Opinions on Specialized Ruby?

[Catrin]

I don't know anything about the Kuota, but the Ruby has inserts to absorb road vibrations. I wouldn't be surprised if that affected the way it rides. Also I'm wondering if the Kuota seems skittish because it is designed to be a faster, more responsive bike.

+1 on trying wider tires on the Kuota. Also you might try a lower psi in them. How much do you usually inflate them?

Don't know if they are the same type of inserts or not. My Trek 7.6 FX had those, and I had more road-buzz on that bike than any of my others. Of course, all of my others WERE steel bikes so.... never mind Concur on trying wider tires and lowering the PSI.

[Owlie]

The Ruby is a "plush" road bike, so it's designed to be a bit more upright and stable, at the sacrifice of some speed. While I don't know anything about the Kuota, it might be a more aggressive bike, so it seems twitchy. (The biggest thing that helps with that is relaxing!) The gearing is probably different. While they may have the same number of gears (2x10, in all likelihood), the spread is probably different. The "plush"/endurance bikes tend to be geared lower, whereas your Kuota may be geared higher.

The good news? If you like the saddle on the Ruby, that's not a hard thing to buy.

[Crankin]

Also, getting the shortest and shallowest handlebars I could find helped my confidence immensely. I really don't find the Kuota any more skittish than the Trek 5200 (pre-Madone version) I had for the 2 years before I had the Kuota. It is incredibly responsive and I love the feel of the tight geometry. Some would say it's too small for me, but, no, it makes me feel perfectly balanced. Once I get *on* my other bike, I feel fine, but even though it's custom, I still have to say to myself "push yourself up," when I start riding the Guru. I feel like the saddle is too high up, even though it's not, and I feel fine when riding. The position is just so different. Both have the same drop bar, but I feel "high up" on the Guru and just right, all scrunched in on the Kuota.

[ny biker]

If anyone wants to look for shallower bars, my research found the Bontrager VR-S (formerly the VR-WSD) to have the shortest reach and drop. And they're not expensive.

(This reminds me, I ordered my narrower bars a while ago but haven't heard from the LBS about them. I need to remember to call them tomorrow.)

[Crankin]

There are a few that have the same dimensions as the Botranger. I have the Specialized one, only because when I ordered the Salsa, the shop couldn't get it and said the Specialized was exactly the same. It is, it's not expensive, either, unless you get the carbon one. At this point, I don't care. I have a cheap alu bar on a carbon and titanium bike. What you do have to be careful of, is that there is a huge variation in the dimensions of bars that are called short and shallow.The one the LBS put on my Guru where NOT anywhere near as shallow, and not as short either. I argued with them for 2 years, until I took matters into my own hands and just bought the same ones I had on the other bike. Sold the fancy carbon ones to a guy, who thought they would be perfect for him.

[Helene2013]

To answer/comment:

My tires on the Kuota are Gatorskin already 25cm. Love them. The PSI should be 120 and we dropped to 110 but I'm heavy-weight and I can't drop more than this for fear of flat tires. If I could put 100 I would but hubby I'd be getting a flat easier as our roads are bad. But 110 is better than 120. 120 I felt every bump on the road and the bike would jerk up and my back would feel every "jump". At 110 it is much smoother already.

Crankin,
This is how I felt too on the Ruby. Whatever gear I chose, it was always too hard or too easy, no matter which crank set my husband got me on. Bigger gear was so hard to pedal too. Totally different from my Kuota. When I tested the Ruby bike on Sunday, I had my Kuota wheels on (American Classics Aero), so the crank, etc were the same. It's just the stroke and keeping it on speed that was very hard. The second I stopped pedaling, the bike would slow down instantly vs where the Kuota would keep going on and on...just like the Energizer bunny. hihi . Felt as if I had brakes on, and of course nothing was putting the brakes on and the pads were not touching the wheels.

NY Biker,
Funny you mention the inserts as a guy today at hubby's job said exactly that about the Ruby. The fact that you have those inserts, will somehow slow you down. But heck...how much slowing down could it take you! I guess I am so used just giving one stroke of pedal on the Kuota and it's off like a Ferrari, that I felt like a Honda Fit with the Ruby. hihi

Catrin,
The Ruby was a dream to ride. I loved the feeling of it and would have bought it in a heart beat. But getting used to a slow-hard to pedal bike, I am not so sure after having the feel of a Kuota. Talk about being torned between two lovers. hahaha

I am so not ready to get rid of my Pink Lady that I am willing to give it a go again next weekend, in the same trail I have used the past 2 weekends...for comparaison again! Boy when you kick into that Kuota, it is gone and rides like the wind! I'll try to relax my handle on it and not think that it is a reactive bike.

I think I will ask the store to get me that Ruby saddle Women's Lithia Comp Gel (will do price research before asking them - just in case - don't want to get ripped off although they are very good to us on prices - I love to be prepared hihi). I loved it very much. Husband though (while reading your replies) said may the saddle is so soft (which is true compared to the kuota's) that I can bounce more on it (without having noticed during my ride) and it also created friction and slowed me down. So many things plus the basic could have been in the equation.

Crankin,
I did have installed on the Kuota the shallowest bars we could get during the winter. I practiced on the trainer and I feel comfy. But true, I am much lower in the front than with the Ruby, but not that much. Would be interesting to see the %.

