Opinions on Specialized Ruby?

[Helene2013]

Thank you. I did read the other thread. Very interesting, but complex too.

I dropped off the Ruby I tried this past weekend. And the fitter did say that the Ruby, although a very good bike, has no power on kick-offs compared to some other bikes. That is why I had many issues with it when doing stop and go, climbing hills or even stopped pedaling on flat and trouble getting it back on speed. He also would not recommend me to buy the saddle I liked so much on the Ruby and told me why. The Ruby has the Zertz vibration dampers and it bounces some when we hit "holes", etc. So it gives me the impression that the saddle is "softer" but it is due to the dampers. So getting it for my Kuota I may (will) be disappointed as it will be just as hard. It's good to know before spending money. I never thought about the shock absorbers making the saddle "feel" better.

He showed me the bike I will be borrowing Friday night for Saturday's ride (I could have taken it home tonight but did not want them to lose a sale if someone came in and wanted it before I test drive it - just fairness in my view). My husband likes it more than I do. hihi It's the bike used by the Spec/Lululemon women cycling team. Nice bike, just not my colour. Black with zebra lines, nah! But it comes in Ultegra. I still prefer the look of the Amira Sport (white with green stripes and green tape - tape I would change for pink or fushia to match my American Classics wheels that I keep).

Anyhow, I'm taking the Amira Expert for the test. They will do my fit Friday night so I can have a nice decent comfy ride on Saturday. If I like the feel of it, which they confirmed is way less agressive than my Kuota, I may try to get them to get me the Amira Sport and do the upgrade from 105 to Ultegra. May come more expensive but I get the colour I want, with the components upgraded. He said they did not have the Sport in stock because last year every woman wanted the Expert model.

Before moving earth, I will try the Expert and go from there.

Thank you all again for your input.

[Helene2013]

Sorry. Been a very long busy weekend.

Picked up the Amira Expert Friday night after work. Hubby tried it (for me) in a street near store to make sure all was in order before our 100km ride next day. He said the shifting system (new Ultegra) is unbelievable and we are in trouble (I would love the bike. haha)

Indeed...I took it for that spin. 1st 10km we were up (flat hill) facing winds at 15km/h. Rough climb. I'm still not that strong in hills/windy conditions. I complained all the way up. hahah But the bike is kicking into gears so well. A real turbo engine in there. haha Once I got used to the bike (always takes me a little while), trusted it, and got out of that opened fields winds I was kicking dust!

We rode 50km one way and most of it is up (false flats). I was able to maintain a good speed for me and when I needed acceleration the bike was giving it to me. Very very stable fast bike. What I did with this bike on the 1st ride, I never was able to do with the Kuota in a year. Kuota, I'm afraid of it as it is too reactive/nervous.

The Amira Expert is very stable. Hit a large bump at some point. I was speeding at about 26km/h going down a small hill. The bike was just pushed into the air, kept going straight and landed right back to the front where it was heading. No swinging left to right. Never felt out of control...and this was my 1st ride.

I never ever went fast on a bike before yesterday. A "real" cyclist passed us. I was already going 28-29km/h. He's tired and is stalling me. I can't really pass him yet (he had just done that and I felt I would have just provoked him) because the other side of bike path is not great (safe) just yet. I also see a very nice long hill (not too steep) way ahead. What's the point passing him if he's going to come and get me as I'm weak on hills. Well...I passed him at 30km/h. I was enjoying this sooooo much inside. Me passing a real cyclist and burning rubber! Yeah! The bike kicked into gears so well. I had good energy and he never came to get me. Even the hill I was impressed.

At some point....and this is miraculous for me.... I nailed a 39.2km/h (I want to keep my .2 ok...hahahaha I wanted to target 40...but I'll keep this for next time!). My god...what is happening to me. That is super fast for me. Small false flat down again. But heck.... I think my eyes were not big enough to look at my speedometer. I impressed myself. I fell in love with the bike then, I think. The bike totally controllable, eating the road. Wow. I could not keep the 39km/h for more than 8 minutes. But that is a LOT coming from me!!! Wow.

So you think I like this bike? You can bet! I want it now. haha Only thing is I hate the Zebra colour. Not my type at all. Hubby said to put my "pink" american classic wheels on, bar tape some pink or fushia colour and it will totally change the look. I'm not sure but I have to be fair and say the bike is a taker...forget the look. I feel super safe, confident and smiled all the way (but for that 1st 10km).

