Fifty Plus (50+) - Opinions on Specialized Sirrus

Someone on my local Craigslist has a 2004 Specialized Sirrus on the market; asking $450 including a kryptonite lock. Seems like it might be a pretty good deal; the owner claims the bike was hardly used. I probably will go take a look-see but wondered if any of you is familiar with this particular bike. It's a hybrid with flatbars, kinda like the Trek 7.6 I have drooled over.

This link (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?minisite=10080&spid=5997&JServSessionIdroot=7ij6dp32zu.j27004) should take you to a purdy pitcher of the bike.

Thinking this might be the way to start moving up into longer rides without spending a fortune. (Assuming it fits, of course!)

I did a charity road ride last year, and there were quite a few grades of riders and grades of bikes. All the "serious" roadies had top grade bikes and down at the other end there were 10 year old mountain bikes and even some twats on a mountain Tandem. That tandem was fast- except uphill, but we were just about our peak fitness 3 weeks before our ride we train for. Good fun showing the top road bikes that they had to get out and be ridden occasionally to keep the rider in trim, but as I say we were fit.

There was one bike though that stood out from the rest and that was the specialised Cirrus. Hopefully the one you are talking about, but we spell differently in the UK. This ride was a bit different as there were 6 points on the ride where everyone congregated until the group was together, then off to the next meeting point. There were 6 of these Cirrus on the ride. all ridden by the older Ex roadie's that no longer rode competitively. Other than the flat bars- you could not tell the difference between it and a normal road bike. These things flew, and they even went up hills which came as a shock to me, considering the type of rider. The riders of these bikes, as I have said, were experienced bikers and the reason they had got them was that they still wanted to ride- but wanted something with a bit more comfort for the gentler rides they were now doing. It handled and performed just like a road bike, but the bar position was more suited to the style of riding their body had put them into. All of them had purchased for the same reason, but only 3 of them had bought on recommendation. The other 3 had looked at the spec- had a test ride and bought. I can asssure you that this bike is definitely worth looking at, and I have not even ridden one-Just seen them perform.

That gentle ride by the way and I only did the first day, was 5 days of riding of around 60 to 70 miles a day across very hilly terrain in Sussex- visiting all the police stations in Sussex. Funny how policemen look normal when out of uniform, and how unfit they get when sitting behind a desk all day. Those Cirrus bikes did all 5 days, and even the Chief Constable was using one.

Pic by the way is of the last bike to climb Ditchling beacon on this ride. A big hill that even the Tandem got fed up with and rises about 500 ft in just under a mile. Bit of a soft hill though as someone has put tarmac on it, but not one of the riders walked it.

Gary-Looks like a fine bike. It is amazing the different models and choices out there.

I suspect this a little on the "heavy" side compared to some bikes-but probably lighter than what you're presently riding. Just a wild guess but I would bet it's around 24 lbs or more.

One of the key things that I look for is a carbon front fork. This one has a cromoly front fork which is a little heavier and will transmit a lot more road noise to your arms, shoulders, hands etc. That's okay for shorter to medium rides but you'll feel it a lot more doing the metric centuries.

You certainly can't argue with the price.

DG--I think Specialized makes some fine, innovative bikes. I'd recommend, if possible, taking a long test ride. One of the things I'd be interested in knowing is whether or not you like flat bars on a road bike. Seems that some people love them. My two cents--I've always like having a variety of places to put my hands.

Nah. I got my Specialized for 500 bucks. That means it should be worth about 250, maybe less by now.

Offer the dood 200 bucks. That's a steal for him.

Koffee

The 2004 Sirrus went for $500 to $1200 new depending on component package. What does it have on it?

I got mine in 2002, actually. But when I got it, it had low level Shimano components, low level wheels, low level everything. I added the pedals myself, since the price didn't include pedals. I bought mine in May, so it was a time when bikes weren't really being discounted.

If the MSRP is 750 bucks, I wouldn't be surprised if it really sold for something like 550 bucks. Even if it's "lightly used", it's still 2 years later and a low end bike (though I love my ride). $200 bucks. That's all I'd pay for it.

Koffee

My bias is a drop bar for road rides of any length (alter hand/arm positions, angle of back, pressure on hands, etc...old arguments that just depend on preference). At such an inexpensive price, you could afford to play around with switching out to drop bars&shifters...you've found a cooperative, helpful LBS who transformed your Viva Sport...they could work on this (Sora level brifters...Dnvr likes his). Anyway, this could be your experimental "transition bike". Providing it fits and is mechanically sound.

LOL....do you have any wall space left for more wall racks?

Dig, Like you, I wanted a Sirrus...until I rode it. This was the base model, Sora/Tiagra and I could feel every imprefection of the road surface...as in it hurt. Thank goddness for a test ride. My next ride was a Jamis Coda Sport with a Reynolds steel frame and it was day/night better at absorbing road bumps. I saw some 2005's at Performance at closeout prices of $449. I ended up buying a Bianchi Eros and happy as heck I went with the drop bars on a steel frame for my 30-50 rides. BTW, I did a 45 miler a few weeks ago on my Marin hybrid (alum fram/crmo fork) with a Nashbar trekking bar. If you plan on spending long hours in the saddle, try the trekking bars, they have numerous hand positions (darn important on long rides). Good luck.