Review: Specialized Rumor Elite

[Kylie]

What's the point of the noticeably lower looking standover height than normal other than wearing a dress or why would they possibly need to do that? Nothing wrong with dresses, many men wear them in some cultures.

 

Isn't it a bit of an unnecessary cliche to make a ladies frame like that?

 

I'd think its the blokes if any thing, from an ergonomic perspective that is, that could at times truely appreciate a very low standover height?

 

Fair enough. I have rather short legs and I find the low standover height makes getting on and off easier. However, it depends entirely on the individual, and definitely isn't necessary in all cases.

[JXV]

Nice review!

 

I ride 1x10 with a 34 chainring on 29er and also find I spin out on flat stuff but most women riders I know prefer to spin their pedals a lot faster than me so the lowish gearing is probably suitable for most of the target market.

If you're a fitter/stronger female rider then no problem to change it. Most shops would likely swap it out at little or no cost to make the sale happen.

Edited July 13, 2015 by JXV

[Odinson]

What's the point of the noticeably lower looking standover height than normal other than wearing a dress or why would they possibly need to do that? Nothing wrong with dresses, many men wear them in some cultures.

 

Isn't it a bit of an unnecessary cliche to make a ladies frame like that?

 

I'd think its the blokes if any thing, from an ergonomic perspective that is, that could at times truely appreciate a very low standover height?

 

Bud, you need a lesson in female anatomy. 

 

In general, women have shorter legs (in proportion to overall height) than men. Thus, providing a sloped toptube allows for women riders to be more comfortable mounting and dismounting the bike. 

[Skylark]

Bud, you need a lesson in female anatomy.

 

In general, women have shorter legs (in proportion to overall height) than men. Thus, providing a sloped toptube allows for women riders to be more comfortable mounting and dismounting the bike.

But not to that degree?

 

And they have made the point of the lowest standover height in the middle of the crossbar and then made it taper up towards the seatpost, that makes no sense wouldn't you want the crossbar height tapering down to the lowest point virtually at the seatpost if its to address stand over height?

 

That's really what caught my eye.

 

Unless maybe the designer had some far out whacky idea and saw dresses being ridden with the bike and made the lowest height in the middle to suit that?

 

Who knows, I'm just speculating, don't shoot the messenger

[Iwan Kemp]

But not to that degree?

 

And they have made the point of the lowest standover height in the middle of the crossbar and then made it taper up towards the seatpost, that makes no sense wouldn't you want the crossbar height tapering down to the lowest point virtually at the seatpost if its to address stand over height?

 

That's really what caught my eye.

 

Unless maybe the designer had some far out whacky idea and saw dresses being ridden with the bike and made the lowest height in the middle to suit that?

 

Who knows, I'm just speculating, don't shoot the messenger [emoji16]

 

First, and I do realize I'm bordering on grammar Nazi country here, but it's called a Top Tube. 

 

Secondly, look at where the tip of the saddle is and draw a line 90 degree with the ground and you'll see that this is where the lowest point on the top tube needs to be.

 

Thirdly, dropping it down that low allows a straight line running up from the rear axle, through the seat stays, link, through the shock to the shock mount point. It all works out that way playing nicely with ratios, lengths and tech bits.

 

Last, but not least, NO one designs a MTB with a dress wearing rider in mind.

[NixM]

 .

 

Last, but not least, NO one designs a MTB with a dress wearing rider in mind.

Oh come on you know you love the feeling of the breeze between your legs when you ride in your skirt!

[Iwan Kemp]

Oh come on you know you love the feeling of the breeze between your legs when you ride in your skirt!

 

[Skylark]

 

 

Thirdly, dropping it down that low allows a straight line running up from the rear axle, through the seat stays, link, through the shock to the shock mount point. It all works out that way playing nicely with ratios, lengths and tech bits.

That part is just gibberish.

 

On this bike, at the tip of the saddle if I draw a line 90 degree with the ground, I get to just about where the seatpost meets the top tube and that is not where the lowest point on the top tube is, its quite a bit more forward, granted its not much but still it looks a little peculiar.

 

But I'll agree that I erred when calling the top tube the cross bar, my apologies, I plan to not let you down in that regard again. Truth be told they are interchangeable but I also prefer top tube over cross bar, its just a more modern and succinct interpretation.

[Odinson]

 

That part is just gibberish.

 

On this bike, at the tip of the saddle if I draw a line 90 degree with the ground, I get to just about where the seatpost meets the top tube and that is not where the lowest point on the top tube is, its quite a bit more forward, granted its not much but still it looks a little peculiar.