I did 100km, not tired but happy to have ended it. A bit achy at shoulders/neck area but it is my 1st 100km ever. And the fit was not optimal either but nothing negative at all to say from this bike. I was able to let go of the brake handles and ride with hands on the side (giving them a rest) and even one hand on the flat part of the handle while the other one was keeping near the brake. Don't ask me too much on 1st ride. haha But that is something I would not and was never able to do with the kuota as it has little stability from left/right. I would have crashed long time ago with the kuota. Geometry is just not for me/my style. It can be perfect for someone else, but stresses me too much and it shows in the end and makes me hate my rides all the time.

The ultegra system is a new ultegra type for 2014. My goodness...the shifting is amazing. I would not even want to have the di2 I thought I wanted (like hubby has). It's not even needed.

Anyway, I can go on and on...this is the bike that will fit me...and encourages me to go fast and still feel safe and steady.

Now I have to call the store owner tomorrow to see what deal he can do on my Kuota's trade-in (I bought it there and they all know issues I've had since Day 1). They're very good customer-service so I'm sure we'll get to something. But I'll be losing on the Kuota more than I'd think because I want to keep the wheels (they would keep the Fulcrum that is on Arima), etc... so to be continued. It is still a $4000 bike plus 15% tax. So nearly $5000. Expecting $1800 in trade-in. So there goes my summer vacation money. No choice to keep my campground reservation in Boston area for this summer. hihi No more money to travel to Minnesota, nor Nasvhille to visit friends. Oh well. You can't have it all they say. And once I buy a bike I truly like, it will be with me until I get to 70 probably...so another 20 years. Good deal in the long run. haha

[Helene2013]

I have the women version (Glamour) - 1st pic taken when we picked it up (handles have been changed to wider one (and are angled normal now - those were raised when I was injured at elbow)


I love my Kuota and would certainly keep it if it was not for the handling of it and never feeling "glued" to ground. Totally different experience with Ruby Sport (which sticks way too much haha ) and now the Amira Expert which is an in-between that I think suits me much better. So you may have nailed it 100% with the text extract. I do realize I chose the wrong bike to start. I did not know which real questions to ask then, and hubby and I fell in love with a bike look.

Lesson learned for sure: test the bike on a long stretch if you can, make sure the LBS knows what you intend to do and how truly experienced you are before selling you a bike not totally suited for you, even if you love its look!!! I've learned (and still learning) a lot from this experience. But will be wasting money on the re-sale and so much time and energy in trying to making zillions of changes to the bike, that did little in the end but frustrates me and make me want to stay on trainer instead of outside. hihi

Reading that article, it does say braking is waxed a bit...so true. They even changed the braking system for Shimano (instead of Kuota) because it would not brake fast enough. The Amira for instance is instant, with so little pressure I'm impressed. I had fun just braking Saturday. haha

So tomorrow night going to the bike shop and I'll find out how much the trade-in and new bike (Amira) will cost me in the end. I figure it's going to cost me a return of $2300...maybe more depending how much he gives me in taking back the Kuota, and since I keep my Americain Classic wheels - that came with Kuota - I may have to cough up even more, even if I don't keep the wheels that come with Amira.

TBC... But it is an excellent article. I think I'll go read reviews on Amira in case something's "wrong" before I spend again so much. But seriously, Amira after 100km ride, I would not have changed anything on it. All was perfect and loved the whole package. And it was not even fitted properly. Imagine!!!

[ny biker]

I trust my own 100km ride over any review.

The people writing the reviews may have different priorities, comfort levels, etc. If your own experience with the Amira indicates that it is a good bike for you, then that is the most important thing.

Good luck and have fun with it!!

[Helene2013]

Oh I know for reviews, you're better off trusting your own feelings/sensations on a bike. With the little riding (a one-day 100km in various road conditions - including hills, nice winds, etc.) it is just perfect. Even on 23mm tires. But I would put my 25mm on it for better comfort riding. With that riding done you either like it or not! No need to test more. It is a good fit for me (but for the price that is - but it is what it is!). At least at this point. And what I read just matches what I felt on that bike. At least most of it.

I just wanted to read for "issues" if encountered by those who tested it. So far so good.