How could I have got it so wrong!

[Globalti]

I don't know why people deride Specialized, my first mountain bike was a Specialized and we have four Specialized bikes in our garage; they are all great bikes and the buying experience from either the dealer or the Specialized Concept Store has always been first class. The only fault I found with them was when I bought my Roubaix and they looked at my age and set it up with the stem canted upwards at a ridiculous "comfort" angle, which I found rather patronising. It soon got flipped and the shim reversed to bring it down to the proper horizontal position for an ageing hooligan!

 

[mjr]

Because they like them and have no idea what you're referring to

Roubaix - https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/specialized-you-may-want-to-rethink-this-one.145144/ my summary: Specialized claimed the word "Roubaix" as a trademark and moved to put a cycling cafe called Cafe Roubaix out of business... until it turned out that Specialized weren't the only ones with it as a trademark in some places, which is still dodgy for a place name with such a long cycling history. The eventual apology was underwhelming IMO, making one exception because they were caught out that time. https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/roubaix-mike-sinyards-apology.145503/

Body paint women - https://twitter.com/saramic/status/408755211566477312 my summary: women wearing mostly body paint launched a Specialized store in Australia. IIRC, Specialized said their dealers were nothing to do with them.

 

[User16625]

Have you compared the geometries to see where the differences are? Top tube, headtube height.
Another thing, especially for hands and elbows, are the bars the same width and shape?

We're the falls clipless moments, 5 sounds quite a lot in 6 months

Hopefully you did t lose too much money on the Dolce?

OP. what was it about the hybrid that made you want a road bike? Or did you just fancy a shiny new road bike?

 

[Cyclist33]

I went over to a road bike in December last year. I was at the time doing around 100 miles a week on a hybrid.

I researched road bikes for over two or three months and ended up with a lot of knowledge, so finally plucked for a £800 Specialized Dolce Sport (female) and started my road biking with excitement.

I fell off it five times but only once badly, had very bad hands from day one and my feet went numb. Ended up needing physio for golfer and tennis elbow which kept me off for a few weeks. Got that sorted and then had another bike fit as it wasn't feeling right at all. My avg speed was worse than on my hybrid - but kept on going. Was noticing it was a lot more effort getting out and dreaded my rides and my mileage went down to 30 a week.

When I did a few miles and ended up in tears on my way back as my hands where very numb and painful I decided to get a different bike as I felt it had never worked for me, it was a big gamble as it was another £800 bike.

I got a Giant Liv Avail 2 completely different frame. It paid off! No numb hands or painful. My elbows seem better and my experience is just as nice as when I went out on my hybrid.

It seems the Specialized was a mistake! But how can a different bike have solved my issue, surely when I buy a bike and get fitted to it twice it wouldn't be such a horrible experience. I'm glad I was determined and kept on as I enjoy cycling immensely.

I'm faster and more confident and my other half days he noticed me getting up hills a lot quicker than before.

So, if you're buying a new racer it doesn't matter what group set you have or what wheels come with it, if you get the frame wrong - you get it all wrong!

Please quote the year, model and frame size of each of those two bikes...?

 

[Crackle]

Have you compared the geometries to see where the differences are? Top tube, headtube height.
Another thing, especially for hands and elbows, are the bars the same width and shape?

I'm with Vickster on this one. Take the time to figure out what is the difference between the two. Doing so will stand you in good stead should you need to change bikes in future and will also enable you to put in some constructive feedback during any other bike fit.

Well done for sticking at it too.

 

[Doobiesis]

Please quote the year, model and frame size of each of those two bikes...?

They're both 2015 models. Frame size of Specialized Dolce Sport was 54 and the frame size for my Giant Liv avail 2 is 50.

 

[Doobiesis]

OP. what was it about the hybrid that made you want a road bike? Or did you just fancy a shiny new road bike?

The hybrid I had was an Ariel Disc and as I used it on road only I wanted to go across to a road bike. Seemed the obvious choice as if gotten on so well with the hybrid.

 

[Cyclist33]

I'm just being curious/nosey - going to go and compare geometries and see what might have gone wrong.

I have a feeling that one of my bikes has a steeper head angle than the others and this might make vibration up the fork feel more keen...

 

[Milkfloat]

They're both 2015 models. Frame size of Specialized Dolce Sport was 54 and the frame size for my Giant Liv avail 2 is 50.

The geometry for the two is very similar. If you still have the specialized it may be worth getting out the tape measure and trying to set it up as close as possible to the Giant.

 

[Cyclist33]

The geometry for the two is very similar. If you still have the specialized it may be worth getting out the tape measure and trying to set it up as close as possible to the Giant.

They are indeed very similar. It could be something as simple as one carbon fork transmitting road buzz more than the other. Or even just bar tape being less suited to your hands.

I note quoted stem length on the Dolce 54 is 90 mm. What is it on the Avail?

 

[Doobiesis]

It is 100mm stem - I guess it was not the right bike for me. I've sold the Dolce on and lost £400 on it

 

[Cyclist33]

Well, cest last vie. As a learning point, if it happened again you could've tried a longer stem on the dolce, 100 mm works on the avail so may have worked on the dolce. Damn sight cheaper than a new bike and a 400 quid loss.

 

[simon.r]

Glad you're sorted now, but as said above, things like stems, bars, bar-tape, saddles and seatposts can all be swapped relatively cheaply and make a big difference.

Having said that, sometimes if the frame's wrong it's just wrong!

 

[Doobiesis]

Even though I lost out on the Specialized. It was the right decision for me and I'm happy to go out rather than dread it.

 

[Saluki]

Well done on sticking with it. The Giant Avail is a great bike. I had a look at one but couldn't test ride the one that I wanted (the Envie Advanced 2) as they didn't have it in stock but I could test ride a different one and then order the one that I wanted. Personally I couldn't see the point in that which is why I went over to Planet X.
I would buy another Giant in a heartbeat as I love them and their geometry is right for me.
I hope that you have a lot of fun with your new Giant.