Light, affordable and a nice compact fit. Rides well and climbs well. Carbon fork, damped seat post and handle bar brakes (great on a down hill).

Stiff frame and a lower quality stock components.

To set the context right I am 160lbs and 5'10". When I purchased this bike I was just getting into road biking and this bike was a great way to get started. I had bought the bike at a closeout. I picked this from a number of other entry level bikes for the fit, and also I wanted a more upright position to ride in. I ride a medium compact frame(Specialized bikes are all compact, I think). I have more than 2000 miles on this bike and have not had to replace anything for wear and tear except for a new set of tires. Very early I had replaced the stock cassette with an 8 speed Shimano XTR 12-28 to help me in the climbs. I ride with Shimano SPD pedals as well. The bike is great. It rides well and climbs well. One of its understated features, the handle bar brakes, which are unique to this bike, served me really well. For an Aluminum frame it is a surprisingly light bike. It has comes with a carbon fork and a spring loaded seat post (which compensates for the stiffness of the frame). I could not have picked a better road bike for the level of proficiency I had when I bought it. I had tried out a couple of Treks and REI stock bikes before purchasing this. If you are serious biker (that I think I have evolved to now) this bike has a few drawbacks. The brakes squeal (mostly the rear wheel) after awhile. You can get rid of squealing by cleaning the bicycle rim with mildly abrasive gauze. I only had to do this once (after about 1700 miles). Shifting with the stock Shimano components is a little too mechanical and not as smooth. The Aluminum frame is a little too stiff for me on the long rides, and does not corner as well other higher end road bikes. All these comments have to be taken in context to what I had paid for the bike.

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My first road bike.

Comfortable light forks are a big improvement over their aluminium cousins. Sprung seat & padded handlebars another nice touch making long days in the saddle survivable. Quality headset.

To cheap levers/ derailers. Lack of handlebar space for lights, computer etc. due to extra brake levers. Seat guide - plastic (!) key broke meaning seat kepts sliding to the right. Saddle shape, good rear support but dangerous nose!

Liked the bike from the start because of the smooth ride and adjustable everything. Wanted something that you can keep up on a club ride then ride home after either fast or enjoying the sights - its spot on for this. Yes the brakes squeal but alerts others including cars - good! For the A$ price the derailer/gear set is substandard. Tossed the rear cogs from the start but still can’t find the right combo for leisurely tiki touring versus trying to keep up with the (slower) pack. Anyway, will toss the whole setup and restart as soon as have the $, an excuse and improved fitness. Sprung saddle is good but will go to a solid option (carbon?) for feel. No problems fitting an MTX rack & Quick Track bag for day trips. Suspect this will also go for a saddle bag to reduce weight = search for speed as the bike does encourage / want you to go faster. From my looking around this is as close as you can get to buying a full-on road bike that’s still survivable and enjoyable, especially if it’s for day-to-day use as well. It provides enough flexibility to soup it up a bit although if you think you are going to want a full on road bike then go and buy that. Also you can commute to work, go to the cafes at the weekend, keep up on recreational club rides, and carry a (rear) load for a supported weekend trip. Don’t make smart comments to your friends on their full carbon frame roadster, and don’t plan on carrying more than the groceries or 2~3 days lunch & kit, but do plan on enjoying the ride – once we all replace the shoddy lever / derailer / gear set!

Light, good climbing, stiff frame rides well, fork is awesome and the seat shock, while not quite damped enough, makes the potholes easier to take (though I worry about the effect they have on my wheels). The inline second pair of brake levers is amazing, especially on downhills.

Some issues cornering tightly, brake squeal even with clean pads/rims, wheels don't stay true very well, brakes a little small for 700x26c tires. Interesting problem with front derailleur cable - the housing (it's an indexed shifter) shredded the ferrule on the shifter end of the cable, making the derailleur unusable. Fixed by replacing the cable, but I'm worried it might happen again. Oversized butted aluminum frame makes this bike about as stiff as steel, but harder to attach accessories!

I ride recreationally as well as commuting, but I bought this bike for my rides over Cambridge's pothole-wracked streets. I'd say it payed off. Fast, light (I can lift it with one hand, which is new for me), responsive most of the time. This bike does what I want, climbs great, and fits fairly well. I've had it a little over a year without doing serious maintenance, and now I'm paying the price in worn parts, but it's still riding ok. Some of the "comfort" features are beginning to bug me, like the goo from the handlebar padding squeezing out through the tape (which slides over the padding's plastic exterior). The stock saddle is not bad, but somehow I haven't yet found quite the right position to keep me free from crotch pain. And occasionally the upright saddle position encouraged by the handlebar placement makes me wish I was on a pure racing bike. The drivetrain (Sora, I think, but I don't have it with me to check) started off great, but it's getting worn out by now. I like the gearing, although my small sprockets have been made useless by a combination of wear and derailleur issues. In general, I bought this because it was an entry level road bike for under a grand. Some compromise on component quality is clearly necessary to reach that price point, and I expected most of it to be more weight and more robust. I think it's actually a little less robust as well as heavier, so perhaps it's time to upgrade some parts. But for what you pay, you get a whole lot of bike!

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Only other road bike I've had was a friend's 1980 Miyata. A lot heavier, but free :) I like the specialized better overall, but I sometimes miss the feels of a well-made steel frame.

Responsive ride, non-rusting frame; comfortable handlebars; great fork; comfortable saddle and post; very useful extra break levers; and marvelous color and lines - draws compliments at tours.

Entry-level components, especially Sora shifters, etc are barely passable, especially for MSRP, which fortunately I didn't pay. Tires are difficult to dismount and remount.

This is my first road bike. Selected for comfortable fit for an older rider. Has never let me down on that score. I chose to upgrade components rather than give up my Sequoia for another brand. Even with added expense, I've come out ahead due to bargain sale price of the original.