 

But I'll agree that I erred when calling the top tube the cross bar, my apologies, I plan to not let you down in that regard again. Truth be told they are interchangeable but I also prefer top tube over cross bar, its just a more modern and succinct interpretation.

 

 

It's quite simple. Look at the bike side-on. You'll see what he's on about. 

[Skylark]

It's quite simple. Look at the bike side-on. You'll see what he's on about. 

 

Yes I can see this "a straight line running up from the rear axle, through the seat stays, link, through the shock to the shock mount point." I'm pretty sure anyone with decent eyesight can see that.

 

This on the other hand "It all works out that way playing nicely with ratios, lengths and tech bits." You could say that about virtually any decent frame ever made no matter the geometry used.

 

"dropping it down that low allows"

What?

Is this new dropping of the stand over height to accommodate "a straight line running up from the rear axle, through the seat stays, link, through the shock to the shock mount point" going to be rolling out on more Spez frames, like the Enduro perhaps, seems like they are struggling to keep a straight line running up from the rear axle?

 

http://ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb9259266/p4pb9259266.jpg

[JXV]

What's the point of the noticeably lower looking standover height than normal other than wearing a dress or why would they possibly need to do that? Nothing wrong with dresses, many men wear them in some cultures.

 

Isn't it a bit of an unnecessary cliche to make a ladies frame like that?

 

I'd think its the blokes if any thing, from an ergonomic perspective that is, that could at times truely appreciate a very low standover height?

Simple really. Women on average shorter than men. This is a 29er so the stack height and rear axle height are relatively high compared to the low standover required...so the frame must dip in the middle and its proportions will look a bit unusual.... Edited July 13, 2015 by JXV

[Skylark]

 

 

Simple really. Women on average shorter than men. This is a 29er so the stack height and rear axle height are fixed and relatively high compared to the low standover required...so the frame must dip in the middle and its proportions will look a bit unusual....

Can't argue with that but it has been implemented in a way that looks a little peculiar, the other women specific FS I have seen incl Spez's other FS frame don't have the lowest stand over point in the middle of the tt, perhaps it's just a degree of lazy engineering or cutting costs.

[JXV]

Can't argue with that but it has been implemented in a way that looks a little peculiar, the other women specific FS I have seen incl Spez's other FS frame don't have the lowest stand over point in the middle of the tt, perhaps it's just a degree of lazy engineering or cutting costs.

Sure...it looks weird but think about it:

1) they are trying to minimise weight combining the shock anchorpoint with the TT lowpoint so that there is no need to mould a separate reinforced anchor point

2) you need standover height the most when you baulk at the top of a drop-off or steep slope, not on flat ground . In this position your front wheel is low and with the saddle at your back your crotch will more or less be right where that dip in the TT is.

[Skylark]

 

 

Sure...it looks weird but think about it:

1) they are trying to minimise weight combining the shock anchorpoint with the TT lowpoint so that there is no need to mould a separate reinforced anchor point

2) you need standover height the most when you baulk at the top of a drop-off or steep slope, not on flat ground . In this position your front wheel is low and with the saddle at your back your crotch will more or less be right where that dip in the TT is.

Come on!

No for me on both accounts. If they are minimizing weight then is this "technology" moving to other spez bikes, S-works perhaps?

 

Go look at how spez typically connects the shock to the frame (and spez go all out to maximize return on weight and engineering), it never looks like this.

 

This is one of the few frames I have seen that has "optimized" the stand over point near the middle of the tt, if I baulk at the top of a drop-off there's no ways in hell I'm heading towards the middle of the tt, if I did that it would be straight OTB, I'd be leaning back as far as possible with my ass/crotch as close to the seatpost as possible, no the majority of bikes incl those for ladies optimize the tt so the lowest stand over point is close to the seatpost.

 

Anyway if you have any forward momentum the mintue you put your feet down your crotch will be smacking into the tt just below the seat not in the middle, likewise you'll be in a similar area when trying to climb on the bike which is another time when "accidents" that benefit from low stand over heights can happen.

 

Anyway the difference in stand over height is not much between the lowest point near the middle of the tt and where it meets the seatpost, it just looks a little weird/inelegant.

[Shebeen]

the grammar nazi in me just wants to call it a specialised rumour.

 

Kylie, what size frame is that in picture? it looks like toe overlap killer, but hard to tell really

[Kylie]

Kylie, what size frame is that in picture?

It's a medium.