Fizzoli

NOOB here. I made my very first post on this forum yesterday in an attempt to collect some advice as to which Hybrid bicycle to purchase...

Today I am making my 2nd post to inform you that I just purchased a 2011 Black Sirrus Sport from my LBS!!!! (pics to come)

It is my first bike and I will mostly be riding roads and paved sidewalks for fitness and possibly some commuting. I am absolutely in love with my new hobby and bike and hope to enjoy it for years to come.

My reason for this thread besides to brag about my new bike, is to be a complete NOOB and gather some suggestions for what I should do next now that I have this brand new bike. Here are a few questions I have:

1. Are they any tune-ups or mechanical things I can do MYSELF to improve my bike? I have seen some people talk about inverting the handlebars (i think). Does that just mean turning them upside down so they curve down instead of up? I think I might be interested in this to give the bike a slightly less "upright" feel. Is that what this is for? Can I do it myself?

2. Like I've said, I'm interested in enjoying this bike for years to come and can't wait to start buying accessories and components. Right now, all I have is a front LED light and a water bottle cage the LBS gave me for free (super siked about that). What should I look at next? I think my first purchase might be some bar ends but what else can should I buy to trick this baby out? Are new tires important? Rims? Diff brakes? Shoes? Pedals? What does the bikeforums community suggest?

3. Lastly, is there anything I need to purchase in regards to properly maintaining the bike? Again I have very little knowledge of the mechanics of bikes but am very handy and more than willing/eager to learn.

Thank you so much to anyone who takes the time to read this short novel and respond. I plan on being a very active member of this forum and the cycling community for years to come!

qmsdc15

1) Inverted bars are rare and kinda weird, but one of the riders I respect the most did that on one of his bikes. Flipping the stem is a better first step towards finding a more aggressive riding position.

2) Some other things you should consider getting besides barends. Topeak Road Morph or similar mini pump. Spare tube, patch kit, and tire levers. Rear light, helmet, cycling gloves, padded shorts, clipless pedals and shoes. Stock tires/rims/ brakes should be fine. Don't fix what ain't broken.

3) Chain lube, grease, spoke wrench, mini tool that you can carry with you plus a set of allen keys for home use. You may already have wrenches. I'd suggest buying bike tools as the need arises although a complete bike tool kit such as those offered by Park Tools will cost much less than the price of the tools purchased separately. If you don't already have a lot of tools, that might be the way to go. Truing stand and work stand are nice to have. Maybe wait until you have a good sense of how much you want or need to have a bike repair shop in your home.

4) Ride your bike. Right now, it needs nothing but you in the saddle. Enjoy the ride!

Fiery

I believe you mean inverting of flipping your stem. This means taking it off and flipping it over so it doesn't point as high up. Other than that, you could remove some spacers from below the stem and place them above it.
You shouldn't invert your handlebars, that would be very bad for your wrists.

Rear light and helmet. Maybe brake pads if you're not satisfied with the current stopping power. You'll figure out what other stuff you need after you get some miles behind you.

You'll acquire loads of tools in time, but I'd suggest buying them as the need arises until you get a feel of what kind of stuff you'll need in general.

Edit: guess should have refreshed the paged before responding, but I think I can leave the post as it was.

qmsdc15

Fiery, it's probably better you posted that before reading my post. That gives Fizzoli two unique responses which just happen to have much similar advice.

Fiery

I agree, even though I do kinda wish I didn't forget to mention stuff like tyre levers and a patch kit, or a set of allen keys.

I will say that I agree with the advice you gave.

Fizzoli

Thanks a lot guys...I just took my bike for it's first ride (completely stock lol) and loved it. The tips are great though...keep em coming...

I might make another thread on this (if I can't get help in this one) but I have another question...I'm 6'0 maaaybe 6'1 220lbs. I started looking for a bike about 7 days ago by going to local bike shops. The first shop I went to told me that I would need a large frame (which was basically my first question in regards to purchasing my first bike). So this whole time I've been visiting various LBSs, I've been looking for Large framed bikes. Every bike I test rode was a Large. And every LBS seemed to agree I was a large. So obviously I bought a LARGE Sirrus Sport.

I was reading the manual after I purchased my bike and it said that I should be able to stand over the top tube of my bike, on flat feet and have 2 inches between the bar and my crotch. I did this test but I def don't think there is 2 inches clearance. My "junk" (sorry ladies) actually rests on the tube. It's not like my actual crotch is pressed up against it but let's just say my "stuff" is def resting (not just barely touching) on the tube.

So the question is? Should I have gotten the medium? I'm tripping out now that I finally made my decision that I got the wrong size. Now that it's in my head, I keep looking at my bike in the corner of my room thinking "it does look really large". Could they of just put the wrong sticker on and thought it was a large but it's really an XL.....IDK guys. I'm just freaking out a little here...

Please Help!!!! (again)

Scooby214

Did the LBS you bought the bike at check your fit on the bike? I venture to guess that size L is good for you, though size L won't be the same on every bike. I am 6' 1" or 6' 2", and am borderline between a size L frame and a size XL frame. (My Schwinn hybrid is an XL, and my Specialized Allez is a 58cm size L.)

qmsdc15

As long as your junk hangs at least two inches below your taint, it fits, right?

