Specialized Sirrus

Price Paid:  $500.00 at bobs

Model Year:
2003

Favorite Ride:
american river and napa

Bike Setup:
stock sora and drop bars.

Summary:
very good bike after a few upgrades: drip bars, lighter seatpost, tires, and seat. also picked up carbon forks on ebay. light and enjoyable ride with decent handling and braking. no issues with componants and very reliable.

Strengths:
price, quality.

Weaknesses:
too sensitive at higher speeds.

Price Paid:  $425.00 at Ski Market

Model Year:
2003

Favorite Ride:
commute to work

Bike Setup:
Stock except for peddles

Summary:
First commuter bike. I love the ergonomics. It is light and quick and unlike the other fellow my frame has stood up to 2000 miles of Boston roads perfectly. The stock parts for this "low end" bike have stood up to an absolute beating. At $500 it is a good deal.

Now that I have said that: The frame is really stiff (which is why it is so quick) but for my needs, commuting in a Northeastern city, it is too stiff.

I am selling this bike and getting the Jamis Coda. It seems to be comparible in many ways to this great bike with the exception of a steel frame. Haven ridden friends steel bike this flex should solve my problem of "feel-every-pebble-in-the-road-itis"

Strengths:
Ergos, components, quickness and price

Weaknesses:
Stiff frame

Similar Products Used:
Various steel framed bikes

Price Paid:  $325.00 at conte's

Model Year:
2003

Favorite Ride:
Riverside Drive, richmond va

Bike Setup:
I changed out the flat handlebars for drops and had to get brake levers and shifters to go with the drops. Feels great now.

Summary:
I got the bike because the price was right. It was almost a road bike--which is what I wanted--but didn't cost nearly as much. I got it and immediately set about swapping out the handlebars. I have had no problems. I ride it everywhere I go, not just for training and, as such, it gets a lot of wear. But everything seems to remain in order. There is nothing great about this bike, but it does its job well enough. If you want a beater bike then this will do... but get rid of the flat handlebars.

Strengths:
Does what it is intended to do and has given me no problems as yet.

Weaknesses:
The brakes squeal. The derailers are not as smooth as higher end models, but that's to be expected. The seat shock is useless.

Similar Products Used:
This is my first road bike.

Price Paid:  $489.00 at Landis, Tempe

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Anything at South Mountian, National, Mormon, Road up to the top

Bike Setup:
Stock, 8 speed generic shimano, 175 mm cranks. Essentially, everything about this bike screams mountian except the skinny wheels.

Summary:
Not bad so far, but I've seen some of the same problems other members have mentioned. I do like the upright position, which took me a while to appreciate. It's a quick ride for trips to work and shopping.

Strengths:
Upright position,

Weaknesses:
Poorly built wheels. I spent several hours over several days of riding trying to get the spokes tensioned and the wheel true.
The seat is terrible. It compresses instantly and left my but sore. A new Brooks B17 right out of the box was much more comfortable.
Incurable heel clearance problems with panniers due to mountian geometry, that is sloping top tube and seat tube and short chainstays (and huge feet)

Similar Products Used:
I tried several hybrid and cross bikes.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Flanders Minneapolis

Model Year:
2005

Bike Setup:
Factory w/ handle bar extenders. Will add SPD next year.

Summary:
A great overall bike. Fun to ride on trails and good road. Good road feel on smooth surfaces.

Strengths:
Positive gearing. Fast. Good weight. Factory Toe clips ok, but will upgrade to SPD soon.

Weaknesses:
Wheels out of true after 30 days - does not like rough road riding. An intermittent "clicking" has developed in the main pedal shaft - might be a bad bearing. The small & lighter street tires causes instability with "hands off" riding. Hard cornering w/ lean causes wheels to torque and rub against the break pads. Factory toe clips tend to drag on the ground when inverted - very annoying. Cannot adjust handlebars up & down. On soft or harsh road conditions, the bike tends to be unstable - I blame the wheels and narrow street tires for most of this. The bike instability and wheel issues are unexpected for a hybrid.

Similar Products Used:
This is my first new bike since my 12 year old Raliegh and my 15 year old Fuji before that. Both were incredibly solid and well built bikes - though a little heavy. I'd still have my Fuji if someone hadn't of stolen it.