First big bike purchase

Fordie77

Having wrecked my six month old bike (aggggh) I'm looking for something a bit better. I've started riding with a club and I'm after endurance rather than something racy (!) but I might like to give TTs a go in the long run.

I had a Specialized dolce which is women's geometry but I still got shoulder ache fairly rapidly on it. Hydraulic discs are a must and I'm keen to get it from the local shop for help with fitting (so Canyon is out sadly).

I'm considering the Specialized Ruby Comp (women's version of the roubaix) or the Liv Avail Advanced Pro 1 (Women's version of the Defy Advance pro).

I need women's geometry as I've got a really short reach; in fact if I got the Ruby I'd probably need a shorter stem. The upshot of it is the Ruby had amazing reviews and is supposed to be incredibly comfortable, and the Avail feels like a better fit and is noticeably lighter.

Any help in deciding? Anyone ridden the ruby/roubaix? I can't get a test ride locally - I had to drive for an hour just to get a sit on one (how they expect you to part with four figures without a test ride is beyond me...!)

Thanks

sloppyschleckonds

oxoman wrote:

Given your perceived budget I'd go for the Giant

Agree with oXoMaN, Giant would be a fitting Big Bike purchase

supermurph09

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

oxoman wrote:

Given your perceived budget I'd go for the Giant

Agree with oXoMaN, Giant would be a fitting Big Bike purchase

I see what you did there.

Thick Mike

I have a Roubaix. They don't seem to get a lot of love on here, but I love mine. I got it because my CAAD 8 used to shake my teeth loose on the poor road surfaces we get around here (Beds/Bucks). The change in comfort over the rough stuff was brilliant (mine is a Roubaix SL4 Sport 2014 with the Zertz inserts in the front and rear forks). I also found that the slightly more upright position helped with the neck ache I was getting due to my skinny neck and massive comedy head.

Fordie77

Giant big bike, well done

The Avail advance is where I started but the advance pro is a lot lighter and feels altogether great. Although saving the best part of 1k isn't to be sneezed at!

Thanks for the help folks, really useful. I'm going to canvas options at the club on Saturday but that always seems to go along the lines of "spend as much as humanly possible"...

sloppyschleckonds

Fordie77 wrote:

I'm going to canvas options at the club on Saturday but that always seems to go along the lines of "spend as much as humanly possible"...

When someone who has a lot of bikes would say, spend as less as is humanly possible.

tangerineowl

Eddy Merckx Milano 72

Shorter reach, taller stack than Giant or Spec.

froze

Dropping 4 big ones on a bike without ever riding it before purchase has been done lots of times, in fact almost all custom built bikes that cost MORE than 4 big ones are sold without the rider ever riding it beforehand.