His 'n Hers

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MikeG

Guru
Location
Suffolk
We've ridden around on old clunkers for years, and always talked of the day we would treat ourselves to some decent bikes. My wife did Land's End to John O'Groats with me on a bike that looked (and felt) like it was made from scaffold poles, and my old Ridgeback hybrid has done nearly 20,000 miles, so we've earned these new carbon fibre jobbies. A neck operation last June has enabled me to go to drops. If only the roads would dry up a bit because we can't wait to get out on them.

Specialized Roubaix Sport and Specialized Ruby something or other.....compact.

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ScotiaLass

Guru
Location
Middle Earth
Beautiful!
 
OP
OP
MikeG

MikeG

Guru
Location
Suffolk
Oooh, lots of people like our bikes! I even got a trophy :smile: Thanks.

The worst thing about having shiny fresh-out-the-packet bikes in the middle of winter is that you can't really ride them. They sit there in the bike shed, calling you, tempting you, but also, in a way teasing you. There is just so much rubbish in the lanes around here that we'd wreck them if we took them out now, so we have to wait....... My old bike now becomes my winter bike (I always wanted to say that!! :smile: )

When I say they're fast, let's use this example. If I bust a gut on my old bike, I can average 17mph on a 20 mile ride, just, but that is absolutely flooring it. Most rides are 15 ish. Well, I rode my new bike home from the bike shop, 21 miles, and was actually just fiddling with stuff: playing with the new computer, trying the very different gears, swerving around on the road to get used to the slightly livelier geometry, playing with the lights, and not really concentrating on riding at all. When I got home, I still hadn't worked out how the computer worked, so took it off the bike and sat inside with the instruction manual, and eventually found the average screen........17.5 mph!!! I've NEVER averaged that on my old bike, and I did it on the new one without trying. That's at least 2 mph, (and maybe 3) faster than I would have been on my other bike.

The only downside is the saddle, hence my question about the Charge Scoop a couple of days ago. After all the thousands of miles I have done I shouldn't be suffering like this, but that new saddle is killing me!! (I have taken it off the Roubaix and have it on my old bike, just to see if I can get used to it).

Damn, I want to ride it!

Mike
 

ScotiaLass

Guru
Location
Middle Earth
I sympathise! My lovely shiny bike is sitting here in the hall, waiting for a decent day!
I'm hoping Monday will see me get a decent run out.
 

Mike!

Guru
Location
Suffolk
Nice! I too have a new bike which has not been ridden yet due to the weather. Today was gorgeous and would have been ideal but I had to work :-(
 

buggi

Bird Saviour
Location
Solihull
change the saddle. They always put the skinniest saddle on at the factory. As they are specialized, the shop that supplied them should have a pad that will measure your sit bones. Nip back in first chance you get. If they keep the old one they will prob give you a discount on the new one. If no discount offered keep the old saddle and whack it on ebay.
 
OP
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MikeG

MikeG

Guru
Location
Suffolk
I'm on my 3rd (and last) Specialized saddle, buggi. The Avatar is the most "comfortable" in their range, but it just doesn't suit me. I did sit on the foam thingy, so I know I have the right size. The shop wanted me to stick to Specialized first of all, but now they are going to start trying other brands. I'm keen to try the Charge Scoop, but I'll sit on anything that works for my posterior.
 

PaulSecteur

No longer a Specialized fanboy
Have you tried the Specialized Toupe or Romin saddles?

As an owner of a mid range Secteur and Roubaix (2010, 2011) I can say I hated the standard saddles. I can get by with a toupe, but a romin is more comfortable.

They can be ebayed cheaply if you don't mind a tatty one to try it out, or specilaized concept stores used to offer a 30 day change period if you had the saddle sized by them - not sue if this is still running.
 
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