Specialized Sequoia Expert

Price Paid:  $1050.00 at Off Ramp/San Jose

Favorite Ride:
up Big Basin, Skyline, down Old El Honda Road to Sandhill/Foothill

Bike Setup:
Shimano 105 shift components. Mavic Open Pro Wheelset w/Ultegra hubs. Everything else is stock.

Summary:
I bought my Sequoia Expert Jan 2003, and use it to commute to work (30 miles a day), and ride in a few weekend centuries. The bike is VERY comfortable with the upright position, padded handlebars, and spring-loaded seat post. Shifting was easy and fairly solid, although not great. After flatting 3 times in the first few months, I went with the Armadillo tires - heavier and less handling, but for the commute, it worked fine. After about 5,000 miles I started breaking spokes, mostly on the front. It seems that this is one weakness on this bike, cheap spokes. After about the 7th broken spoke, I upgraded to the Mavic Open Pro wheelset. 10,000+ miles on it, and still going strong!

Strengths:
Comfort! My legs give out before everything else, unlike my old criterium race bike!

Weaknesses:
Weak spokes. Hard to fit lights and a computer on the cluttered handlebar with the extra brake levers. Stock tires easy to flat. Handlebar comes loose ever few months, have to tighten it up a lot.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Roubaix Comp.

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at Park Ave Bikes - Hen

Favorite Ride:
Letchworth Park

Bike Setup:
I swapped out the stem for a fixed one. Swapped the Turbo tires for Armadillos which have MUCH more flat protection. And traded in the SPD pedals for a $40 credit and added Crank Bros Eggbeater S pedals I bought on EBAY.

Summary:
This is a do_it_all road bike. It is the perfect bike for getting out and staying out on the road. It is comfortable for the long hauls, sturdy enough to get your laptop and clothes to work and fast enough for you to hang with the pack on group rides.

Basically it is a sport touring and recreational rider's dream. The fork noticeably minimizes vibration and the seatpost can smooth out bumps (make sure to set it correctly or you will bob up and down like a WalMart full suspension bike).

If you are looking to get into, or back into road riding this is the bike for you. It isn't a racer, but neither am I. I don't want to be looking at my eyebrows for the whole ride, I want to see what is around me.

I am a 205lb rider that commutes 60mi 2-3 times a week and takes long weekend rides and tours. This is the ultimate bike for me. Sturdy, reliable and not too pricey.

Strengths:
This bike is the jack of all trades. Rack mounts in back and fender mounts throughout. It can move, but is also comfortable. Very adjustable for the new rider. A great component group for the money as well.

Weaknesses:
I think I could live without the additional break levers. Whenever I have new cables put in those will go. Some may like them though.

The stem is a pain to adjust and just plain clunky. I replaed this with a swap at the store.

The tires are a bit too thin for me so I swapped them for Specialized Armadillos at no additional cost.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Sequoia. Somewhat similar bike, but more geared towards people

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
Upgraded to Ultegra brakes, Terry ti fly saddle, ITM stem and Durace chain.

Summary:
This bike was terrible from the beginning and got worse through the summer. I think that Specialized put an inferior product on the market. The brakes are unsafe, the triple chainring is junk, poor seat, pretty heavy for an aluminum frame. Dealer could not make the bike shift properly. Specailized would not respond to my E mails.

Strengths:
Percieved value, good looks.

Weaknesses:
Poor shifting on front triple chain ring, unsafe brakes. stiff ride despite all the gimmicks and Specialized.

Similar Products Used:
LeMond BA

Price Paid:  $999.00 at brands cycle & fitne

Bike Setup:
bike shop upgraded my pedals to clipless on one side and standard on the other for free. cateye computer

Summary:
i am reviewing the '04 elite, this is my first bike in 12 years (POS ross mtb - my other). i really like this bike. i just got it and have 10 miles on the bike. it is very solid. i had 2 problems, at higher speeds (for me 18+ mph) i did not feel stable using the top flat gripps with the second set of brakes - prefered having my hands wider gave me a feeling of more control. second problem was the chain came off the front gear. i am pretty sure it was my fault not used to the shiffing

i considered sirrus as well but opted for sequia because it gave me more hand prositions and the geomity is very similar

Strengths:
good value, has carbon in front and back, shock seat post smooths out the ride, can ride uprite and tucked

Weaknesses:
not the lightest bike but for me 6'3" and 230 a couple of pounds dont matter

Price Paid:  $1100.00 at Spindoctor Cyclewerk

Favorite Ride:
Illinois Prarie Path

Bike Setup:
Dual 5-LED Cateye headlights, 3-LED Cateye taillight, reflector tape in various places, seatpost bag, larger bag in front, creative front reflector placement. All components are stock.

Summary:
From 2000-2002 I rode a GT Nomad hybrid bike with front shocks and a seatpost shock. I like to ride on the local limestone path, so this was the bike for me. However after noticing other riders riding road bikes, I decided that I wanted something faster. After all I'm 21 years old and weigh 160 pounds. I need to show the world what I can do (lol) =P Actually, I didn't like the flat handlebars on my hybrid and really wanted drop handlebars. Plus anything to reduce resistance and weight provides a better bicycling experience (which the Sequoia has delivered).

I saw the Specialized Sequoia in Bicycling magazine and just loved the way it looked. I said to myself "that's my bike right there". I love silver. I liked the fact that the bike had brake levers up on top (which I admit I haven't been using as much as I thought I would). I'm glad that the Sequoia line offered a frame big enough for me. The extra large is perfect.

Overall the Sequoia has good looks and allows the rider to maintain a quick speed. It's a joy to ride.

Strengths:
It looks good
It's light
It's fast
The shifters are nice
All other components work well
No flat tires on a limestone path

Weaknesses:
It is a harsher ride than my hybrid bike. The carbon fiber materials don't quite absorb shock like real shock absorbers do. This is understandable, and I'd rather take the lesser weight.

I have had 3 flats in 6 months, but 2 were my fault. You see, if you pump up the tires to the recommended pressure, the rubber around the stem splits. I found this out the hard way. I've just been going by feel. When the tires are hard, I stop pumping. 1 flat came from street riding, which is suprizing because I expected more problems from the limestone path.

Putting accessories on this bike is a tricky proposition. There's no room for a rear reflector AND a rear light. I tried being creative but that didn't even prevail. I ended up taking off the rear reflector :( Because of the top brake levers, there's almost no room for headlights and computers. I had to tie the speedometer onto the handlebar in the middle with black sewing string so that I could fit dual headlights (after wrapping the string around about 150 times, it holds pretty good). I even had to modify the headlight brackets because they conflicted with the brake cables. I got it though (with a trip to the hardware store).

Similar Products Used:
Every bike I've bought has been lighter and faster than the last. The Sequoia is the lightest and fastest bike I've ever owned (which is understandable when you look at my list of bikes lol)

GT Nom