My girlfriend is looking at getting her first road bike. She has never ridden a road bike until this past Friday when she test road a Dolce. She currently rides a Fuji Absolute which is like a commuter/hybrid bike. We only have been riding Fuji because that is what the closest lbs sells however we went into a really nice bike shop about 40 miles from home and I think I found my new lbs. The service, selection, and pricing was great. My question is, she test road a 2011 Specialized Dolce and really liked it. She went to the website and really likes the 2012 Dolce Triple. What are the differences in the different Dolce's? I am trying to stay relatively cheap since this is her first road bike. What are your guys/gals opinions? Thanks in advance.
Thinking about Specialized Dolce
smoothie7
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I signed my wife up for a century in May and she has been riding my 2010 GT Series 4 but has been uncomfortable on it. Went to the LBS here yeaterday to see about fitting and she ended up walking out the door with a '11 Dolce Elite with the Apex drivetrain.
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Got the Dolce compact this past weekend for my wife...her first road bike. She really liked the secondary brake levers since she hasn't been very comfortable riding. One of those comfort deals, I think. Good luck choosing.
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Rapunzara, I understand where you're coming from. Personally I prefer the triple and am considering changing my compact over to a triple at some point, or at minimum switching out the inside ring for something closer to what the middle ring on my triple.
Hi there,
I Know this is an old post but i am unable to do a new thread as I'm a newbie. I was wondering what you all think about the 2012 specialized dolce elite, and is it worth the $1400 price tag? I am trying to decide which one to get. I like the ride when i test drove it but i am not that experienced of a rider to know the difference between road bikes. I was just thinking if i should get this or a lower end model such as a dolce comp or triple sport. Is there an added advantage with getting the elite? I was told by my LBS that this has higher components but what would that mean for a rider like me? This would be my first road bike as i am transitioning from a mountain bike. I like the specialized womens specific bikes like the dolce. I am a recreational rider, one to two times per week and doing 20-30 miles. Future plans for road biking would be doing harity events. Any advice as to which dolce would give me the best bang for my buck for a recreational rider like me would be highly appreciated. Thanks!
I Know this is an old post but i am unable to do a new thread as I'm a newbie. I was wondering what you all think about the 2012 specialized dolce elite, and is it worth the $1400 price tag? I am trying to decide which one to get. I like the ride when i test drove it but i am not that experienced of a rider to know the difference between road bikes. I was just thinking if i should get this or a lower end model such as a dolce comp or triple sport. Is there an added advantage with getting the elite? I was told by my LBS that this has higher components but what would that mean for a rider like me? This would be my first road bike as i am transitioning from a mountain bike. I like the specialized womens specific bikes like the dolce. I am a recreational rider, one to two times per week and doing 20-30 miles. Future plans for road biking would be doing harity events. Any advice as to which dolce would give me the best bang for my buck for a recreational rider like me would be highly appreciated. Thanks!
The only way to tell is by riding it.... in particular, paying attention to the shift quality differences of the 10-speed tiagra and 9-speed sora. The tiagra will allow you to shift from the drops-- if you care about that.
the rear carbon legs with zertz inserts really benefit more on longer rides, where the high frequency vibrations doesn't wear you out as much.
If you decide to get the Sport with the Sora... that frees up money to buy stuff... like pedals, shoes, etc.
the Dolce Comp is a higher end model compared to the Elite BTW, which gets a 105 drivetrain or for slightly more money compared to the Elite, the SRAM Apex, which gets the 32T cassette....
tednugent,
I meant to say dolce compact or dolce triple. My LBS adviced me to get the dolce elite with the 10- speed since he said that is the standard these days. I intend to do longer rides so comfort is also important for me. I was not able to test ride the lower end dolces since they did not have any in my LBS. i really liked the elite, do you think the components is worth the price tag though? $1400 compared to $880 for the lower end dolces? Would a 10-speed tiagra give me more power than the 9-speed sora? And yeah, thats what i was thinking too with accesories it can add up! On the other hand, i also dont wanna regret getting a less superior bike just for the cheaper price tag then if i'd want to upgrade sooner than later it would end up costing more.
Thanks!
I meant to say dolce compact or dolce triple. My LBS adviced me to get the dolce elite with the 10- speed since he said that is the standard these days. I intend to do longer rides so comfort is also important for me. I was not able to test ride the lower end dolces since they did not have any in my LBS. i really liked the elite, do you think the components is worth the price tag though? $1400 compared to $880 for the lower end dolces? Would a 10-speed tiagra give me more power than the 9-speed sora? And yeah, thats what i was thinking too with accesories it can add up! On the other hand, i also dont wanna regret getting a less superior bike just for the cheaper price tag then if i'd want to upgrade sooner than later it would end up costing more.
Thanks!
people say, the front derailleur on a triple is more difficult to shift than a double or compact crank.
But, the triple crank does allow for easier hillclimbs.
10-speed is the norm these days. 10-speed cassette gives you more increments between the biggest cog & the smallest cog, so you find the right gear for the right time.
