admin's request to give a little more info. I'm glad you're trying to get good information out to women cyclists. Welcome to TE!

[Alex]

Welcome! I appreciate any company that is interested in the woman cyclist and I hope you find some good information here.

I have no questions at the moment, but I will tell you I love Specialized gloves (both the fingerless gel gloves for road riding and the full fingered gloves for mountain biking). I am also very happy with my Ruby saddle. :-)

There are MANY friendly folks here, but sometimes we just lurk....

Alex

[KnottedYet]

I don't think there's anything in particular I'd like to ask Specialized, but I (like Alex) want to give you some praise.

Love LOVE the Body Geometry gloves. Women's sizes don't fit me right, but the men's are great! Likewise the Body Geometry Taho mtb shoes. I can't wear the women's (too narrow in the toes) but the men's are fabulous.

The Body Geometry line is wonderful, and I recommend it to my patients fairly often. Especially the shoes: having the built-in medial post in the forefoot is such a good idea!

[rlambert]

Thank you guys all for the super friendly introduction to the page and site. And thanks also for all the praise on the product. I am pretty excited to get started with this and also field any product or general riding related questions (of course I will be needing some help too I am sure with questions of my own ) I am really excited to hear and learn from female cyclists from all over the country!

Hey NY Biker! If you do come up with some saddle questions, let er rip. We just got done doing some really interesting saddle testing with a pressure scanner!

[KnottedYet]

Hey NY Biker! If you do come up with some saddle questions, let er rip. We just got done doing some really interesting saddle testing with a pressure scanner!

OOH! OOH! Data! I want data!
Trek funded some studies I was able to get a hold of, but I found their protocol to be pretty badly flawed. When a rep was demo-ing their amazing new concept in women's saddles at a shin-dig in SF, the only other woman in the group and I were both grimacing in anticipatory pain. (they've since trashed their amazing new concept and wisely moved on to a different but assuredly equally amazing new concept)

Is Specialized's data going to be trade secret, or will it be published? Can you share? (I won't tell, I promise!)

[Kris]

I was over on the Commuters thread reading about hair problems, and thought, "Maybe this is a problem some company could work on." And then I thought of this thread. So here's my question for Specialized: Since a lot of women are reluctant to ride, or to ride more often, because they don't want to have flat, frizzy or wet hair with dents in it when they get where they're going, are there any helmets or other products that will help us have work-worthy hairdos, and, if not, could you put someone to work on inventing some?
I'm aware that many women couldn't care less, but if we want more people out of their air-conditioned cars and on bikes, someone needs to address this.

[SpinSpinSugar]

Hi Rachel. My question is - why does Specialized not produce a WSD steel road/touring bike? My local specialized dealer told me "Oh... you're looking for steel? Hmmmmm.... no..... nope.. nothing in steel."

There are racks and rows of Carbon & Aluminum WSD bikes, but not steel? It's a shame because I'm having a devil of a time trying to find a bike that fits.. One of the size 51cm WSD aluminum models fit me like a glove.... (can't remember which) but I would never buy an Aluminum bike for touring in a million years.

Surely not all women are interested in being roadies only?

/Rant over

SpinSpinSugar

[Eden]

I know you're in the mountain bike division, so this isn't really your field, but my question is why does it look like you've all taken two steps back with your women's racing bikes? Last year you finally had small bikes equal to the men's models. Now I see the new Amira only goes up to the "Expert" level model and comes with a compact crank standard. Give us a little credit...

[Bluetree]

I know you're in the mountain bike division, so this isn't really your field, but my question is why does it look like you've all taken two steps back with your women's racing bikes? Last year you finally had small bikes equal to the men's models. Now I see the new Amira only goes up to the "Expert" level model and comes with a compact crank standard. Give us a little credit...

@Eden
My dealer says he can deliver me a 44cm S-Works Amira frameset by November. Apparently, it is the lightest frame in Spesh's lineup, and since their lightest Tarmac is out of the box at 13.9, it should be something. But yeah, it's a compact.

@Smilingcat
Arundel carbon sideloading cages are very secure. If you would like to try them out, I have an extra pair you can borrow. But I agree, since Spec offers some of the smallest size frames, they could have thought about the cages more. (I also have an extra 143 Ruby saddle).

Comments/questions...
• No pinky flowery stuff for me. I would go custom before I rode something stereotypically "girly"

• Spec's clothing line is not up to the quality of their bikes. Designs are uninspring and seem tailored towards casual riders. No BIB shorts for women? Come on...

• As much as I like the patented BB on my S-Works Ruby, I wish they would make it a standard BB30 so I can use other cranksets with gluing in a sleeve. The S-Works chainrings don't work with Campy chains as well as the FSA and SRAM cranksets on my other bikes.

• I was interested in the integrated Ruby Barmac... Until I found out that is was actually heavier than my Ruby handlebar-stem combo. That seems counterproductive. Will this be improved, or will the Barmac be continued as a blingy novelty?

• After countless saddle/handlebar changes, all of my bikes now have Ruby SL saddles and Ruby 38cm carbon bars. Your products rock.

•

[rlambert]

I was over on the Commuters thread reading about hair problems, and thought, "Maybe this is a problem some company could work on." And then I thought of this thread. So here's my question for Specialized: Since a lot of women are reluctant to ride, or to ride more often, because they don't want to have flat, frizzy or wet hair with dents in it when they get where they're going, are there any helmets or other products that will help us have work-worthy hairdos, and, if not, could you put someone to work on inventing some?
I'm aware that many women couldn't care less, but if we want more people out of their air-conditioned cars and on bikes, someone needs to address this.

While I totally understand this question and think it is very valid, did any of you ever see the clip from Scrubs and the "Hairmet"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0rGoWtF-hs

I have however, passed your request and suggestions off to our helmet development team. I agree that it would be a great way to encourage people who otherwise wouldn't commute to have one less reason not to!

[spazzdog]

see my post in the hair thread...

spazz

[aicabsolut]

I don't have any questions right now, but I have some comments.

The BG Pro gloves need to go back to how they were a couple years ago (before the weird vents in the thumb). Now they are really tight at the knuckles for what used to be the right size (and the next size up is huge). The thumb vent things detract from the soft snot rag material on the thumb. I have 2 pairs of the older style, but they don't last very long. If it helps, I wear men's. Women's gloves don't fit me in pretty much any brand.

I'm really excited that women FINALLY get an S-works road shoe. However, I wish the price was a bit closer to the Pro.

Oh, wait, here's a question. Why do the Toupe and Ruby saddles have that plastic nose tip? Is that ever going away? I've seen the new Toupe has a slightly smaller one. I've read a lot of complaints on this board and other cycling forums about this feature. It really sucks to be mid-sprint and to have that point occasionally jab me in the thigh.

[rlambert]

Welcome! I'm new too and love reading the posts. I have learned so much. I ride a Cannondale but wear almost all Specialized stuff. Silly, I know but I love what Specialized does for women. Have been glancing at the 2010 Specialized Riata shoes that support the Susan Komen Foundation.

That's awesome! The Riata were my first pair of clipless shoes! I used them on a road bike and then started mountain biking in them. I upgraded a few years ago, but kept them for so long as my back-up pair.