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

[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!)

[rlambert]

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!)

We are trying to get some pics or video of the demonstration and testing here soon. It is super interesting to watch. The craziest part is how aware women are of exactly what is bothering them. They will describe something and sure enough it is right there substantiated on the screen!

[Trek420]

The craziest part is how aware women are of exactly what is bothering them. They will describe something and sure enough it is right there substantiated on the screen!

What a surprise. Women say "ow ow ow that hurts!" and by dang gum it does

Thank you for the shoes I have a broken toe and can't wear road shoes anymore or at least have not found a pair that don't cramp my boo boo toe. Specialized Tahoe are supportive, fit nice and tight and still room for that one broken toe. Without 'em I'd be wearing cycling sandals, or buying two pair of shoes to have two different sizes and then trying to sell the spare shoe on TE not that there's anything wrong with that.

Thank you!!

I have one question: Bike Snob NY thinks this video:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=33018

is produced by Performance bike co. Any inside scoop?

[crazycanuck]

Hey Rachael,

I love the Spec BG Gloves BUT please stop making them ONLY IN BLUE with flowery stuff on them!!!! (Also, i'm not sure what the Australian market gets compared to the US market??)

I'm not a girly girl & don't like blue stuff. Please continue to make them in black.

Other than that, tis coolio that you're asking opinions!!!

C

[OakLeaf]

Welcome - sorry you kind of got off on the wrong foot with some people, but yeah - the best way to become part of this community is to jump in and talk about YOUR riding, not ours! But as to your post, are you looking for questions or requests? Because I think a lot of us have requests...

I do have a question though. How exactly are your saddles measured? I've been riding a 155 mm Lithia and doing pretty much okay with it (although I would have a couple of requests for a different saddle...) but when I measured it, I really couldn't come up with 155 mm any place. I just got a Jett that I haven't tried yet, and it says 155 mm also, but looks narrower in back than the Lithia. If it turns out when I ride it that it really is narrower than the Lithia, I'm going to have to send it back - the Lithia is just barely wide enough for me.

[Triskeliongirl]

I have a sadde question. I know very little about specialized saddles, but I am always on the lookout for a saddle that supports me like the brooks finesse (so the width and T-shape is good) but has longer rails in the front for more setback, and is lighter in weight for performance. Do you folks make such a thing, or are you thinking about such things? I find most saddles out there are too narrow for my sit bones.

[rlambert]

Welcome - sorry you kind of got off on the wrong foot with some people, but yeah - the best way to become part of this community is to jump in and talk about YOUR riding, not ours! But as to your post, are you looking for questions or requests? Because I think a lot of us have requests...

I do have a question though. How exactly are your saddles measured? I've been riding a 155 mm Lithia and doing pretty much okay with it (although I would have a couple of requests for a different saddle...) but when I measured it, I really couldn't come up with 155 mm any place. I just got a Jett that I haven't tried yet, and it says 155 mm also, but looks narrower in back than the Lithia. If it turns out when I ride it that it really is narrower than the Lithia, I'm going to have to send it back - the Lithia is just barely wide enough for me.

Thanks so much for the question. To answer it, we measure our saddle width from the widest area on the saddle. A lot of times it is helpful to measure it from the underside in order to visually be able to see where the widest spot is. We just launched a new Saddle Test program with our local Specialized dealers that should be available at dealers in September. It is a way to try the saddles out without having to purchase them. The width of the Jett and the Lithia will be the same, but the amount of padding will obviously be quite different which can visually alter how wide it looks. I hope this answers your question. If you have any further questions, please let me know!

[rlambert]

What a surprise. Women say "ow ow ow that hurts!" and by dang gum it does

Thank you for the shoes I have a broken toe and can't wear road shoes anymore or at least have not found a pair that don't cramp my boo boo toe. Specialized Tahoe are supportive, fit nice and tight and still room for that one broken toe. Without 'em I'd be wearing cycling sandals, or buying two pair of shoes to have two different sizes and then trying to sell the spare shoe on TE not that there's anything wrong with that.

Thank you!!

I have one question: Bike Snob NY thinks this video:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=33018

is produced by Performance bike co. Any inside scoop?

HA! We have all been sending that around here too. I wish I knew who made that because it is truly hilarious!

[smilingcat]

Hi Rachel,

I occasionally ride my Transition Pro (2007??) equipped with SRAM groupo and with Toupe seat. I don't take it out on a group ride because of safety issue.

My other bike also has Toupe. Both of my toupes' have Ti rail. and I have a spare Jett saddle.

I don't know why but I found the Toupe to be bit more comfortable then the Jett130 and the Jet is for women while the Toupe is for men. Equivalent to Toupe is the ruby saddle. Am bit nervous about spending more money to try out the Ruby.

First set of question. I've asked and really didn't get an answer from LBS.
Soo what's the difference between Ruby and Toupe? Is it just marketing or something different in construction?

Second thing. I'm bit peeved with my small transition pro frame. I wanted to point out the problems to the gals at 2008 Cindrella classic ride, the gals manning the booth just blew me off when I wanted to let them know about the problem. Sooo, please pass this on.
The nuts brazed on the frame for the water bottle cage needs to be located better. Only cage I can put on the frame and still be able to put a bottle in/out would be a side mount cage where the bottle comes in and out from the side and not from the top. I'm not about to use a "side entry" cage for fear of dropping my bottle during a ride. Riding over your own bottle is one thing but not having any water is really I ended up mounting a tri style cage behind my saddle. It's mounted on the rail. It's a compromise. Please tell them when they make a smaller frame to check to make sure everything works right and not just cut the tubes shorter to make the frame smaller. On my frame the nuts needs to be placed closer to the bottom bracket. There is no way to mount two water bottles but having a choice between the seat tube or the down tube would be a nice touch. One water bottle is plenty for most TTs anyway. Both locations are too high up, too close to the top tube or the steer tube. Even a short water bottles would get jammed.

I don't think the bike is UCI legal because of the seat position. It is sitting forward for Tri and not set for TT. (I think I know what I'm talking about).

BTW, I love the color scheme on my frame it's metallic red and greyish silver.

Thanks for letting me vent, and +1 with Eden. I ride 39/53 chain ring and now that I'm getting OLDER, I may think about using a compact double. but not yet. Give us a choice.

[Triskeliongirl]

Smiling cat, FYI I have arundel brand side entry cages http://www.arundelbike.com/sideloader.html?p=1.1.1.3
on my 48 cm cervelo RS, and have never had a problem with the bottles falling out.

I actually like them a lot more than top loaders, even when there is 'room' for them on a small frame, as they are more natural for getting the bottles in and out.

My gripe with specialized bikes is the seat tube angles are way too steep for me on the smaller sizes. I would have loved to get a ruby, but the cerevelo was the only bike with a slack enough seat tube angle for me to get a properly set up KOP.

[SadieKate]

I have one question: Bike Snob NY thinks this video:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=33018

is produced by Performance bike co. Any inside scoop?

HA! We have all been sending that around here too. I wish I knew who made that because it is truly hilarious!

Youtube shows Robin Moore and one of the videos shows that he is from Santa Cruz. Voila! Google is your friend. Perhaps Bike Snob should try it.

http://www.robinmooreproductions.com/Home.html