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

[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]

Hey Everybody,

First off, thank you all for the questions and comments, they are so insightful. I have only answered a handful of the questions and we are going to answer the rest of them with a video reply from Eron Chorney, our women's brand manager. I really appreciate how thorough all the feedback has been as well as all the comments on product and colors and graphics. We will post it up on here by the middle of this week and will include answers to saddle questions, road bikes, bottle cages and colors and graphics. Thanks again!

Rachael

[SadieKate]

Comments/questions...
• 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...

Yeah, but their Enduro short rocks. It is the only mtb short with decent length inseam and back seat seam -- and fits me without resorting to a stupid and unflattering elastic waistband. I have found no other short that fits the bill.

Now, if Specialized would allow mail order so I could buy from TE and sell the shell and inner liner separately, I'd be a happy camper. I'm paying $120 for a shell and storing the liner on the shelf because, as usual, the liner and the shell aren't sized the same. How about 60 bucks for each?

[Becky]

Yeah, but their Enduro short rocks. It is the only mtb short with decent length inseam and back seat seam -- and fits me without resorting to a stupid and unflattering elastic waistband. I have found no other short that fits the bill.

Now, if Specialized would allow mail order so I could buy from TE and sell the shell and inner liner separately, I'd be a happy camper. I'm paying $120 for a shell and storing the liner on the shelf because, as usual, the liner and the shell aren't sized the same. How about 60 bucks for each?

It's not just Specialized. This seems to plague most women's mtb shorts. They're often silly short, or the inner liner is terrible. The only decent mtb short I've found is the Sugoi Gusta, but the liner is so-so (for me), and it's hard to justify $120 for the outer short alone.

You can buy lycra shorts in different lengths, why not mtb shorts?

[Susan Otcenas]

Ladies,

I'd like to chime in here to discuss the general theme of this thread.

Jeff & I have been talking about this thread in some detail and are quite conflicted about it. On the one hand, our mission is to advance women's cycling and part of the way to do that is to have great discussions like this one regarding what kinds of products do and don't work for us as cyclists, specifically as female cyclists. On the other hand, we do not permit commercial posts on this forum. While being helpful, Rachel is clearly "on company time" with a goal to actively promote Specialized products and services, talking about producing videos, etc. I think this potentially violates the "no advertising" rules. We have other industry folks on this list who are active participants sharing their knowledge without crossing the line into commercialism.

I don't think we want the forums to turn into a market research / marketing vehicle for every cycling company out there. If we permit threads such as this, where do we draw the line? We are receiving PMs from people who feel the line *has* been crossed here and we need to be sensitive to that.

This is a community, so we want to hear from YOU about how you feel on this subject. I'll ask that you keep it civil. :-) No final decisions have been made, so please let us know what you think. Thanks ladies!


Susan

[BellaMTB]

This thread seems to have gone in several different directions, but I just wanted to add my comments about the color choices on WSD bikes - I agree with several of the previous posts about not liking the obviously "girly" color schemes (esp. pink) - probably a visceral reaction from childhood experiences. Aside from that, I think the practical consideration of resale value is also important (probably harder to sell a pink bike). I realize you can't please everyone, but my main complaint is that many of the bikes (especially higher-end) only come in one color. If I don't like that color, I won't buy it. I am very particular about the colors I will buy. I'd like to add that I do like the subtle monochromatic patterns (e.g. "Tribal") on some of the new Specialized 2010 WSD bikes.

Now for my last LBS bike color experience: I was shopping for a higher-end Specialized MTB a few years back and politely asked the sales manager if the model I was looking at came in any other color. He stared at me and replied: "Guys don't care." !!!?? Needless to say I bought my bike elsewhere.

(re. rlambert's participation - OK by me, though I am new here.)

[teigyr]

After looking at this all, I have to agree with Susan. While the powers that be here are very patient, I think we all forget what this website and forum are. I didn't realize that TE doesn't sell Specialized products (at least I don't think so?) and using this forum doesn't appear to be 100% ethical.

I have nothing against Rachel or Specialized and I understand why the TE message boards would be a prime group of people to contact. I also think it was pushing boundaries, a bit.

[aicabsolut]

@Eden


• 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.

psst Bluetree, you can use a standard BB30 crank on a specialized frame. Any sleeve insert would adapt it to for an English or Italian external BB. While Specialized says their oversized BB isn't "exactly" a BB30, I've seen plenty of SRAM Red BB30 cranks, SRMs and the like work just fine on Specialized bikes, because people often want to swap out the cranks on a complete team bike or whatever because early generation Sworks cranks got a pretty bad rap, or because they want to use an SRM.

[Bluetree]

psst Bluetree, you can use a standard BB30 crank on a specialized frame. Any sleeve insert would adapt it to for an English or Italian external BB. While Specialized says their oversized BB isn't "exactly" a BB30, I've seen plenty of SRAM Red BB30 cranks, SRMs and the like work just fine on Specialized bikes, because people often want to swap out the cranks on a complete team bike or whatever because early generation Sworks cranks got a pretty bad rap, or because they want to use an SRM.

Inserting a sleeve for a BB30 isn't a big issue for me. But a couple of mechanic-friends have told me was a PITA it is to remove a glued sleeve from an S-Works frame. Since an aftermarket S-works crankset has little resale value, I'd like to put it back on the bike if/when I flip it for another model. My gripe is mainly that I wished Spec would conform with the BB30, which is rapidly becoming industry standard. Same with their distinct bolt pattern that won't let me use different rings. Its like Pinarello and their weirdly sized seatposts... I keep thinking "why?"

(Keep in mind that I have the same non-conformity complaints about Internet browsers and clothing dress sizes)

[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.