To go Custom or not...do today's mass-produced OTS bikes allow good enough geometry?

[TigerMom]

Thanks to all your wise advice, I made the jump and bought a 2013 Ruby Comp Compact yesterday. I test rode it for 20 miles yesterday. Rode very nicely; no digital shifting needed, just as you all advised. I feel like I owe all of you who responded a great big hug of gratitude for talking me off the ledge. After all your responses, I went back to the custom bike shop prepared to let the owner know I was leaning strongly toward off-the-rack; however, they had prepped two shop Seven bikes to fit us very closely (we got our fittings done here so they knew exactly what we needed for geometry) and told us to go out and take however long a ride we wanted. DH's was a pure ti bike and mine was a ti-carbon composite with digital shifters. We took them on a decent ride along the great hwy and up and down some healthy hills, through the Presidio, Golden Gate park and back into the heart of the city. We fell in love with these bikes - they were luxurious rides. There is no doubt about their quality. The rides felt phenomenal. Returning to the shop and after talking to the owner, we (my husband more so than I) again leaned toward custom but somehow now we were looking at each buying an $8k bike. It was getting way too crazy. Yeah, you read right -- we were thinking about plunking down $16k.

Fortunately, I shook myself out of our trances, and returned to this forum and reread the responses, gave serious thought to what we were contemplating and decided to get my and my dh's butts back to the lbs to try and ride a bike many of you would approve as a more-than-sufficient starter road bike. Test riding the Ruby Comp Compact was mind-clearing. I decided mid-ride that this was my first road bike. My dh test rode the Roubaix along with me. We took some decent climbs and descents and both almost simultaneously recognized that these bikes were great for our purposes. He ended up buying a 2013 Roubaix Expert as well. For less than the price of one custom, we got two very good OTR bikes to enjoy together and with which to grow as cyclists.

AND BEST OF ALL, I GET MY KITCHEN PANTRY + SMALL REMODEL! I'm so thrilled. Miranda --- you are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT when you said I use my kitchen way more!!! I am thrilled about getting my pantry and upgrading my cabinetry. The small remodel job costs the same as one custom bike so in effect, we got two bikes that meet our needs nicely AND my kitchen remodel. I am so happy!!! Thanks, Ladies. You are wonderful. Collectively you make this forum an awesome resource. I actually cannot tell you which one I'm more excited about - picking up our new bikes this weekend or having my kitchen improved! Oh, and this includes a small wine cooler.... <happy happy dance>

Wow! You now have the best of both worlds. Awesome "starter" road bikes AND a kitchen remodel. If you have leftover money, you can get yourself another present of lighter, faster wheelsets.

Pictures please!
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2012 Specialized Amira Elite, upgraded carbon handle bars, Jett saddle 143mm switched to 145mm 2012 Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow saddle

2011 Specialized Ariel Sport,suspension post,Serfas Rx Women's Microfiber saddle

[SFLiz]

Thanks, Emily and TigerMom. I'll post pics after I pick the bike up this weekend. Can't wait to ride it. Pics of my kitchen upgrade will take a few weeks, if anyone is interested. Work won't start for at least a week or two.

[SFLiz]

Enjoyed wonderful weather Saturday on a fab 45-mile ride through Marin Co. Was worried about poorer performance on climbs since I didn't get the Amira but my Rubes climbed like a champ up 14% grades with still a gear unused. Pure happiness. Can't wait for the weekend again. No pics of kitchen work yet - work starts this Thursday.

[TigerMom]

Enjoyed wonderful weather Saturday on a fab 45-mile ride through Marin Co. Was worried about poorer performance on climbs since I didn't get the Amira but my Rubes climbed like a champ up 14% grades with still a gear unused. Pure happiness. Can't wait for the weekend again. No pics of kitchen work yet - work starts this Thursday.

You must be super strong to climb up 14% grade with still one unused gear. Congrats on your new bike!

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2012 Specialized Amira Elite, upgraded carbon handle bars, Jett saddle 143mm switched to 145mm 2012 Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow saddle
2010 Santa Cruz Juliana with R kit and Crampon pedals
2011 Specialized Ariel Sport,suspension post,Serfas Rx Women's Microfiber saddle (sold)