ruby vs dolce!

[caligurl]

OMG! i had a post all typed out then hit a wrong key!

so here i go again!

jo-n-ny asked me about my dolce vs my ruby...

first i want to say that riding them is like night and day! on the dolce i always felt i was getting beat up by the rough roads... over time i just learned to accept that was how it was... i did finally get a comfy fit on my dolce (even though we found out that it was really too big for me..) we got a teeny, tiny, short stubby stem and most of my aches and pains went away! i have just short of 10,000 miles on my dolce! i had some worries about the ruby cuz of the seat and even with the smaller one (48).. fit...

well... so far i think the seat is going to be ok (but keep in mind i haven't done over 40 miles at one time on the ruby yet)... and i think we have the rest of the fit dialed in.. or almost dialed in.. i did have them get me a 90 stem vice the 100 that came on the bike... and we've been playing with the little inserts that come with the stem... trying first a +16... going to a -8 and currently riding on a -10 (with the stem itself turned up in the comfort position)... part of the issue with the stretch/length, i believe, is that the dura-ace horns are larger than the ultegra short reach ones i have on the dolce... hubby did some extensive measuring of both bikes and figured out that's why i needed the shorter stem on the ruby (and at least it's not stubby like on the dolce!)

as far as the ruby pro coming in a double... ya.. that was an issue for me, as i used my triple quite a bit on epic climbs like breathless agony, ride around the bear.... angeles crest, etc... i contemplated getting a compact.. (which the comp and expert versions of the ruby come stock with).. but looking at the gearing.. i would lose too much on the upper end in order to give me my climbing gears.... soooo we had the bike shop put on a triple dura-ace crank (and, of course long derailleur and triple shifter)... ("funny" thing is i've only used the granny gear once since having the bike.. and that was a particularly steep part of the climb to key's view!) i think a big reason for that is the rear gearing is different on the ruby than the dolce... more gears and i think one easier gear! so i like that! keeps me in the middle or even the large ring longer! but if you are planning on a comp or expert and are comfortable with a compact.. then you're all set!

i can't comment on the comfort of the comp and expert versions... i do know that each of the three are supposed to me made with different grades of carbon... the whole "good, better, best"... the pro's carbon is just below their best tarmac carbon... but i don't know what the grade of carbon does for hte ride smoothness.... all three are "roubaix's" designed to do rough roads ala the roubaix's namesake... so i would assume the comp and expert ride pretty smoothly too! also.. i've always read that wheels (and tire inflation) have a lot to do with ride quality... the pro comes with the dura-ace wheels... so that MAY add to the smoothness a bit too! and of course the ruby has lots of zertz stuff inserted!

all i know is i did notice an immediate difference in the ride quality, smoothness! so i would highly recommend it!

OH... and another big point... i have NO toe overlap and i have 70 wheels! when i was going to get a custom i was told i'd have EXTENSIVE toe overlap with 700 wheels and probably even have it with 650's!

apparently specialized made a special fork that is shaped so as to not have toe overlap!

i did notice that the ruby handlebars are a bit bigger than the dolce bars... uhm... bigger in that going from the top/hood area to the drops is a bit more... but not bad... and of course not a huge amount like larger "men" handlebars... (they pro handlebars are carbon.. not sure about the comp and expert without looking at the site/specs)

if you want to see pics of my ruby... i have a bunch in this thread: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=4591

if there's anything else anyone would like to know... feel free to ask!

[SadieKate]

part of the issue with the stretch/length, i believe, is that the dura-ace horns are larger than the ultegra short reach ones i have on the dolce... hubby did some extensive measuring of both bikes and figured out that's why i needed the shorter stem on the ruby (and at least it's not stubby like on the dolce!)

i did notice that the ruby handlebars are a bit bigger than the dolce bars... uhm... bigger in that going from the top/hood area to the drops is a bit more... but not bad... and of course not a huge amount like larger "men" handlebars... (they pro handlebars are carbon.. not sure about the comp and expert without looking at the site/specs)

Did hubby also measure the length of the bars front to rear? If the drop is longer the length is probably longer also. So you're getting increased cockpit length there as well the hoods.

