Specialized Road Bikes
- 1. What's Fun? At Erik's, we think bikes are fun, but when it's time to find a new bike it can feel overwhelming - that's not fun. Erik's has partnered with Specialized, the most popular bike brand in the country, so we can offer the absolute best bike for every type of rider. So, what kind of bike is the best for you? If you see yourself riding mostly on streets or paths then a road bike is most likely the type of bike for you. Still, there are a lot of options to choose from. So ask yourself, "What kind of fun do I want to have?" The following answers will help you determine the best road bike for you. Fast is Fun These are the sports cars of the bike line-up. Agile and designed to go fast, these bikes are recognizable by their their down sweeping handle bars. Many times these are referred to as "drop bar road bikes" to help differentiate from some of the other types of road bikes. Models, like the carbon fiber Tarmac and the women's Amira or the alloy Allez (ah-lay) and women's Dolce (dol- chay) are light, have a lower, more stretched out position and appeal to the competitive rider. Whether that competition be a local road race, a business park criterium or a town-line sprint with your riding buddies, Specialized has a quick and sporty road bike for your unique needs. Now, if you are looking for the absolute fastest, most technically advanced bike in the world, look no further than Specialized's Venge ViAS. Every aspect of this bike is designed to cut through the wind. There are no visible cables and the brakes are specially designed and hidden from the wind. The Venge is THE bike for the rider who demands uncompromising performance, is addicted to speed and is willing to legally do whatever it takes to find that additional mile per hour. Not every rider has that high octane drive to beat their competition to the line or up a climb. Some riders want to outlast the competition. If your dream day on a bike includes hours in the saddle with your friends on paved rural roads and the varying road conditions you might encounter then an endurance style road bike is the ride for you. Specialized's Roubaix (roo-bay) and women's Ruby are arguably the smoothest riding endurance style bike on the market. Carbon fiber frames with vibration dampening Zertz elastomer inserts and the carbon fiber CG-R seat post with 18 mm of travel all but eliminate energy sapping road vibration and bumps so you can concentrate your energy on moving forward. Maybe you prefer simplicity in a bike. All those gears are over kill and you enjoy the thrill and challenge that comes from your legs doing all work. If you like a track-style bike with one gear than Specialized's Langster is your whip. Bred on the track and raised in the city a Langster sets you apart from the crowd. Specialized even offers limited edition theme bikes if you want to further differentiate your ride from the crowd. With the Langster, simplicity rules and on a Langster you will too. If you want to beat your fellow riders to the line, outlast them on the next century ride or get to the next brew pub ahead of the crowd than a drop bar road bike is your dream machine. Triathlons are Fun These purpose designed bikes do one thing and they do it very well. Like a drag racer, they go straight and they go FAST! In the world of tri and TT aerodynamics is everything. Specialized lives this mantra by being the only major bike manufacturer to have a wind-tunnel at their headquarters where they can test their designs and make sure they are the fastest and most efficient at slicing through the air. This knowledge and focus is why Specialized's SHIV has risen to the top of the triathlon and time trial world. This is also why it has gained a reputation for being a bike that is easy to adjust and is comfortable in the aero position. The SHIV is a prime example of Specialized's SWAT (Storage, Water, Air, Tools) initiative. The SHIV incorporates the Fuelselage hydration bladder in the downtube, the FuelCell tool storage in the main triangle and the TriPod food storage on the top tube to create an incredibly aerodynamic and convenient road rocket.
- 2. If you are a triathlete of any experience level or racing any distance a SHIV will make you faster on the bike and leave your legs fresher for the run. Dirty is Fun Getting dirty with a bunch of friends is fun. Getting dirty with your bike and a bunch of friends is more fun. Getting dirty and running up hills and over obstacles as fast as you can with a bunch of friends is the MOST fun. That's cyclocross racing. It's like four-wheeling with your bike. Cyclocross bikes spend comparatively little time on the actual road than other road bikes but they share many of the characteristics of their pavement based siblings. Specialized's Crux cyclocross bike has a similar design to conventional drop bar road bikes but is a cyclocross specific machine. Generally, a cyclocross bike has higher bottom bracket to allow the bike to clear obstacles, fatter, knobby tires for more traction on slippery grass or soil and disc brakes for better stopping in wet and muddy conditions. Not interested in racing but looking for a bike that can be ridden in any and all conditions year round? Then a cyclocross bike is one to consider. Known for durability, but still efficient and fast many people use a cyclocross bike as their do everything, go every where bike. If you are "racing 'cross" or looking to ride year round, a cyclocross bike is fast, fun and doesn't mind getting dirty. Escape is Fun Maybe you can't imagine a better way to escape the hectic pace of the work week than by loading up your bike with everything you need and getting out of town. If this escape includes some time on rural gravel roads, than an adventure bike is your vehicle of choice. Adventure bikes are considered by many to be a two-wheeled SUV. Designed with a relaxed, slightly more upright riding position while maintaining the efficiency of an endurance road bike, an adventure bike allows you to escape down any road you choose. Specialized's Diverge, AWOL (Absolutely WithOut Limits) and Sequoia or the women's Dolce Evo come with disc brakes and wider tires standard so you don't have to be concerned with slowing your roll, especially when you are laden with a tent and supplies, in the rain or on a dusty back road. Don't let the name of this category dissuade you from considering this bike, though. Your adventure may simply be commuting to work with longer rides on the weekend. These bikes, with their plethora of attachment points for racks and fenders, make great daily drivers. Comfortable and efficient, they can get you to work on time and help release tension on the way home. If you see every ride as a potential adventure than one of these bikes is the method of escape for which you've been looking. Family and Friends are Fun Often referred to as a "flat bar road bike," this type of bike could be thought of as the sedan of the bike world. This bike is the most popular style sold because adults find them comfortable and easy to ride, teens find them fun and tweens too big for a kids bike are able to ride them. Like that four-door sedan you can find a basic model or a fully loaded high performance urban commuter. This is the beauty of Specialized's Sirrus men's bikes and Vita women's bikes. Specialized starts with a comfortable frame design and builds from there. From the alloy Base and Sport models through the carbon fiber Expert and Pro models Specialized has put together bikes that can cruise easily along bike paths and trails, pull child trailers and trailer bikes or, equipped with a rack and fenders, be used as a fast and comfortable commuting machine. If you are looking for a bike that you can ride with the family, tow the kids around or get you to work then a flat bar road bike is your bike of choice. Maximize Fun Erik's carries a full line of accessories from Specialized to ensure you have the most fun possible on two wheels. A helmet will keep you safe if you tip over and sun glasses will keep the sun and
- 3. debris out of your eyes. Padded bike shorts add that extra bit of comfort in the saddle and a jersey wicks sweat and can be a fun way to express your personality. A water bottle and cage keeps a cool drink within reach and a bell and lights alerts those around you know where you are. Flats tires happen but having the tools to fix a flat make it a minor inconvenience. A floor pump at home takes care of a lot of flat tires and if you get one the road a small repair kit will have what you need. No one likes a dirty, squeaky bike. Erik's has the products keep all your bike's moving parts clean and squeak free. And if you need to transport your bike to your favorite riding location we have a variety of car racks to make the trip safe and easy. Get Your Fun at Erik's At Erik's we are passionate about bikes. We share this passion with Specialized. And we want to share this passion with you. Stop into one of our convenient locations and talk to our friendly, knowledgeable salespeople they will help you find the perfect bike for you and you'll soon be out having your kind of fun.