Bridging the cap between a regular compact crank 10-speed and a triple crank is SRAM's Apex, with the 32T cassette.....which is another $150 on top of the Elite.
Which one to get? All I can say is... test ride all of them. Since they didn't have the lower end Dolce... see if they have an equivalent Secteur to test.
But, the triple crank does allow for easier hillclimbs.
10-speed is the norm these days. 10-speed cassette gives you more increments between the biggest cog & the smallest cog, so you find the right gear for the right time.
Bridging the cap between a regular compact crank 10-speed and a triple crank is SRAM's Apex, with the 32T cassette.....which is another $150 on top of the Elite.
Which one to get? All I can say is... test ride all of them. Since they didn't have the lower end Dolce... see if they have an equivalent Secteur to test.
Tednugent,
I appreciate your input. I hear that about the triple crankset, also hear something about chain rubbing. Hmm...ill have to see the difference to find out for myself. But dont think i'm gonna be doing a lot pf climbing with my road bike. Plan to test ride this monday and get fitted to make sure everything is compatible with my body type. Will post what i end up getting! On the side note, i got to test drive a friend's orbea opal today. I have to say i really liked it! Very fast ride.
I appreciate your input. I hear that about the triple crankset, also hear something about chain rubbing. Hmm...ill have to see the difference to find out for myself. But dont think i'm gonna be doing a lot pf climbing with my road bike. Plan to test ride this monday and get fitted to make sure everything is compatible with my body type. Will post what i end up getting! On the side note, i got to test drive a friend's orbea opal today. I have to say i really liked it! Very fast ride.
[edit: I'm sorry, I just noticed I posted just about the same thing a few months ago in this same thread! I just clicked on the second page, saw the debate on the crank, and just did my usual thang... anyway, I still think this way, and just since i didn't mention it again, the Dolce is an excellent frame and the WSD, while not essential, does come with some features that a woman's stature may benefit from]
That thing about triples being more difficult to shift or fussier than doubles really perplexes me. Yes, it definitely is "conventional wisdom", but I doubt that anyone who has actually ridden a properly tuned triple and a properly tuned Compact Double would say that.
To me, the triple is far superior in several respects (I currently ride both a good quality Ultegra triple and a good quality Sram Red compact double):
first, the jumps between the chain wheels is much smaller than with the compact double, therfore front shifting is smoother.
Second, since those jumps are smaller, when you do shif the front, you have far less shifting in the back to accomodate the jumps. Far less "double shifting" with the triple in order to keep a regular cadence rate.
Third, the triple has the middle ring which is extremely versitile. Most riders can just camp on that middle ring for a huge proportion of the time and just shift in back.
Finally, for any given cassette, the triple gives you approximately two lower gears. This is extremely important for the fun factor if leg strength or hill steepness is at all a factor, or if the rider is uncomfortable standing to pedal. If you match the lowest gears on both rigs, the triple will require a smaller largest cog in back compared to the compact double. Therefore, the gear spacing in back will be tighter, again... advantage triple.
The only reason to get a compact is if you really, really don't need the low gears and/or you jsut can't stand the thought of a triple on a road bike (a very silly thought, imho). I think compact cranks are fine, but not optimum for people who buy them for their designed purpose, lower gears. They certainly don't shift better. If you don't need the low gears, either get a conventional double or at the very least, minimize the jumps in your compact double by getting a 36 tooth small ring instead of the 34. If you need the gears, don't drink the Compact Coolaid, get a triple if it's offered.
As for Sora vs. Tiagra. The difference between 9 speed and 10 speed is pretty much meaningless (again, I currently ride both). That's not the decision point AT ALL, no matter what the sales guy says. It's just BS. 9 speed cassettes will not be hard to find in our lifetimes.
The real question is which shifters the rider prefers. They are distinctly different in shape and function. My wife's road bike (a Dolce Elite Triple) has Tiagra and it works perfectly. She rented a road bike and rode it 200 miles last sumer and actually preferred the Sora on that bike - she liked the way it shifted, and it was better suited to her hand and riding style (never in the drops). The Tiagra is absolutely fine with her, but if we had ridden both before purchase, I'd bet she would have chosen Sora. But everyone has their own preference. Both work perfectly.
I agree with everything Camilo says. I have an triple and it's smoother as butter. I ride on the middle ring 90% of the time. I have 52/42/30 and 12-25 combo. I really like the close spacing of of the gears that the 12-25 offers.
Here's a link that compares available gear ratios of a triple vs compact double.
You should give some thought about what kind of gearing you want. You can't simply swap out a 11-28 cassette for a 12-32. You might also need to swap out the derailleur and/or chain as well. This would add to the cost of the bike.
Personally, I think Tiagra + better other bits is a good investment over Sora. But as you are not going to ride it hard (powerwise, that is, eg lots of hills and acceleration) Sora will probably be acceptable.
I find the price of Specialized bikes to be higher than comparable Trek and Cannondale bikes. Have you tried any of these bikes?
