2018 Specialized Ruby Elite

Who said that performance and comfort don't mix? It sure wasn't us, because our Ruby Elite combines the two in one seamless, unprecedented package.

The frame is among the lightest that we've ever made, and it's been constructed from our superlative FACT 10r carbon fiber. Its stiffness levels are also off the charts, and compared to the SL4 iteration of yesteryear, you'll experience a whole new, faster, and more efficient geometry. Through some engineering sorcery, however, we've managed to keep the same fit, feel, and position that we've all come to love from the SL4's Women's Endurance Geometry. Of course, you're probably thinking, "get on to the suspension thing up front."

We call it Future Shock, and essentially, it's a piston in the head tube with 20mm of travel. We developed this technology in partnership with McLaren Applied Technologies, and the result of this are a host of drastic performance improvements, namely in the vertical compliance department. Without giving a physics lecture, we found that focusing on vertical compliance, instead of fork splay, meant that we could improve smoothness, speed, and comfort in one fell swoop. And of all the bikes that we've tested with our Rolling Efficiency Model, the new Ruby outperforms anything on the market.

Lastly, we spec'd it with a host of components that blur the lines between steadfast reliability and outright performance, like Shimano 105 11-speed shifting, powerful RS505 hydraulic disc brakes, strong DT R470 wheels, and a women's-specific saddle.