Specialized Ruby Elite Rival HRR (2014)

A goal scoring road bike for women

Pros

- Frame Endurance Design
- Quality Women's Specific Saddle
- Hydraulic Brakes (performance)

Cons

- Hydraulic Brakes (maintenance)

Review

Gone are the days of Women's Specific bikes being merely a slightly different color. Gone also are the days of mechanical braking. Wait, what!? When did that happen? Well it seems Specialized and SRAM are all about technological advancement both in their framesets and components respectively. It seems the two powerhouses in cycling have come together nicely in the form of the Specialized Ruby Elite Rival HRR 2014 - one of the best women's specific bikes we've seen in some time!

The full carbon fiber frame is world class, featuring some very clever shock absorption engineering which Specialized call 'Zerts'. These gel impregnated pads assist in absorbing excess vibration without affecting lateral stiffness too much. The rest of the carbon frame is made from Specialized's own FACT grade carbon, which highlights the oversized bottom bracket very well.

Significant improvements in the components of this bike will leave you asking "what more could I want!?". A flawless set of AXIS 2.0 wheels offer smooth rolling with an impressively responsive feel to them. Along with the frame characteristics, you'll definitely feel like you're riding a new bike!

SRAM have taken over the rest of the bike, with their components seen throughout the entire groupset. SRAM Rival derailleurs do all the shifting work while you ride, offering a reputably smooth yet concise shifting feel to them. The SRAM S Series crankset has proven to be another good choice in reliable components, especially on a bike targeted at endurance riding.

Now about those hydraulic road brakes - SRAM has fitted a set of SRAM S Series brakes which offer increased stopping power and brake reliability over traditional road brakes. We can only say they tick all the boxes! The brakes are not overly sharp either, with good modulation and feel, despite being more powerful than mechanical brakes. The only drawback is greater maintenance cost and complexity, but we think this is the future so get used to it!

Last but not least, the smaller details in the package - saddle, handlebars, stem and seatpost! It's easy to cut corners in these areas, seeing as not many people take much note, but the bike has some fine parts here. Specialized have fitted the Ruby Elite Rival HRR with an array of Specialized Comp pieces, from a carbon seatpost through to a top notch alloy handlebar set. To top it all off, a Body Geometry saddle offers plenty of pelvic support while you ride, no matter the conditions.

This machine is suited to endurance riders, or those wanting to upgrade their first racing bike. It is a healthy mix of comfort and performance. If this is you, it might be your new bike calling you...