UPDATE! so i saw another friend today. He had a complete different approach. less numbers/ measurement and more feedback. He did say that my angles looked good. After i put my heel on the pedal and pushed it out to the farthest point, we noticed that i was reaching for it and was leaning to one side, so we brought the saddle down about 1cm. We then messed around with the bars. I was actually able to pinpoint the pain, which we found came from the dip of the hoods. Most of my weight was on the web of my hand, so we tilted the bars up a little. I think the combination of bringing the saddle down and adjusting the bars made a big difference! I need to put in a long ride within the next few days to get some real riding opinions, but it did feel much better when i circled the block a few times. I even felt an immediate difference on the trainer. :)

Thanks for all your input!

Good to hear that, TIP!
Those are some of the misadjustments that some of us would have noticed if we saw you on a ride, for instance. Glad it's working out for you so far...

That's what the original fitter should have done.

Glad you're heading in the right direction. Keep on it, and you'll get the beautiful ride you paid for.

Do you have the 80 or 70 mm stem on it now? It sounded like you had and adjustable stem? and had it tilted to the max?

Did your friend comment on that?

i kept the 80 on there at the max rise. (16 deg +) he didn't say much about that.

he had an adjustable stem, but we didn't even really need it after we figured out why i felt stretched out. the dip in the hood probably added to the length of the reach AND caused pain. he said i didn't looked stretched and after making the adjustments, i didn't feel like it either.

Good to hear that, TIP!
Those are some of the misadjustments that some of us would have noticed if we saw you on a ride, for instance. Glad it's working out for you so far...

+1

The frame may be fine for you and these adjustments (and maybe a couple more) will do it. The point is that you get a ride you LOVE...then you'll be out on it more. ;)

We then messed around with the bars. I was actually able to pinpoint the pain, which we found came from the dip of the hoods. Most of my weight was on the web of my hand, so we tilted the bars up a little.
I had the same problem with my Specialized bars and tilting them up worked for me too. With the brifters pointed up like that, it gives you another place to hang on to also. Have used Competitive Cyclist fit calculator? Im a newb and bought a bike thats too big for me but according to the numbers I got from there, its not as big as I thought.

BTW, the smaller sizes of 08 Rubys have 75mm stems they should be able to swap out if you wanted to stay with the brand.

[QUOTE=Terror_in_pink;6268660]
What would you do?
QUOTE]

Post nude pictures of myself. I'm looking for an excuse, but nobody has asked yet man.

I messed up the quote tags. Sorrrryyyy.

Hey T-I-P -- I was wondering what ever happened to the new Ruby and stumbled across this thread. Fingers crossed the tweaked fit works out for you; now you'll be able to work out if that triple was worth it! Interestingly, I started of trying to avoid using the small ring on my Roubaix and have made some real progress on hills, but have now started using the small ring with more gears on the cassette as a great way of making my training incrementally more difficult.

Good luck to ya.

That's what the original fitter should have done.I actually agree with that. That is something that should have been pretty obvious, IMO.

I actually agree with that. That is something that should have been pretty obvious, IMO.

*nodnodnod*

I'm not a master fitter or anything, but I've set a few people up and that's always one of the first things I check.

Beaker. I totally use the smallest gear. A LOT! I am more than happy I got the triple. Ask me again when it starts shifting like a beyotch, but right now, i'm happy.

Glad to hear it! I'm sure that the other gears will be getting a work out real soon. Not sure what group you've got, but my 105 is shifting just fine a couple of hundred miles in despite my early inept fumblings. I'm learning to push the bike a little more each time I got out, and always come back with a manic grin and endorphin rush - v. happy with my Specialized experience to date.

I got the 07 Ruby expert, so my group is ultegra. Unfortunately the 07 came with the FSA carbon cranks and i'd rather have the ultegra cranks :(
i'd also rather pay 30% less and get an 07 model though :) even if it means no ultegra cranks.

+1 on your deal; I got $500 off list by getting my 07comp in Jan '08. I will definitely do that again. It's also amazing how quickly the upgrade bug starts setting in -- the only time that seems to stop is when you're actually riding it and realize what a great bike you've just acquired.

Glad to hear it! I'm sure that the other gears will be getting a work out real soon. Not sure what group you've got, but my 105 is shifting just fine a couple of hundred miles in despite my early inept fumblings. I'm learning to push the bike a little more each time I got out, and always come back with a manic grin and endorphin rush - v. happy with my Specialized experience to date.

It took me about 25K miles to wear out a set of 105 shifters.

Everybody is different.

My girlfriend Lynne went through a number of bikes before she bought one. Then a second, but not because of fit. She is 5'-4'' with a 30" standover. She has long thigh bones, even for a female. She bought 51cm bikes w/90mm stems, both with 74 degree seatpost angles. A good fit for her. Lynne is HWP, not a yoga instructor, but able to lean forward comfortably after a year of consistent cycling. How is your standover? How is your torso length? How much setback does your seatpost have? What is your seatpost angle?

*OPINION*
Frame size doesn't matter as much as how you build out the bike. I'm 5'6", 31" standover, normal torso, HWP. I should be on a 54cm frame. I ride a 55cm frame primarily. Normal size buildout; my seatpost is not real high, a real cruise road bike. I also ride Lynne's old frame, a 50cm. How? With a 35mm setback seatpost and 120mm stem and cranks that are 5mm longer. It goes up hills just grand. I ride both of these longer distances with no pain. These bikes have different rides, both fit well

I agree with the majority that you should be back at your shop fixing this. You may well be changing out your frame; no foul on your part! It seems obvious that you and the bike are not fitting. It can be fixed. Just not on this forum! :) Your shop is at your service.
Best of luck!

Or, just let your friends do it! :lol:

Don't be annoying. :mad:

Clearly, everything wasn't dialed in after a two hour fitting. I know we went "over the usual amount of time it takes to do a fit" and rushed in the end due to the shop closing. I didn't really feel comfortable going back for fitting round 2 if it even was an option as everything was dialed in according to fitter. I am lucky to have friends (that build frames and are very knowledgeable) who are willing to pick up where the fitter left off.

Don't be annoying.

Clearly, everything wasn't dialed in after a two hour fitting. I know we went "over the usual amount of time it takes to do a fit" and rushed in the end due to the shop closing. I didn't really feel comfortable going back for fitting round 2 if it even was an option as everything was dialed in according to fitter. I am lucky to have friends (that build frames and are very knowledgeable) who are willing to pick up where the fitter left off.

Yeah, I just helped a friend of mine get a bike on E-bay. We spent a while beforehand figuring out what range of sizes would probably be ok, then once she got it we did an initial setup. On her first ride with it we adjusted it a little bit more, and I figure it will take several more rides to get it dialed in. She's a relatively new rider, so her riding style is going to vary over time relatively quickly, and it will probably take a while before the bike setup is stable. She has another friend who got fit by the shop where he bought the bike and it sounds like he's uncomfortable a lot of the time and needs a little adjustment.

I've been riding for ages, and when I get a new bike it can take a few weeks to get it set up just right, and my preferred position changes over time, too.

Don't be annoying. :mad:

Oops!
Sorry!
I wasn't aiming to be annoying. I was hoping to point out some options that would let you re-think your frame needs. Always with your needs as a cyclist as my best intention. Again, sorry if I offended!