Recreational & Family - Specailized Sirrus...new bike questions

posted in the Road Cycling forum with no replies. thought i'd try it here...

I picked up my new Specialized Sirrus Sport last night. It's the first time I've ever riden a bike with roadbike tires, so it is a completely new feel to me. I've only ever riden a mountain bike before, even when working as a courier I booted around the city on my fat nubby tires.

I like the hybrid style of this bike, but I've been told by many that now that I'm experiencing a more roadbike feel, I'll soon want a true roadbike.

So I'm wondering...I really like the feel of the bike in terms of speed, manouverability, etc, but it seems very hard. Cracks in the road feel like potholes. Is this a the normal feel for a road bike? Or is the Sirrus and especially hard ride. I suppose it's just a feeling i have to get used to.

I don't imagine it has anything to do with the small roadbike tires/rim does it? Does the style of the frame have much to do with it? Is it because it's an aluminum frame?

Haha, I'm so obviously a roadbike noob.

I've got at least one friend that regularly rides a Sirrius, but I've never tried it. Road bike rides vary, depending on frame material, stiffness and geometry. I had an old Fuji long-wheelbase double-butted steel framed S-10-S that I used for touring - it had a lot of flex and was a much smoother ride than my mountain bike. I've ridden other frames that yield a much harsher ride. In general, all other things being equal, I think that aluminum frames are stiffer than steel frames, which is why so many hybrids w/ aluminum frames are equipped with suspension forks and seat post shocks these days.

Myself, I have a Cannondale Cyclocross, which has the Optimo tubing--still a very stiff bike. Tried the Sirrus before I bought the C'dale and felt the hammering of my body was more than the latter. You might try some 28 or 32cm tires to lessen the shock of the road; or, you may even purchase a seat post which absorbs the bumps on bad roads too. Your friends are right in saying that you will eventually want to trade up for a roadster.

Cheers,

Urbanmonk

I picked up my new Specialized Sirrus Sport last night. It's the first time I've ever riden a bike with roadbike tires, so it is a completely new feel to me.
... I've been told by many that now that I'm experiencing a more roadbike feel, I'll soon want a true roadbike.
Yes, you'll be drooling over expensive road bikes very soon. ;)


So I'm wondering...I really like the feel of the bike in terms of speed, manouverability, etc, but it seems very hard. Cracks in the road feel like potholes. Is this a the normal feel for a road bike? I don't imagine it has anything to do with the small roadbike tires/rim does it? Does the style of the frame have much to do with it? Is it because it's an aluminum frame?
Yes to all of the above. :) Aluminum has a harsher ride than steel, Ti, or carbon. The skinny high pressure tires transfer every bump in the road to your butt and hands. But once you get used to the "feel" of a road bike you'll be hooked. Hope you have a healthy bank account! ;)

I dunno...I've ridden road for a while and also have Trek hybrid (7500fx). I love the more upright seating of the Trek. Had a Sirrus Pro for a while too and fell to the notion that I'd want a "real road bike"-well, I had one, but I also liked the Sirrus. There's things you can do to smooth out the ride: go back to the Specialized dealer and look at the suspension seatpost that goes on the Spec. Sequoia-they sell separately and will greatly smooth out your ride; next, tires make a HUGE difference in any bike's ride-go at least with 25s and choose a nice tire like the Continental Gatorskins or Grand Prix 3000-I find Specialized tires to be like riding in an old buckboard wagon and I tossed them out immediately when I got my Allez. Got the GP 3000 and it has a totally softer ride. Stay around 110-120psi, or you will feel a harsher ride. With the Sirrus you can go for wider tires (or even knobby tires for winter), but check with your LBS re your rim size and your brakeset clearance. A comfortable saddle will also greatly influence how the bike feels under you. Some have built-in shock absorbing materials and rails, but with the suspension seatpost, you'll probably be ok.

Remember, there's a lot of hype out there about steel vs. carbon vs. aluminum, etc. Just go with what YOU find fun and comfortable and that means you've got to do some quality time on this bike to find out how it works for you. It takes time to adjust to a particular bike and figure out how you and it are going to get along in the long run.

Ride it for a good year and see what you think. If you want to enhance your hand positioning options, add some Cane Creek bar-ends. Meanwhile, enjoy your new bike and rein in the "bike lust". Now, get out and ride that baby! :)

I have a 2000 Sirrus Pro that I bought (in 2000) because I was used to riding a mountain bike, but wanted to graduate to a road bike gradually. A year later I put drop bars and Ultegra STI shifters. Had to install "Travel Agents" on the V-brakes to translate the short pull of the STI brake levers. I just had it upgraded to an Ultegra Triple crankset (cause I want a 52 tooth bigring instead of the Deore 48 that it came with). I haven't even picked it up yet, but the mechanic says the upgrade went well once he figured out that he had to put the front derailluer clamp between the rear bottle boss screw holes. I looked on the web at the latest models (like yours) that have the 52 tooth ring and, sure enough, there is the clamp between holes!

It has always ridden stiff, yes little potholes make a big bang thru my whole being....next is an upgrade to a carbon fork, I guess.

I love the bike now that its a Ultegra Triple compact frame road bike with V-brakes. I put Mavic Cosmos on it for xmas also...very light.

Have fun on your new bike.

Tim


posted in the Road Cycling forum with no replies. thought i'd try it here...

I picked up my new Specialized Sirrus Sport last night. It's the first time I've ever riden a bike with roadbike tires, so it is a completely new feel to me. I've only ever riden a mountain bike before, even when working as a courier I booted around the city on my fat nubby tires.

I like the hybrid style of this bike, but I've been told by many that now that I'm experiencing a more roadbike feel, I'll soon want a true roadbike.

So I'm wondering...I really like the feel of the bike in terms of speed, manouverability, etc, but it seems very hard. Cracks in the road feel like potholes. Is this a the normal feel for a road bike? Or is the Sirrus and especially hard ride. I suppose it's just a feeling i have to get used to.

I don't imagine it has anything to do with the small roadbike tires/rim does it? Does the style of the frame have much to do with it? Is it because it's an aluminum frame?

Haha, I'm so obviously a roadbike noob.

Hi i m sorry if i post this in the wrong room, but im looking for a folding bike that my child and i will be able to ride to the beach or to the park-and doesn't cost too much..
Can anyone help me plz thnx so much :)

Sorry im kinda new here, so let me take the opportunity to say hi to everybody and thanks for whatever advice you can give me...