I'm about your height and ride a large (approx. 20-21 inch seat tube). Don't stress about standover height, that's just a rule of thumb way to size a bike. If you can get your pedals/saddle/handlebars in a comfortable position relative to each other, what's happening between those points of contact isn't very important.

ddimick

Don't worry about the stand-over height. I have a Sirrus Sport and can stand comfortably over the bar, but have nowhere near 2" of room there.

I would also add that when shopping for cycling shorts consider bib shorts instead. I regret not buying them from the get-go when I started.

ddimick

Here's a picture of my 2010 Sirrus Sport. Please ignore the dirt, it was a little wet out yesterday. Things I've added/changed:



Seat bag with items already described above.
Rear LED light
Front LED flashlight - 180 lumens. I've had several people comment on how visible it is.
Ergon GC3 grips/bar ends - bar ends are wrapped with grip tape to make them a little more comfortable
Cyclometer - Cateye Strada Double Wireless
Pedals - Shimano A530 - if I had to do this again I wouldn't have bothered with dual-sided. I never ride without cleats.
Topeak Mini Blaster pump

Fizzoli

I don't necessarily know if he "fit" me but he asked my height, told me I was large and then confirmed it when I was riding a large frame bike (not a specialized). And then the guy where I actually bought the bike just asked my height and told me "yeah you're a large".

Fizzoli

qmsdc:

Yes AT LEAST 2 inches.....lol

And yeah everything else is comfortable....

Fizzoli

ddimick:
What are bib shorts?

And dude that is a sweet Sirrus. I like the color annnnd the accessories. Esp. the bar ends. Do you recommended that specific set? Thats really the first thing besides tools and the necessities I want to purchase...

ddimick

My favorite bib shorts: https://www.voler.com/products/1110299GRNSML.aspx.

I really like the Ergon GC3 grips/bar ends and recommend them. It takes a little time and fine-tuning to get them dialed in but it's worth it, especially on longer rides or if doing a lot of hill climbing. If I didn't go with that set, I probably would have gone with a trekking bar instead.

LongIslandTom

Accessories I got on my 2006 Specialized Sirrus LTD:



I added:

- Shorty carbon-fiber bar ends

- Cateye Enduro 8 cyclocomputer

- stem-mounted Topeak cell phone pouch

- a comfortable saddle from my old bike (I didn't like the Specialized BG racing saddle that came stock on the bike at all)

- saddle bag

- multitool (in saddle bag)

- tire lever and patch kit (in saddle bag)

- water bottle cages

- a new set of wheels (Mavic Ksyrium SL) after I cracked the stock Shimano R600s after 2000 miles.

- flipped the stem for a more horizontal riding posture.

Accessories I bought that are not on the bike:

- a set of half-fingered gloves for warm-weather riding, and a set of full-fingered gloves for cold-weather riding.

- a camelbak hydration pack for really long-distance rides (50+ miles).

- helmet

- floor pump with pressure gauge for the presta-valve tubes.

- portable pump.

AlmostGreenGuy

Good choice on the Sirrus. I love my 2010 Sirrus Sport.

My stem was flipped about 10 minutes after I got home with the bike.

Fizzoli

Can you guys explain to me what you mean by flipping the stem???? Sorry for the noobish questions...

LongIslandTom

Notice how the stem (the metal piece that connects your bike's steerer tube to the handlebar) on your Sirrus Sport is pointed upwards a few degrees.

You can flip that stem upside-down so it points downwards instead, which will lower your handlebar and give you a slightly more horizontal riding position.

It's easy to do. Takes 5 minutes with some hex Allen keys.

ddimick

The stem on mine had an insert where you can adjust it in increments. Gives you four different tilt options if I remember correctly.

I messed with it for a while and wound up back at the stock configuration.

Fiery

Your saddle is angled forward way too much.

LongIslandTom

It's comfortable and I'm not going to mess with it, no matter what anybody says.

FR4NCH1SE

Hey Original Poster, Here are my tips, first off by bar ends, I would buy the bar ends that are used for this bike in the higher end models. That is, P2 Overendz bar ends. Then I would start with all the other components you want to upgrade, I would start with the Crankset first.


As for what to do next, first off buy a helmet, bike air pump with psi measuring, bike chain lube, allen key/hex set, wrenchs and rags. Oh and find a local bike shop so they can do the harder mechanical stuff like trueing your wheel ( balancing your wheel).

Enjoy your bike.

btw, I am also buying a '11 Specialized Sirrus Sport. It is a killer bike.

Triaxtremec

I flipped my stem for a more comfortable ride for my riding style, as well as a new seat. The biggest improvement I did was a set of new Easton wheels with 23mm tires. Enjoy the bike!

Fizzoli

Thanks for all the responses guys. This is truly a great forum. I noticed most of you guys that posted your Sirrus Sport seem to have a different fork than mine. There's a little chrome piece on the side of yours. Is this just something they got rid of in the 2011 model? Mines just straight flat black.

AlmostGreenGuy

My 2010 Sirrus Sport has a carbon fork with a ZERTZ insert. It's the insert that probably looks like chrome to you. The 2011 Sirrus Sport has an aluminum fork.