Bought a Christmas Present Thing for My Wife

"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
12/06/2019 at 23:04 • Filed to: Specialized Stumpjumper

Said thing is a 2019 Specialized Women’s Stumpjumper ST Comp Alloy 29, size Small. Spesh calls this color “Satin Gloss Marine Blue/Acid Fuchsia” and it pops way more in person than the photo. MSRP $3320 and the local bike shop had it listed at $2950. I figured with the 2020s starting to trickle in I could get it for less than that and offered $2700. The salesman took that pretty quickly so I probably could’ve gotten it another $50-100 lower but I’m happy to not have spent a bunch of time haggling. They also set it up tubeless which, though I could’ve done it myself, was a nice little bonus. Hopefully my wife will be happy with it and rides it lots. She took this exact bike for a short ride behind shop a few weeks ago and really liked it so I’m feeling pretty good about it.

Yes I’m using a Subaru wheel as a makeshift hose reel and still have pumpkins on my porch from Mid-October.

As for the bike, you’ve likely at least heard of the Stumpjumper. It has been around in one form or another since 1981 when it was the first mass-produced mountain bike. Today the Stumpjumper line is Specialized’s mainstay full-suspension trail bike range. They’ve done away with female-specific frames and moved to men’s and women’s tune of the that differ primarily in the saddle, shock tuning and available colors/sizes. For 2019 the frame is all-new with a one-sided design and off-center rear shock that I think is pretty clever and I’m excited to see how it performs. The Stumpie now comes in three versions - the standard 150 mm travel version, the descent-focused EVO which has the same travel but a much slacker/lower geometry, and the ST with 130/120 mm travel. There are carbon and alloy versions of each as well as 27.5 and 29" wheel/geometry options. This one here is an all-alloy ST with 29" wheels and the “Comp” component set that is one level (and over $1,000) up from the base. The trails here can be pretty rough on the drivetrain, suspension, and brakes, so upgrading those was essential in my mind. The next level up is brings the carbon frame with the same components but it goes over the $3000 cap I imposed on myself for this. My wife is just getting into trail riding and that’s as much as I’m willing to spend if she ends up not liking it. I love my carbon bike but I don’t think carbon versus a good alloy frame is enough to be the difference between someone getting into trail riding or giving up.

The ST basically replaced the Camber in Specialized’s lineup for 2019 as the 130 mm travel trail bike model. I ride a 2018 Camber and it handles the trails here really well so I think this will handle everything we throw at it for a while. The tires are fairly basic and 2.3" but there is room for up to 2.6 so we can upgrade those when it is time. The pedals are pretty meh but they will do for starting out. Everything is else is solid. Now I just need to get the reflectors and the dork disc off of it, find a bow to stick on it and somehow hide it until the 25th.

DISCUSSION (14)

SmugAardvark > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/06/2019 at 23:12

Get ready for the whole internet to hate you.

Oh wait, this bike actually goes somewhere. You should be okay.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/06/2019 at 23:13

Sweet ride! The NX cassette is on a shimano free hub so it’s easy to get off. If she rids a bunch and doesn’t come to terms with the Cheap AF NX, you can replace the rear derailure and shelter with GX it XO for not an unreasonable amount of money. I did this on my epic within the first month.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
12/06/2019 at 23:47

Yeah the guy at the bike shop was explaining the free hub thing to me I didn’t realize that about it before. We’ll see how it shifts. I think if I upgrade the derailleur and shifters I’ll jump right to XO. My Camber is GX and it’s kinda meh - it’s great when it works but it is constantly needing something adjusted. Interestingly despite your referring to NX as cheap AF there is now an SX Eagle below the NX. Looks like it uses even more plastic than NX which means it wouldn’t last too long on the trails here.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/07/2019 at 00:28

I have had great luck with both GX and XO, XO is just really slick tho.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
12/07/2019 at 00:37

Maybe I just don’t take good enough care of it but I got spoiled but old set-and-forget Shimano XT stuff that is in the same price bracket . What I really want is that XX1 rainbow chain just because it looks cool as hell but spending almost $100 on a chain is kind of insane even if it does have hollow pins that save a few grams.

pip bip - choose Corrour > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/07/2019 at 00:37

Funny looking treadmill

Nom De Plume > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/07/2019 at 02:39

Such a mix of emotions. On a positive note that hose reel is superb unapologetic stuff you should be proud for openly displaying.

I love my carbon bike but I don’t think carbon versus a good alloy frame is enough to be the difference between someone getting into trail riding or giving up.

If you will take a hard won piece of advice. Forget upgrading, changing, bettering anything on your own*. Take this young woman of yours into every shop that has women’s specific demo saddles and try as many of them as possible, as many times as necessary, until she is mostly happy. Even then it may take another couple hundred dollars of ordering saddles online that aren’t available locally. The Terry Fly line is normally a good place to start.

The bad. You bought a TREKalized big box brand from a bike shop and overpaid. Her being happy is more important (as noted above). I’m still quite confused at your logic in going right up to the price point of carbon instead of a pursuing a better value aluminum framed bike.

*I meant this as far it took to make the point that followed it. There is so much utter crap on S bikes that needs to be replaced I’d be hard placed to know where to start. Actually, I do. Nightly sessions on the trainer refining her fit using parts other people threw away; Different length and angle stems, seat posts, and bars ( Obviously once the key measurements have been arrived at you pursue good quality serviceable parts to match) . This is part two of how to make sure she gets the best chance of enjoying trail riding. And it breaks in her most sensitive contact point so she can actually tell what saddle hurts the least.

Then challenge her to break or wear out parts on it. This is the surest way for her to appreciate the changes.

facw > SmugAardvark
12/07/2019 at 06:25

Big difference here.

Boxer_4 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/07/2019 at 10:36

Nice bike!

I have a spare 17" wheel from the ‘09 Forester laying around that I plan to turn into a hose reel at some point - probably when I finally buy a house.

I’d like to rig it with a way to rotate , probably with a cheap wheel bearing assembly.

just-a-scratch > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/07/2019 at 12:22

Well done. I hope you have a good hiding spot and biking weather in late December.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Boxer_4
12/07/2019 at 13:25

Rigging it to spin is my ultimate goal. But after I set it up like this I got lazy.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > just-a-scratch
12/07/2019 at 13:28

I’m hoping a friend of ours with an enormous garage will can spare space for it otherwise hopefully she doesn’t need to go into the shed for anything til Christmas. We live in an interesting area pretty high up on a mountain. So even though it’s too cold and icy to ride much here we can drive down into the valley which reminds me now I need to get a second bike carrier for our roof rack....

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > Nom De Plume
12/07/2019 at 21:31

Tha t 3 grand would probably have bought a lot of Commencal, Nukeproof, Knolly, etc.

Nom De Plume > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
12/08/2019 at 01:26

Wheels. Nothing but the saddle is going to make as huge a difference for someone on day one.

I kinda felt wrong about typing some of that. I mean he helped keep a bike shop in business. Glad I stopped short of asking about S branded accessories.