Specialized 1999 Fatgirl Comp

Advantages: Go fast up hill and even faster down
Disadvantages: Can feel abit clunky

...Specialized Epic Comp 2007. This bike is owned by my husband, and I recently trialled it as I was upgrading from a Specialized FSR Comp 2006. From reading reviews about this bike it is marketed as a XC race bike, and could be a bit twitchy on the downhill’s. Also knowing the people that I know that ride them they are all very fast and technically competent riders, so when looking into buying this bike I assumed that it would be too difficult for me to ride and that a stumpjumper would be suited to me. So on trialling both the stumpjumper and the epic and found that the epic suited me a lot better, I found that it climbed really well due to a more hardtail set up of the bike but I also found that it was really good on the downhill as well. So if you thinking about getting a new bike I definitely recommend considering an epic even... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Lightweight comfortable fast great handling
Disadvantages: none

...After 20 years not riding, I decided to get back into cycling so I could teach my children how to ride. I bought a mountain bike and caught the cycling bug good and proper. I soon became addicted to cycling up and down the country lanes where we live and soon enough wanted something a little more sophisticated that would be better suited to hill climbs and rapid progress on the flat. I read just about everything there was to read and opted for the Spesh Roubaix Comp. As a 42 year old, I have a normal amount of low back pain so the last thing I wanted was an Arse Up Head Down position that required the flexibility of a 20 year old. Also, I wanted something that could take care of vibration from those skinny high pressure tyres. The Roubaix is designed to handle both. It is very fast and so much easier up the hills. The Comp... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great Value, great suspension, good alround bike
Disadvantages: Slightly weighty, not much else!

...What a great bike. I bought this in November 2005, and have used and abused it around the trails of the Isle of Man & North Wales since. Has had a new chain and brake pads, but appart from that has stood up to a lot of abuse very well. Oh, and new tyres too - not that they wear out, just that I am obsesive about trying to find the best tyre to suit my riding! The rear suspension (specialized's 4 point system) is brilliant, and totally lives up to the hype. I've tried friends bikes and can hand on heart say it is better than all. The front forks are good - but best of all the 100mm travel compliments the rear 100mm so well. Sure 130mm is becoming the norm, but it is far better to have a ballanced bike, with 100mm of excellent suspension than 130mm of rubbish. The bike excells over slightly downhill singletrack, and the steering... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful