1. Jealous? That doesn't even make sense.
2. That's a poor and silly reason to hate. I can understand not wanting to buy a bike so many others have, but to hate them...its silly to me. They make a quality product.

Personally, i had a choice between 2014 Super Six EVO Ultegra and 2014 Tarmac sl4 Expert (i believe) Ultegra. Both had same groupo, similiar cockpits and decent wheelset. Price $3,250 SS and $3,800 Tarmac.

I couldnt figure out the huge price difference. So i didnt buy the Tarmac.

They are hated for some good reasons already discussed. Yours are just plain silly.

But I'm sure they look fantastic on your bike!

If that's true, more reason to never, ever buy anything Specialized. I give way more credit to Gary Klein anyway. I still have my 00 Klein Attitude Race with full xtr/cross max tubeless ceramic rims. Weighs less than 22 lbs. Will never sell it.

But that has nothing to do with the bike corporations. That is the LBS. If anything, file a complaint with those said companies. But because a LBS that sells at or below msrp and happens to be Spesh is reason to support the company? I have those bikes and more in my area. Every single one of the sell below msrp. Its your LBS...not Specialized. They all offer discounts.

You're kidding, right?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Tall_Bike.jpg

^That's awesome.

I don't care one way or another (though not overly into the look or their bikes) but my shoes and saddle have been great. Problem is, my local shop sucks. Overpriced and kind of jerks. I won't spend a dime there. Bought what I did out of town.

I'm aware of that…it is not Specialized/Felt/Cervelo/Trek/Giant's fault that the local pricing is the way it is, be it good pricing or bad. It is 100% a LBS issue. Personally…I don't have the time/want to attempt to contact manufactures about my LBS prices…I just don't care enough. Every bike brand I listed offers a high quality product, I knew that if I bought any of them, I'd be happy. It just came down to fit/model is all. I used to shoot competitively and would tell newcomers that Glock/Springfield Armory/HK/SIG/S&W…all offer quality, reliable firearms. Simply pick what you like best. I knew that if I got any of my local brands, I'd be happy with the quality.

I like Specialized…I also like Cervelo. Price for price, I would have first picked a Cervelo S2 but such is life…they wouldn't budge on their higher than MSRP price so I went for my No.2…the Tarmac.

Now, I'm not going to say if I would have been happier/not happier with the S2 because I simple do not know, what I do know is that I am elated with my Tarmac thus far. I had a great season on it last summer.

When time comes for me to get another bike…perhaps I will make a drive, who knows (I have been looking heavy at BMC frames…LOL). I know my other LBS sure as hell haven't changed their prices any. I know my dousing just got a "deal" from the Trek/Cervelo store on a overly used, floor model Trek Domane 4. Damn thing was so dirty…the white bar tape was mucked up and separated at the wraps…yet he thought his "$250 off of MSRP" was some sort of steal…*jerk off motion*

Long story short…your right, Specialized had nothing to do with it. Getting a very large discount on a great bike did…and that's why I now own a Tarmac.

What do you mean "last"?

Vancouver BC ? I live close never want to live there and pay So Cal house prices for a place you can't do outdoor activities half the year. Fail

Can't do outdoor activities half the year? Put on some gore-text and nut up son. Where I live it's -18c and we have about 4' of snow. I'd kill to live somewhere balmy like Van.

I've had many bikes over the years. Giant and Cannondale mainly. The Roubaix I have now is hands down the finest ride I've ever been on. Honestly, I don't care if Sinyard robs a bank or gives the finger to nuns.

Bicycles have cockpits ??

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/350/pict0013ago6.jpg

...please turn off all cell phones and personal electronics, make certain your seat back is in the full upright position, and your seat belt is securely fastened.

I don't "hate" them, but I don't like them either.

There's this
plus

plus fugly colors.

Lastly, and most importantly, I did a 50 mile test ride on a Tarmac, and I just didn't like the geometry, or the ride quality. I'm not a hater, I guess I'm a "disliker".

The handlebar, stem and seat post. Isn't it called a cockpit?

So not many fans of the Roubiax frames I take it? Yes, the top tube curve is ugly. But that fit is perfection, when they say medium its a medium. Unlike Giant which is all over the map size wise.

Now THAT is a cockpit. Fred-tastic. Plain old bars & stem I call bars & stem.

what is so special about specialized? are they innovative or just a "me too" company? i think there are plenty of other great bikes out there not run from the dark side.

Such as?

The beef that I had with Specialized was because 2 years after buying my wife a Ruby Comp, the bearing cones burned up. I understood that this was an issue with setup (LBS's fault) but the problem was that Specialized was completely unable to provide a single piece of information on who even made the hubs for that particular model wheelset...the wheelset that had the specialized symbol etched into the hub shell. This is the kind of product support I would expect if I was ordering my bike from an online import only bike dealer, where it's generally assumed that you're on your own, but this bike was new from my LBS. They basically gave my LBS the run around and I eventually came here to BF and posted pictures and measured dimensions of the needed cones and a helpful user on the Mechanic's Forum was able to find me the needed parts. < $10 repair and Specialized's response was "uh, I don't know." Poor product support in the presence of other comparable options in the market = No reason purchasing from them again. No hatred, just avoidance based on past experience. Nothing at all unreasonable about it. I agree that this is a silly discussion...but on the off chance that you actually wanted an answer...now you have mine.

-Jeremy

....I dunno if they're any good or not, but Volagi is still in business after paying off the dollar in the Specialized lawsuit against them.

specialized is part owned by Taiwanese company Merida. Just saying.

I've had nothing but good experiences with Specialized. When I snapped a brand new DuraAce chain on my new Roubaix causing me to drop onto my Specialized saddle and bend the rails, Specialized insisted on replacing the saddle right away. I contacted Shimano about the chain and they blamed the LBS for a faulty install. When the Specialized rep came into the LBS and heard about that, he offered to get me a new chain too.

Over the years I've had 2 Rockhoppers, 2 StumpJumpers, 1 Epic, 1 Roubaix, and 1 Source. Although I think their customer service is excellent, and I think they provide an excellent product, I'm aware that several other companies provide excellent services and products too. But the reason I keep coming back to Specialized is that I love the way they look and I love the way they ride. Personally, I'm glad we have the options out there ... otherwise we'd all be riding the same bike.