I used to think (my pre-age on bike notions) that all road bikes were the same. NOT! hahaha

But I'm just wondering if my energy level was down from riding 30km the day before (which was about 1.5h)...it was such a slow smooth ride just to test the bike. I felt great Saturday, even after the ride. And yesterday I was top shape when I started and never felt out of shape, but because I was pushing so much to get some speed, and having to keep my cadence over 100 to get a decent speed (at 26-28km/h on flats - for me it is fast ) that it "killed" me and I was just exhausted.

I will keep riding my Kuota. I don't know what other bike to try if even a Sports EQ Euro can't do it. My LBS that I love has a few brand names in stock, but they are mostly a Specialized one. They have tons of that brand. Others are mostly Cervélos and can't recall other big names. I may want to ask them to get me a Cyclotouring and see...nothing to lose at this point in trying.

Thank you all for your input. You've been a great help...and support!

[Crankin]

Helene, it most definitely is the difference the gear ratios, from what you just said, because that's exactly how I felt. You may have been tired, but even though you are fit (as am I), I think there are just some of us that need to work harder or need more time to transition to differences like this. Eventually, I ended up using the harder gear combo on the Guru. I built my strength doing this. Now, it's a no brainer. For me, the obvious difference was the Kuota is a triple and the Guru is a compact double, with mountain gearing. So, to get those super low gears, I had to give up my favorite gear ratio.
FYI, my cadence is often over 100, and generally is around 80-90. It might be good for you to practice high speed cadence drills, so you just feel more comfortable with this.

[Helene2013]

Crankin

I'll have this checked out by hubby, and LBS (gear ratios). But if I am remembering well, he said he checked the pedals, the gears, etc and they were the same on them. Going to bring the bike back to shop tonight (as it was a trial for the past weekend) and I'll have a chance to talk with owners if they are there.

When I called him yesterday afternoon I told him the big picture: super fun bike to ride but so slow and he did not have an explanation but that I may have been tired from my previous day ride. For me harder to believe as we did not push much, no hills, it was just a fun light 28km ride. But all is possible in life. My husband also measured the bikes bars and some are shorter or longer. The kuota is a 49cm and the Ruby is 51. The kuota is also lighter. Not by much but is. So in the end, I think all adds up.

As for training for higher cadence, I do that at least 3x a week (I work with a personal trainer since January).

This week is a moderate training, next week will be the toughest and the 3rd week (week before that 135km on June14 is very very easy)

Tonight is an easy training (60 minute) as I had 2 rides this weekend and was sick with migraine yesterday (still headache this morning as I type this) but it goes like this

Warm up
20 min
- 5 min C90 I3
- 2 min C95 I3
- 2 min C100 I3
- 5 min C90 I3
- 2 min (sprint max speed I can get in higher cadence possible to not be jumping on saddle 10 sec every 30 sec)
- 2 min PROG every 15 sec (changing to higher gear every 15 seconds)
- 2 min I1

Technic/training
3x
I = Intensity of work out (1 easy - 10 meaning I have to stop or I'll die lol )
1’30’’ I5 / 45’’ I1 / 45’’ C115
1' I6 / 30’’ I1/ 1’ hands in drops
1’30’’ I5 / 45’’ I1 /
30’’ Left leg / 30’’ Right Leg (cycling with only one leg - so unclipping the other one)
30’’ I6 Force / 30’’ I1 / 30" Cadence max

3 minute relax between sets

Return to calm and stretching
10 min

[Helene2013]

Amira is a bit too high in my budget. Already spent over $3k for the Kuota and exchanging it I'm already losing money. So I'm trying to remain in the Ruby range for $$$.

I could look for a Synapse but that would mean changing LBS. No choice if that's the way I need to go. And even look into Pinarello. Haven't seen that many yet in Montreal.

[Helene2013]

I hear you on tablets...hate typing on those, especially if word corrector is on and I toggle between French and English. ARgghh

It's not an emergency to change my bike. I can live with it for now, just not ride it as much outdoor as I don't like the nervousness of it with the front wheel. Too bad as it is the only thing I don't like about the bike. It is perfect on the rock and roll trainer. So outdoor is mostly on weekends as I have no time to really go on long rides weekdays. Quicker for me to squeeze in a tight-hard training inside combining all I need.

I want to take my time in finding another one as I will keep it for a long time. Probably my only bike til I die. hihi . I'm not much into changing for changing either. So I want to take the right decision in the next one. Not make the costly mistake I did with my Kuota.

I'm lucky enough in the LBS I have now that they lend me one for weekend. Going to another place will certainly not happen. I never signed a discharge paper, nothing on a $2300 bike! But we bought over $13,000 on bike stuff in just under a year! So they know where I am. hihi

Just too bad they are limited in brands and most are high-ends too.

[Helene2013]

Thank you again.

I checked and my LBS has the Amira, in all sizes, at the price you said. Which is in my price range too.

When I bring back my loaned tonight, I will ask owner about the Amira. I like the colour too. A plus! I can put my pink tape on it and it will still look good.

[Helene2013]

I just called the LBS owner and he is checking to see what he has in stock in a 51cm. I'll call him back. He said I could borrow one with pleasure for Saturday. Sunday is going to be too hot for me to ride. So I will call him back before lunch to see what would be available. Will see as I have to get fitted (again!) on that bike. They are truly patient with me. hihi

Thanks again for the guidance!

Edited as saw your note too late (too bad we don't get a message before posting a new reply that says another posted while you were typing!). I will look for a Pinarello test drive. Even if it is another dealer I have to go to. Nothing to lose for now.