Here's a link that compares available gear ratios of a triple vs compact double.
You should give some thought about what kind of gearing you want. You can't simply swap out a 11-28 cassette for a 12-32. You might also need to swap out the derailleur and/or chain as well. This would add to the cost of the bike.
Personally, I think Tiagra + better other bits is a good investment over Sora. But as you are not going to ride it hard (powerwise, that is, eg lots of hills and acceleration) Sora will probably be acceptable.
I find the price of Specialized bikes to be higher than comparable Trek and Cannondale bikes. Have you tried any of these bikes?
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My wife doesn't intend to race so she opted for the base model at $880 (-10%) as a recreational rider. Personal preference and a fear of spending extra money were her deciding points. She also tried the Trek Lexa series.
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The Treks are good.
I predict she'll be very happy. Just make sure she gets a comfortable saddle and get the handlebars up where she feels comfortable. Don't spare any expense or effort on the saddle or fit, and don't get hung up on making the bike "racy" in terms of saddle-bar drop unless she likes it. My wife happened to like the stock Dolce saddle (some sort of specialized brand), but also experimented with a couple different Bontrager.
Also make sure you are super particular in keeping the shifting right on - there's nothing more discouraging to a beginning rider than flawed shifting.
Finally, the stock brake pads on my wife's Dolce Elite got pretty noisy after just a few hundred miles. I have no idea why. I tried cleaning the rims and pads, but still got a lot of brake "raspyness" sound - loud scraping like sound. I simply bought some good quality replacement pads from the LBS and now the are silent and take less hand force to engage.
My wife has gone from triple to compact and back to triple. We've been riding now for about 10 years and did a very hilly (well, for Michigan!) 15 miles last weekend. We both spent a lot of time in our grannies, and she said she'd always want a triple.
Her bike, btw, is a steel Georgena Terry, designed and built by women for women. I'd recommend giving them a look.
Her bike, btw, is a steel Georgena Terry, designed and built by women for women. I'd recommend giving them a look.
My personal journey with bikes: I started with a comfort bike about 4 years ago and decided to move on to a road bike as I began to ride longer distances. I'm a recreational rider like yourself. No races, no group rides.
I bought a 2009 Dolce Elite to reward myself for successfully meeting a weight loss goal, but had test-rode the "base" Dolce several times. If I had it to do over again, I would have probably saved myself the $400 difference in price and purchased the base model. Not that I don't like the Elite-it's a beautiful bike and fun to ride on smoother pavement.
In the next two years I went on to get a hybrid and a touring bike-both with steel frames. Obviously I can't ride all three at once, so I switch back and forth. I'm finding that I prefer steel. I also like having a rear rack and going to yard sales while out with the bike. So the fancy Dolce is left behind while one of the steel workhorses goes to battle. I probably couldn't have predicted all this when I started...it's just the way it evolved.
I've just ordered slightly wider tires for the Dolce in an attempt to change that. Our broken-up roads are not much fun, and I'm hoping the ride smooths out a bit so I use it more this year. (BTW, if you do decide to go with the more expensive model, you can still have the cross brake levers installed if you choose.)
I bought a 2009 Dolce Elite to reward myself for successfully meeting a weight loss goal, but had test-rode the "base" Dolce several times. If I had it to do over again, I would have probably saved myself the $400 difference in price and purchased the base model. Not that I don't like the Elite-it's a beautiful bike and fun to ride on smoother pavement.
In the next two years I went on to get a hybrid and a touring bike-both with steel frames. Obviously I can't ride all three at once, so I switch back and forth. I'm finding that I prefer steel. I also like having a rear rack and going to yard sales while out with the bike. So the fancy Dolce is left behind while one of the steel workhorses goes to battle. I probably couldn't have predicted all this when I started...it's just the way it evolved.
I've just ordered slightly wider tires for the Dolce in an attempt to change that. Our broken-up roads are not much fun, and I'm hoping the ride smooths out a bit so I use it more this year. (BTW, if you do decide to go with the more expensive model, you can still have the cross brake levers installed if you choose.)
So to update, my partner ended up getting the dolce elite. On the other hand, I ended up with a 2006 orbea opal. I brought it to my LBS and got fitted right. Had to spend money on a shorter stem, emergency essentials, water bottle cages...overall I am happy with the ride. I have only ridden it for 30 miles but plan on riding more next week. I am curious though, how much does an average tune up cost? Like brake adjustments, etc...maybe even shortening cables cost? lBS charges $65 and I'm just curious if this is average. How about replacing handle bar grips, how much would that be on average? As a newbie, I plan to use my LBS for now. Maybe later on I will invest on books and tools to do tune ups myself.
I would go with the Elite to get the better group (tiagra vs. sora) for smoother shifting. Although it's worth mentioning that for about $1400, I think you could do better. Check out the Jamis Ventura Race. For the same price you get a 105 group. Or Giant has the Avail Inspire ($1360) with 105 derailluers, where it matters most.
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