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1996 Multi-Track TREK 7200 which went through two frames in sub-tropical climate, plus my original Shelby Flyer which lives on in my memory!

Comfort - love the seatpost, curvy handlebars and carbon fork. I can't compare the handlebars to regular drop bars since I've never used them, but I like the way the sweep back and allow a more upright position.

Minor glitches with the brakes rubbing - probably just LBS setup issues. Also, I'm running with 700x28mm tires, and there isn't enough clearance to remove the front tire easily - I need to take out some air first. Didn't like the stock saddle at all.

This is my first road bike - I've been riding a Specialized Hardrock with slicks for a couple years. I LOVE the bike. It is fast, comfortable, and fun to ride. For a long time I assumed that drop handlebars would be uncomfortable and unnecessary for a recreational rider - I'm not racing, so I don't want a race bike. Then I started noticing how uncomfortable my hands were on the flat mountain bike bar, and the fact that a drop bar gives so many more hand positions. The Sequoia seemed like a great compromise - more comfort than a "racing" bike, lots of hand positions, etc. I've had it a little over a month and have put over 200 miles on it.

Comfy -- goes over rough pavement w/o jarring the teeth loose. Combo of the carbon fork and the longer chain stays? Not sure if the suspension seat post does much (a good sign?). Body Geometry saddle works for me. It's wider at the back, is padded just about right, or a little too soft. The cut-out in the middle seems to do its job. The nose of the saddle could be a little narrower. Overall, any butt discomfort is comparable to the infamous "recumbent butt" from recumbent seats. Shifting -- Sora STI works fine, though the button isn't as nice as dual paddles. Compared to a recumbent with a 3x length chain w/ components not designed for that, shifting is unbelievably quick and smooth. Value - I got this bike on sale for about $700+tax. There are cheaper bikes with the same Sora stuff (K2 Mach 1.0, Specialized Allez), but I figure that the carbon fork, suspension seat post, adjustable stem, and extra set of MTB brake levers are worth it (I can drop features I don't really need after I'm dialed in). Fit -- compact geometry stuff is great for folks like me who have shorter legs and longer torsos

Lots of braze-ons, but most of them seem poorly thought out! I haven't been able to fit a rear rack on it despite it having the threaded eyelets on the dropouts and the braze-ons on the chain stays. The frame joint at the eyelets is too bulky to fit the rack I have. I think most any conventional rack would have the same problem. I might need to settle for a seat post rack. The third set of water bottle braze-ons, on the underside of the down tube, is blocked by the rear brake and derailleur cables. I suppose that could be a build issue by the LBS, and I could probably move the cable guide at the BB shell. Integrated Headset -- is this controversy hashed out yet? works fine, but I worry over long term viability Generic upright bike weaknesses: I still haven't found really comfy hand positions yet, but that might not be specific to this bike. The Body Geometry handlebars seem more gimmick than real solution (whereas the saddle is for real). Need to be careful with seating position during rides to avoid "busting a nut".

Wow, what a difference a properly sized bike can make. I gave up riding uprights for recumbents a few years ago because my body just couldn't take the pain (just about every part of my body) I had on my 56cm Trek road bike. I decided to give uprights another chance when I wanted something lighter, simpler and faster than my recumbent tadpole tricycle (www.trimuter.com). The Sequoia Sport was the first upright I tried, though the bike shop had only a Small sized bike built up. It was a little cramped, but felt comfy, certainly less harsh than the other bikes I had tried. I ended up buying a Medium sized Sequoia Sport (equivalent of a 54cm). It's pretty much what I wanted. In addition to being comfy enough, I was instantly 2mph faster on average on my standard commuting route. I was flying up hills without even trying hard or getting out of the saddle, which I couldn't do on the recumbent. This thing just wants to go (though my brother, who now owns the Trek that I gave upon several years ago, says that the Sequoia seems slow compared to that Trek). On one fantastic ride where I wanted to get home from work ASAP because of looming storm clouds, I actually went 4mph faster than my personal best on the recumbent trike. That was just the perfect commute ride though--I had all the green lights, there wasn't much car traffic, and the downpour didn't start until I was well within the comforts of home. Overall, I am comfortable on this bike, at least for the 10 mile commute route to work. I haven't done longer rides, but I don't really care too--if I'm going to do a long ride, I'll take the trike. I still need to work out good hand positions. I hope the adjustability of this bike can make that work out.

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Bikes recently test ridden: Specialized Allez Trek 2000 LeMond Nevada City Bikes I seriously considered buying sight unseen: K2 Mach 1.0 (had a super deal at REI.com) Trek Tri-Series (this

Strong, stiff frame...even in the extra large (61cm). Very responsive bike. My bad back really appreciates the suspension seatpost and the adjustable stem. The carbon leg fork also helps smooth the ride. I like the Body Geometry bars wrapped with gel cork ribbon...very comfortable. The secondary brake levers on the horizontals add some weight but why would a Clydesdale like me worry about that? Really, they are one of factors that attracted me to this ride.

Comes with anything but high-end components...whadda ya want for $820? This bike is very worthy of top of the line upgrades though. Can't wait to wear out some parts so I can move on up. The seat has a little too much padding for my comfort in the 'taint area.

I love this bike! After riding MTB on my Sugar 4 for 2+ years, I realized I needed road time to add that extra strength to my XC riding. This is a perfect training bike for a large rider like myself. I'm nearly 230 pounds and I've put over 500 trouble-free miles on this bike in 2 months. Terrific bike for anyone on a budget. Specialized has put together a bike that is sure to be a hit with an awful lot of riders.

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This is my first real road bike but I feel very lucky to have picked this winner.