[flipflops]

Hey SoCalers,
Work and life have kept me away from the forums for a while :( but hopefully that'll change in the coming
weeks!

I really wanted to get your opinions on 2 bikes I'm thinking about.

1. Trek's Madone 5.1 WSD
2. Specialized's Ruby Expert Triple

Does anyone have either of these two guys or has anyone test ridden them? I'll be testing them out this weekend but wanted to see if anyone had any opinions or had any major complaints or issues with either of them that I should be aware of.

As for the kind of riding I do, I typically ride in near the coast on the roads between Palos Verdes and Malibu-- some of the roads are pretty crappy. I do a little climbing in PV and in Malibu. Most weekend rides are at least 50 milers. Weekday rides are pretty short around 10-12 miles.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

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[jsigone]

I heard alot of good things from women riders on the Ruby. I'd suggest riding both and see which feels better for you.

[flipflops]

My current road bike is a slightly too big 05 Specialized Dolce so I'm partial to the Ruby already but I do plan to ride a bunch of bikes before buying.

[Jaguar27]

I can't comment on those two Bikes, have you considered a Scott?
My Wife loves this one...
http://scottusa.com/us_en/product/72/823/contessa_cr1_pro

[Brian Sorrell]

When I first read the thread title, I thought, "Yes, you should definitely have two bikes."

My wife also has a Scott -- the regular Contessa -- and she likes it very much. It's her first ever road bike and with the addition of a Brooks saddle, it fits her like a glove. (Well, I guess we didn't add the saddle: we replaced the existing one. That'd be weird to just randomly add a saddle somewhere on the bike....)

[Luwin1026]

They both look like good, carbon bikes, and ultimately it would come down to test-riding them and seeing which you liked. When I cross-shopped Trek/Specialized for my first road bike (albeit a lower level aluminum one), I was sold on the Specialized as I found it to have sharper handling feel. Do keep us posted on what you end up getting - it's always nice for us to share in others getting new bikes!

[ronjon10]

I think you should get the Specialized Ruby S-Works. That would be rad.

[flipflops]

Thanks for the suggestions on the Scott bikes and possibly just getting multiple bikes (don't I wish!)--

Thanks also for your imput Ron, I really like the way you think (are you listening BostonWest???)

I'll def let you know what I'm leaning towards after this weekend.

[JanB]

I have a Cannondale Synapse Fem 1 now but had a Ruby Expert before the C'dale. I loved loved that bike. It's a great bike and I've always been partial to Specialized over Trek, too, but agree that test riding both bikes will help you decide.

[Jaguar27]

When I first read the thread title, I thought, "Yes, you should definitely have two bikes."

My wife also has a Scott -- the regular Contessa -- and she likes it very much. It's her first ever road bike and with the addition of a Brooks saddle, it fits her like a glove. (Well, I guess we didn't add the saddle: we replaced the existing one. That'd be weird to just randomly add a saddle somewhere on the bike....)

You're right Brian, I freaked out when I read the first part, glad you clarified it, even I would be asking questions if I saw someone with an extra Saddle on their Bike and I'm normally very shy...

What exactly do you mean when you say her saddle "fits her like a Glove"? Please let me know because I replaced my Caffeine 29ers' Saddle with a Brooks B-17 and love it, I just bought the proofide so I can start treating it...
When People ask how I like it I'd like to start saying "It fits like a Glove" but I need a handy reply when they give me that puzzled look and ask " What do you mean by that"?
In the meanwhile I could still use the phrase, then immediatelytake a drink from my water bottle I could act as though I'm coughing because the water went down the wrong way ;) Hopefully then they'll just ride on ahead without even asking...

[Brian Sorrell]

You're right Brian, I freaked out when I read the first part, glad you clarified it, even I would be asking questions if I saw someone with an extra Saddle on their Bike and I'm normally very shy...

What exactly do you mean when you say her saddle "fits her like a Glove"? Please let me know because I replaced my Caffeine 29ers' Saddle with a Brooks B-17 and love it, I just bought the proofide so I can start treating it...
When People ask how I like it I'd like to start saying "It fits like a Glove" but I need a handy reply when they give me that puzzled look and ask " What do you mean by that"?
In the meanwhile I could still use the phrase, then immediatelytake a drink from my water bottle I could act as though I'm coughing because the water went down the wrong way ;) Hopefully then they'll just ride on ahead without even asking...

Hmmm. I actually was thinking that the whole bike fits her like a glove, but it's true that the saddle does as well. Maybe it's more appropriate to say that it fits like a well-fitting glove; if it fit like an oversize glove, that would be really sloppy, and if it fit like a too-small glove, well I don't even want to think about that kind of saddle....

But assuming that everyone understands that the metaphoric glove is "well-fitting" and you truncate to simply "fits like a glove", you might respond: "You know how incredibly good it feels to wear a perfectly fitted glove? Warm and safe, yet with a full range of motion. That's how my (a double s) feels on this saddle." Then sniff loudly, spit, adjust your waistband, saddle up gently, and whistle the Fistful Of Dollars theme as you ride off down the trail.

(By the way, that Caffeine 29er is a funky looking ride.)

[Yen]

I have a 2008 Roubaix Triple Expert (basically same as Ruby) and I love it. Fast, nimble, and comfortable. I moved from a hybrid to the Roubaix, and the transition was much easier than I expected. The only change was a slightly taller stem to raise me up a bit. I kept the stock saddle which I find comfortable. The Roubaix ride is also very smooth.

[haimtoeg]

A friend of mine rides the Rubi expert triple and loves it.

[octico]

Hi Flip!!
I have been off the forums for a while because of work and little Gab's baseball games. Kristine tried both and decided on the Ruby. She loves it!!

[flipflops]

Thanks for the advice! After testing both then retesting the Ruby a second time I'm def leaning towards the Ruby.

Hey Octico! Good to hear from you! Tell Kristine I said hi :)