Ruby and dolce

[Palomino bet]

Hi! I've been lurking for a while now. Loved reading about everyone's favorite bikes. Actually helped me in deciding to get my vita elite! I'm in love with her but am considering doing some more serious road biking. I tried a 51 and a 54 dolce. The 54 fit fantastic once they flipped the handlebar stem over. The 51 felt cramped and actually hurt when I rode it. I'm currently trying to find a used one. I'm 5'6" tall without shoes.

I found an 09 ruby elite in my price range. And in a size 54. The current geometry listed on the specialized site makes the two sound nearly identical other than the standover height. Has that been everyone else's experience? Lbs did not have a ruby I could try.

Should I drive an hour away and try this ruby or should I steer clear? Is it too much bike for a beginner road cyclist?

[Palomino bet]

I've tried almost 3 times to post something, and it keeps saying it needs mod approval... and then it decided to work this time.

Thanks so much for the help and the guide. Silly ? - are you 5'7 with shoes on? Sounds like this bike could be perfect as long as it is in good condition.

Do you know how to find a bike group in my area? My fiance and I like to ride together, but sometimes I'm able to ride when he isn't and vice versa..

We will be meeting at a Wawa, no bike shops nearby that I know of.. I'll definitely go check out the youtube videos later too.

This is the actual bike:

http://www.bicyclebluebook.com/Searc...2041&year=2009

[Palomino bet]

Thank you for your help! Just curious - are you 5'7 with shoes or without? I checked out the guide, it was very helpful - and I will look on Youtube for more information as well on what to look for.

We are meeting at a wawa - no LBS nearby that I know of/can find. I will try to take my fiance with me.

How can I find a bike group nearby? We usually ride together, but sometimes one of us can't ride for one reason or another..

[Crankin]

Be careful of Meet Up rides. Around here, they have the tendancy to be poorly organized and unsafe. We had a few of our club rides posted on Meet Up a couple of years ago and it was a nightmare. People with broken bikes and no group riding skills.
Ask around at LBS's for local rides, women's rides, etc. Or get on line and do a search for local bike clubs and their schedules of rides. Just be careful of what kind of ride you go to... some bike clubs are very racing oriented, others are more social. Some say "no drop," but don't really mean it.

[Palomino bet]

Be careful of Meet Up rides. Around here, they have the tendancy to be poorly organized and unsafe. We had a few of our club rides posted on Meet Up a couple of years ago and it was a nightmare. People with broken bikes and no group riding skills.
Ask around at LBS's for local rides, women's rides, etc. Or get on line and do a search for local bike clubs and their schedules of rides. Just be careful of what kind of ride you go to... some bike clubs are very racing oriented, others are more social. Some say "no drop," but don't really mean it.

Well I don't have any group riding skills either. What do I need to do to learn?

[thekarens]

Well I don't have any group riding skills either. What do I need to do to learn?

I've taken both online and group classes from these guys
http://bikeleague.org/content/take-class

[Palomino bet]

I've taken both online and group classes from these guys
http://bikeleague.org/content/take-class

How do you take the online ones? I wound up joining the league.

[thekarens]

Very nice!

[Lelani Carver]

Hooray for you, Palomino bet, and well done on your ride! We have a lot in common, I'm riding 40 miles in the local Tour de Cure on MY Vita Elite next Sunday.

Also a new Clipless pedal user, and the weather is keeping me from practicing. So far, one easy (more or less planned) fall for me.

The Ruby sounds nice, my DH is advocating for a road bike next and wants to hand-me-down his when he upgrades, but our LBS guru nixed that on size issues. We'll see

[Crankin]

+1 on nixing the hand me down, especially if you are not the same size. Sizing for road bikes really needs to be dialed in.

[Palomino bet]

Hooray for you, Palomino bet, and well done on your ride! We have a lot in common, I'm riding 40 miles in the local Tour de Cure on MY Vita Elite next Sunday.

Also a new Clipless pedal user, and the weather is keeping me from practicing. So far, one easy (more or less planned) fall for me.

The Ruby sounds nice, my DH is advocating for a road bike next and wants to hand-me-down his when he upgrades, but our LBS guru nixed that on size issues. We'll see

Awesome!

Hooray. I want to find more people into biking locally.. too bad you are not in Philly

[Lelani Carver]

I'm taller than DH, and his frame is a bit small for him so he has an upgraded stem. When/if I graduate to a road bike, fit will need to be right.