Ruby? Amira? Advice please!

[noiamnotok]

Hi folks,

I'm trying to buy my first road bike, but I'm trying to make it one that I won't want to upgrade/change for years to come since I'm going back to school (no more salary!). I planned to spend 2000-2500, but would always like to spend less. LBS naturally pushed my price point up, and I really like the Amira. I'm training for a triathon, and it feels really nice. But I'd also like to use this bike to get to work, ride with boyfriend, etc. So maybe Ruby makes more sense? Thoughts?

Is it worth it for a newbie like me to get Ultegra components in order to avoid wanting to upgrade in a couple years?

I'm 5'3, very short torso, and I've had trouble finding a bike that feels good. I haven't tried any Orbea, Felt, or Trek because I don't like my local dealer, but suck it up...

Advice would be much appreciated! Thanks!

Jessica

[violetpurl]

Beautiful bike! I'm going to to stop by the Specialized Women Demo Tour tonight at one of the LBS. I have the opposite problem - I love this bike (looks), but am not fond of the shop. The shop I like carries Trek and Cannondale and they do fittings. I tested a Carbon Synapse Feminine 3 this weekend - sweet ride, but I don't love the looks. Ahhh - and the price. I'm trying a Madrone next. I'm also in the boat of do I really want to spend that much money?

[NbyNW]

It can be tough to find a bike that does it all, especially if you are petite. You didn't say whether you plan to ride on campus -- if you do, I'd be concerned about theft. You never want your bike to be the nicest one on the rack. For that matter, do you have safe, secure bike parking at work?

One thing to consider about components it whether the brake/shift levers fit your hands well. I'm 5'1" and I don't consider my hands particularly small, but I had Ultegra on my first road bike (which I had purchased secondhand, so it just came with that build) and found the reach to be almost painfully uncomfortable. It's possible the discomfort also had something to with the handlebar design, but not really sure. Bottom line was I never got comfortable controlling my speed on descents, and I was thinking about changing the components when that bike was stolen.

My current bikes have Campy Mirage and Shimano Tiagra, which as I understand it are lower-end, but in combination with the handlebars they are mounted on, fit my hands much better. Two years with both of these setups and I'm not thinking about upgrading. They perform just fine. If I had money to burn, I can think of many other things I would spend it on than upgrading my components.

Best of luck with the bike shopping!

[MommyBird]

I am not short (5'7") and I even have difficulty using my husband's Ultegra. The reach is just too long and I end up just using my finger tips. It feels very risky when I shift or brake.
Adjustable levers are available.
I have Tiagra on a WSF and the reach is perfect.
I am not sure if Ultegra on a WSF would have the shorter reach.

[Eden]

I think it may be what you are used to, as far as levers go. I'm small - 5' nuthin. I have small hands and small feet. I have ultegra on my rain bike, DA on my race bike and short reach on my cross bike. None of them feel particularly any different to me. Certainly none of them feel dangerous. Then again I've been riding since I was a wee one and have had bikes with regular sized (non-adjustable - that's a pretty new thing) levers probably since I was about 11, so I'm very used to it.

[Julie13.1]

I am not really qualified to talk about ultegra vs 105, but I do have a 2 year old Ruby that I truly love. We do a lot of group rides, and I often commute to work on her. She fits me like a glove (I am 5'4"), and the only thing I have replaced is the saddle and bar tape.

Oh, and I have done 3 tri's with her. The first tri I was last in my age group out of the water (can you say*sorry swimmer*), but ended up being 2nd in my age group on the bike! My LBS hung the result sheet with my name highlighted on it in the shop. I had quite a big head for awhile there!

The point I am trying to make here is that a Ruby is very versatile. I just took a long time to say that!

[gnat23]

The new Amira is built to be a racy race bike. It's superstiff and would probably be great for your triathalons. That being said, I haven't ridden one in direct comparison to the Ruby.

I do have a 2010 Ruby, and it's noticeably stiffer than my '06 Ruby was, but I find it to be super comfortable. The new Ruby is supposed to be more for the long distance road stuff, with slightly less aggressive geometry, longer chainstays, and such. I commute the heck out of mine, but I don't think you *couldn't* race on it, to be sure.

All else being equal, I guess it depends on which direction you are leaning long-term!

-- gnat!

[eofelis]

I have a 44cm 2007 Ruby Expert with the Ultegra triple. I'm not particularly fond of carbon bikes, but I like it a lot. I can see where it is marketed as a plush ride. I think my steel Gunnar Sport, with a longer wheelbase, has a *bit* more of a plush ride than the Ruby, but the Ruby is faster.

I'd never take my Ruby anywhere that I can't keep a hand on it at all times though.

Get a nice road bike, but also get a cheap beater bike to commute around on and lock up.

[tzvia]

Ultegra and short fingers...

I always had issues with my stubby little fingers and brake levers. When I bought my first Ruby in 08, it came with 105 and those great little wedges that Specialized makes that fit in the lever that shorten the reach. They work great. On my crash-replacement '09 Ruby Expert frame, I went with Ultegra SL and used those little wedges again. I can't get over how much better the cockpit feels with those little plastic things. I can't recommend them enough.

The Amira looks to be Spec's response to the Trek Madone for women. A more racy bike. The Ruby fits my 'ride all day, I'm not racing' kind of style, and yes I have commuted with it. It was a fast blast, but I had to remove the seatpost and use an aluminum one with another seat to accommodate a clamp-on rack. On weekends, I removed the whole thing and put my carbon post and light-weight saddle back on. It was a pain. Thankfully, work is a secure campus (aerospace) with Pinkerton guards; I just locked up the bike outside my building and felt ok as the campus is fenced in and there are those guards around. I doubt your school will be as secure.

Anyway, I bought an inexpensive bike on clearance (Fuji), put on my left-over MTB drivetrain and flatbars and slid my alu seatpost-rack on it. Much better for commuting, as the wider tires make it more stable and easy on the bod as I am not in padded riding shorts. And I feel better not treating my Ruby like a beater commuter.

[drdwin]

I'm 5'2" with very small hands. I have an Orbea Onix Dama with the Ultegra components and find it very comfortable on my hands. I also did some demos on other bikes with the 105s and Tiagra set-ups that were not WSD bikes and actually felt unsafe because I was so uncomfortable braking and shifting. I also was on the Ruby with the 105s and did not find problems with the handlebars - but I just fell in love with my Orbea - the bike just disappeared beneath me I was so comfortable, so that's what I went with. I found it to be more the handlebars than the components when it comes to hand comfort and LOVE my Ultegra components. The best advice I can give is try as many as you can before you make a decision....the Orbea was not even a bike I was considering in the beginning.