Specialized Ariel?

[bcandy]

I was hoping for something that I could ride around the city paved bike paths but also take on packed dirt trails in the surrounding area. It sounds like this might be a good choice. Are there any downsides to the ariel? Did the handlebar grips bother you at all? Did you change them out?

[CamsShel]

The Ariel should handle both surfaces easily. I haven't changed anything...she is as she was made. The grips don't bother me, though I don't have anything to compare it to. :-) I was getting a little numbness in my pinkies at first, but once I got over my initial nervousness and stopped SQUEEZING, that went away.

The only downside I have found is that the gearing is low enough that I can't pedal fast enough on a down-hill...my husband zoomed past me, yelled, "keep pedaling!"...and I had to yell back "there's no resistance!" LOL On the other hand, the gearing is low enough that I can get UP _any_ hill around. (My husband joked that I could probably climb a wall with that gearing.) I don't know how to classify hills as far as categories or grades or anything, so I can't tell you what kind is too steep to keep pedaling down...but his bike computer said we were going somewhere around 35mph, if that helps at all.

Michelle in OK

[Lesley_x]

I nearly bought the specialized ariel. I found out, though, that there are two versions of the bike - the cheap one and the expensive one, and the cheap one which I would have got, had front suspension but it was unable to be locked out.

I figured it would be useful to have suspension that could lock out/be adjusted so I looked elsewhere

If that doesn't bother you though, I'm sure it would be excellent!

[bcandy]

I nearly bought the specialized ariel. I found out, though, that there are two versions of the bike - the cheap one and the expensive one, and the cheap one which I would have got, had front suspension but it was unable to be locked out.

I figured it would be useful to have suspension that could lock out/be adjusted so I looked elsewhere

If that doesn't bother you though, I'm sure it would be excellent!

Excuse my ignorance since I'm new to biking, but why would you want a front suspension that could be locked out? Also, what bike did you end up with?

[Lesley_x]

Excuse my ignorance since I'm new to biking, but why would you want a front suspension that could be locked out? Also, what bike did you end up with?

I'm new to biking as well but I went on advice I received from several bike shops. Supposedly front suspension takes the energy out of your pedalling, so when you're pedalling the work isn't all going to the wheels, some is going into the suspension. This is particularly relevant on uphill stretches, when your energy will be used to compress the suspension.

It's useful to lock it out on smooth sections of tarmac and uphill to get the most out of your pedalling. Great for bumpy sections of road, but I personally wanted the flexibility of locking it out

I ended up with a Giant Roam 2 W and so far it's been excellent.

[Kano]

I'm new to biking as well but I went on advice I received from several bike shops. Supposedly front suspension takes the energy out of your pedalling, so when you're pedalling the work isn't all going to the wheels, some is going into the suspension. This is particularly relevant on uphill stretches, when your energy will be used to compress the suspension. .

No one told me about this when we bought bikes a few years ago, but I sure noticed it! I used to tell DH that the suspension was sucking up all the power!

I've gone back to my old hybrid for grocery runs and riding with the grandkids, and have a lovely road bike for the really fun rides!

Karen in Boise

[bcandy]

No one told me about this when we bought bikes a few years ago, but I sure noticed it! I used to tell DH that the suspension was sucking up all the power!

I've gone back to my old hybrid for grocery runs and riding with the grandkids, and have a lovely road bike for the really fun rides!

Karen in Boise

Interesting. Could you estimate how much it cut down on your power? Wouldn't this depend on how the suspension was adjusted? I would love the input of others on this issue. Since reading your thoughts, I've googled the issue and found that some riders don't bother with lockout even when their bike is equipped with it. Is it worth the additional cost?