Opinions on Specialized Ruby?

[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