Thanks for the nice review.

SK

PS - the fork probably doesn't cause toe overlap because of the "rake" combined with the head tube angle. Involves a lot of math and brain pain.

[caligurl]

Did hubby also measure the length of the bars front to rear? If the drop is longer the length is probably longer also. So you're getting increased cockpit length there as well the hoods.

Thanks for the nice review.

SK

PS - the fork probably doesn't cause toe overlap because of the "rake" combined with the head tube angle. Involves a lot of math and brain pain.

yes... he measured the bars (that's how we found out the ruby's were bigger! even though they look cute and small! the dolce's are smaller!)

i think after getting the 90... we got me to 2... centimeters??? longer than on the dolce... i didn't want to go down to a 75 or 80 stem! so we really hoped that my shoulders would stop griping! and so far.. with the -10 little insert.. *knock on wood* we're ok!

on the fork i'm just parroting what i read in a review about the ruby! lol! until i read that i didn't know why i didn't have toe overlap.. was just glad i didn't since i have a smaller frame now! brain pain isn't good! i just wanna ride!

[SadieKate]

Some bars are very short front to rear. You could look for one of those rather than going to a shorter stem. The top of the bar would be at the same distance from your saddle, but the hoods would be closer.

[caligurl]

i briefly contemplated that.. (different bars) but i'm not even sure anyone else makes smaller carbon bars.. i know there are a lot of aluminum bars available (including the dolce bars)... but i have an issue with putting aluminum bars on my carbon bike plus if we got it to fit with the 90.. i'm happy... especially since i was riding on... well.. i don't even know how short on the dolce! it pretty much went into the head tube and immediately into the bars! probably a 0!

[SadieKate]

I know, I know. I've got a Kestrel carbon bar on one bike and the reach is longer than the other bikes. To get shorter I'd have to go aluminum. Not that there aren't so really nice aluminum bars out there but the carbon is pretty. Besides, doesn't black carbon go with everything?

[caligurl]

Besides, doesn't black carbon go with everything?

yes it does! (plus it would be hard to justify buying a new component for a new bike unless i REALLY needed it for fit! i didn't have to pay for the stem.. they exchanged it out!)

[Jo-n-NY]

THank you so much Cali for the return post. Sorry, with this hectic time of year I don't get on the computer as much. Your Ruby is absolutely beautiful. I really love my Dolce Comp espcially the color with is a classy red.

You told me exactly what I wanted to know. I would eventullly look into the Ruby if the ride was significantly smoother. I think I will get another year of riding under my belt until I think of upgrading as I have not been back on my Dolce (except on the trainer) since my accident, but you left me with something to think about. I would opt to put a triple on it also.

I am sorry, I must have missed your original post. I love the pics and now it is nice to put a face with your posts.

I wish you much luck and many happy riding miles with your new Ruby.

JoAnn

[Selkie]

Hey Jo -- Why not just get new wheels if you want a smoother ride? I, too, have the classy Red Dolce Comp. It rides smoother than my Blue Dolce Elite, which I attribute, in part, to the better wheels. I'm thinking about treating the Blue Dolce--my workhorse--to new wheels when I take it in for a spring tune up in a couple of months.

[Jo-n-NY]

Thanks Suzanne,

My comp does ride like a dream. I just sometimes wonder when riding on a little rough roadway is a bike like the Ruby because of the carbon, how much different would it feel. Different wheels is something worth looking into. My husband always remarks that the wheels are one of the most important part of the bike.

"Classy red", what a perfect word to describe the color. I just love it!!!

Thanks again,
JoAnn

[caligurl]

you're welcome, jo-n-ny!

there's absolutely nothing wrong with the ruby! heck... i got almost 10,000 miles on mine before i got ruby! my dolce was very good to me (even being a tad bit too big!)