Felt ZW6 vs. Specialized Ruby

[luvmyguys]

Which Ruby?

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/road/ruby

It looks like the Felt has Tiagra components, but the Ruby might have better components depending on the model you're looking at.

Sorry - the basic Ruby Compact. Thanks!

The Zertz inserts seem to be a difference - what are those again? (Sorry for the newb questions). I guess I'm just trying to figure out why the difference in price - what am I looking for in terms of seeing value? Is the make-up of the carbon different? Is it a name recognition thing?

[MGM]

These are both fine bikes. Felt makes a good bike at a very good price, and the carbon Z frame rides really nice. The tiagra components, though not high end, will be just fine if maintained. The price IS really good for a carbon frame!

The Ruby ride is magical, imo. Okay, I have a Ruby, I'm prejudiced . When you see someone riding a Ruby/Roubaix, the bike appears to be kind of gliding or floaty. It's hard to explain. Suffice it to say that the shock and vibration dampening technology used on the bike works. It's considered a "plush" road bike. The ride of the Ruby is not really much like the Dolce, though the frame geometry is the same. I had just the opposite problem from you, I couldn't find a tall enough frame to try (54cm). I tried a Dolce and a Roubaix (men's) in my size. I drove 3 hours away to another state to try the Ruby in my size.

I think the model Ruby you're looking at has SRAM Apex? If so, you will need to ride Apex to see if you like it. The spacing between teeth is larger, so you will get noisier and more abrupt shifting. You may actually prefer the shifting levers, which are comfortable for smaller hands.

Both bikes have what's considered relaxed geometry, so you should find both to be fairly comfortable of a riding position. One or the other frame geometry may suit you a little better. Specialized IS priced higher than Felt, but they make a good bike for the money, and I've not been unhappy that I paid more, because I LOVE my bike. That's what you want to do. Find the bike you love and you won't regret what it cost you.

[Jo-n-NY]

I think the Apex is equal to the Shimano 105 which is an upgrade from Tiagra. I have always rode with Shimano until Apex came the Dolce that I won and was not sure if I liked but as it turns out after getting use to the difference I like it very much. The shifting with Sram is very intuitive, in my opinion anyway.

[Koronin]

I have a Felt, but mine is the F series not the ZW series. I love my Felt, but everyone is a bit different in what they need and what feels right for them. I tried the Dolce (and from what I could tell the Ruby and Dolce have the same geometry) and felt cramped on it, where as soon as I got on the Felt it just felt right. I didn't get to try the Ameria since they didn't have one in my size.