Yet Another Ruby Question...measurements

[Starfish]

I am curious about the proportions of those of you who have Rubies.

I am 5'6" with a 28.5/29" inseam. Legs aren't long.

Does anyone else with my type of proportions have and love a Ruby?

I have really small hands, so if I buy a men's bike, I will need to spend a good bit extra for bars and levers.Curious to know if any short-legged women have/love Rubies, and if so, did you have to mess with different stems, etc.

I know I have to go ride a lot of bikes, but I'm just curious.

Edited to add: There are few bike shops where I live, and one in particular I would like to give my business to if possible. They carry Specialized, and that is why I am asking specifically about the Ruby.

[Eden]

You may find that a non-WSD like the Tarmac or Roubaix fits you better. I'm the opposite of you. I have a 28.5/29ish inseam, but I'm only 5' even. The Ruby fits me well as it has a pretty short top tube for its size. With your longer torso the Ruby may feel cramped and small for you - but you never know until you try it.

Unless you've tried regular levers and they really don't work for you, I wouldn't discount them right away. I have several bikes, one (Not my Ruby) does have the "short reach" levers on it. To tell the truth I don't find them to be any easier to use or smaller feeling than any of my normal ones, and I don't have huge hands (lets face it at 5' nothing I don't have huge anything....). If you have narrow shoulders you may need to swap bars, but I'd hope that the shop would do that fairly inexpensively or even free for you if you are buying the bike new.

[kelownagirl]

I'm in between you two. 5'3" and 28" inseam. I tried the 47 (I think) Ruby last month and it felt ok. Didn't get fitted though so I'm really not much help.

LB - was it a 47 or a 49"???

[nonsmoker3]

I am 5'5" with a 29" inseam. I ride a 48 Ruby and absolutely love it. It fits me perfectly, like it was custom made for me. It is the compact double that I am trying to get used to.

[GLC1968]

At 5'6" with a 29" inseam, you obviously have a long torso (like me)...but how long are your arms? Mine are short, so even though my torso is long, my reach is not. I rode a Dolce Comp for over a year and it fit me pretty well. I also have a 28.5"/29" inseam (I'm just over 5'4"), but with my short arms, I still needed a shorter top tube (I had a 44cm). I'm thinking that if you have longer arms, it might feel too cramped for you. In that case, you might be better off with a non-WSD bike in a smaller size.

[michelem]

Hmmm . . . I think the WSD-type bikes like the Ruby are made for people with longer legs and shorter torsos - at least that is how I am built and I love my Ruby. I am 5'2" (on a "tall" day) and ride a 48" Ruby with an 80mm stem - interesting to see that nonsmoker3 is 3" taller than me and rides the same size Ruby. Just goes to show you have to get on the bike to see if it fits you . . .

[TriMom217]

I'm 5' 3.5" and ride a 51 cm Ruby. I have a 30" inseam, short torso, and a long reach. My previous road bike was a 47cm Allez which fit pretty well. The other think I love about the Ruby is the way the bars are sized for a woman. You mentioned that you have small hands, so you will love the way the bars are sized and shaped. I can ride the hoods and reach the brakes/shifters or I can ride in the drops and reach them as well.

I'm willing to bet that you can be fit on a Ruby.

[Starfish]

Thank you, this is interesting to me. I suspect a men's frame is better for me (although I have never measured my arms...really don't know how long they are!).

I currently have Shimano 105 levers and although not women's bars, some fairly shallow bars. I still have my brakes double shimmed, and it is not ideal braking, although nice to reach the levers. The short reach set-ups I have felt in the bike shops feel better to me. My longest finger is barely 3" long, and the others are at least a 1/2 in shorter. Most of my fingers are like 2.5 inches long!

So, I'm trying to avoid too much customizing...

Anyhow, just was curious if anyone with a long torso like me fits their Ruby well. Thanks!

Edited to add: Eden, yes, the Tarmac and Roubaix are both on my list to test. Thansk!