The 2012 Specialized Secteur Comp
As it happens, there’s a REAL bike shop HERE IN TOWN! With actual ROAD bikes and everything!!
Infoporn:
- It’s got a 10-gear cassette on the back (11 – 32). If you think back to your standard
10-speed bike, it had 10 “speeds” because it had two gears on the front at the pedals plus
five in back, giving you ten combinations of front and rear at which you could pedal. This
thing is 2 x 10. Fantastic for hills — and for going for a spin with a little girl behind
you. According to information I’m reading online, the cassette allows a comparable or wider
range than would a bike equipped with a triple chainring — and I’ve had my eye on a Secteur
Triple.
- The frame geometry of the Secteur line lets the front end sit up a little higher. Easier
on the arms. I’m not 20 anymore.
- One thing I don’t really get is the width of the tires. I was told they’re 700x28c, but
the specs I’ve read say they’re 25′s. These things are FAT. My Cannondale is rocking a 19 on
the front and a 21 on the back. These guys look like they’ve eaten my skinny 19. I think the
fat tires gotta go — even though they're apparently supposed to lead to a more comfortable
ride (and I couldn't find any bikes at the shop that didn't have 25s!).
- The gruppo is from an American company called SRAM. Shimano has historically been king —
at least at the level I ride at. I *think* SRAM got their start doing off-road stuff. The
Apex is their basic kit, I think.
- The bike also has a pair of Zertz inserts into the stays and fork (The Triple does NOT
have them in the seat stays). The inserts are a kind of polymer designed to absorb vibration
coming from the road, giving a smoother ride.
- Along with dual bottle cages (which I’d expect on an endurance bike), the frame also had
some nice touches like interior cable routing along the top tube. Some of the lower models
don’t have that.
I’m a little stuck with the color, though. I would have liked something a little different
than white — mostly because my Cannondale is white. I’m thinking about this bike as my
Cannondale, just with all kinds of upgrades, as opposed to something entirely new.
It just seems ideal for me, and where I am right now vis á vis cycling. I want a comfortable
road bike that’ll help motivate me to ride through the winter months and let me get out and
put some miles on in the spring — get me in the healthful habit of riding (even if it’s only
on the trainer) so that in the spring I can settle into doing some comfortable distance
riding.