Last month I decided to buy the Specialized Rockhopper Sport 29 my local bike shop was advertising on their website. It was a XXL size with hydraulic disc brakes, both features of high importance to be (I am 6'5" tall). The bike was fitted to me (a new stem was installed) and I was very happy to ride home on the first bike I've ever owned that seemed to fit me well.
However, when I got home I noticed the disc brakes were mechanical, not hydraulic (and worked no better than my other bike's rim brakes, which I thought were deficient, but I guess that's just how mechanical bike brakes are). So I took the bike back and got a big runaround about how I was looking at a 2022 model on the website but the bike they had in inventory was a 2021 model and since they were a small business they could hardly be expected to keep track of things like that, etc, etc (I decided not to mention I've been running my own small business for almost 20 years and still found their behavior inexcusable). Long story short, I paid them $200 to take the bike back and order a 2022 model with the hydraulic brakes. I picked it up yesterday.
While I rode my new bike to work I noticed it didn't feel as big as the bike I traded in. My ass kept trying to slide back, whereas I remember fitting perfectly on the other bike. The sticker on the bike said XXL, but that didn't mean anything. So I pulled out a yardstick and started measuring the bike, comparing it to the geometry specifications I found online.
As I measured I noticed many of the dimensions were incorrect. In some cases it did indeed seems as if I had an XL instead of a XXL, but other dimensions didn't match either size. Then I realized I was looking at Specialized's "Bike Archive". I opened the current page for the Rockhopper and noticed some of the dimensions were different. In fact, almost all the dimensions that changed between 2022 and whenever the other page referenced were smaller:
Now the main dimension that should matter to me is the front-center, which apparently got longer. But depending on how the angle is measured, that could be mitigated by the reduced head-tube angle, placing the handlebars closer to the seat. But I'm not sure how the angle is measured. The reach is longer too, so maybe that compensates for the other changes. It doesn't feel longer. I dunno.
Meanwhile, some of the measurements I took off the bike are unrelated to the published specs. The top tube is almost two inches shorter than the 679mm advertised length. I suppose that might have something to do with why my ass is sliding back off the saddle.
I understand specs are subject to change, but I am irritated that all almost the changes went one way, for smaller riders. And as any of you big guys know, it is getting pretty exhausting having to live in a world that seems to be made for dwarfs. For example, though I spent most of the 1990s flying, I can no longer travel by air without buying a First Class ticket (Business Class for international), and not because I've gotten any bigger. I really thought I had hit the jackpot with my new bike.
However, I concede I could be imagining things. I'm going to take the bike back to the shop this weekend and compare it to the 2021 model to see if there really is a significant difference.
However, when I got home I noticed the disc brakes were mechanical, not hydraulic (and worked no better than my other bike's rim brakes, which I thought were deficient, but I guess that's just how mechanical bike brakes are). So I took the bike back and got a big runaround about how I was looking at a 2022 model on the website but the bike they had in inventory was a 2021 model and since they were a small business they could hardly be expected to keep track of things like that, etc, etc (I decided not to mention I've been running my own small business for almost 20 years and still found their behavior inexcusable). Long story short, I paid them $200 to take the bike back and order a 2022 model with the hydraulic brakes. I picked it up yesterday.
While I rode my new bike to work I noticed it didn't feel as big as the bike I traded in. My ass kept trying to slide back, whereas I remember fitting perfectly on the other bike. The sticker on the bike said XXL, but that didn't mean anything. So I pulled out a yardstick and started measuring the bike, comparing it to the geometry specifications I found online.
As I measured I noticed many of the dimensions were incorrect. In some cases it did indeed seems as if I had an XL instead of a XXL, but other dimensions didn't match either size. Then I realized I was looking at Specialized's "Bike Archive". I opened the current page for the Rockhopper and noticed some of the dimensions were different. In fact, almost all the dimensions that changed between 2022 and whenever the other page referenced were smaller:
Code:
XXL Dimensions (mm) 2017 2022 XXL Δ
-------------------------------------------------------
B-B Drop 69 62 -10%
B-B Height 305 310 2%
Bike Stand-Over Height 895 853 -5%
Chain-Stay Length 450 440 -2%
Crank Length 175 175 0%
Fork Length (full) 515 515 0%
Fork Rake/Offset 46 46 0%
Front-Center 702 770 10%
Handlebar Width 720 740 3%
Head-Tube Angle (degrees) 71.0 68.5 -4%
Head-Tube Length 140 135 -4%
Reach 441 485 10%
Saddle Width 143 143 0%
Seatpost Length 400 400 0%
Seat-Tube Angle (degrees) 73.0 73.5 1%
Seat-Tube Length 560 560 0%
Stack 677 654 -3%
Stem Length 90 70 -22%
Top-Tube Length (horizontal) 648 679 5%
Trail 80 97 21%
Wheelbase 1,144 1,203 5%
Now the main dimension that should matter to me is the front-center, which apparently got longer. But depending on how the angle is measured, that could be mitigated by the reduced head-tube angle, placing the handlebars closer to the seat. But I'm not sure how the angle is measured. The reach is longer too, so maybe that compensates for the other changes. It doesn't feel longer. I dunno.
Meanwhile, some of the measurements I took off the bike are unrelated to the published specs. The top tube is almost two inches shorter than the 679mm advertised length. I suppose that might have something to do with why my ass is sliding back off the saddle.
I understand specs are subject to change, but I am irritated that all almost the changes went one way, for smaller riders. And as any of you big guys know, it is getting pretty exhausting having to live in a world that seems to be made for dwarfs. For example, though I spent most of the 1990s flying, I can no longer travel by air without buying a First Class ticket (Business Class for international), and not because I've gotten any bigger. I really thought I had hit the jackpot with my new bike.
However, I concede I could be imagining things. I'm going to take the bike back to the shop this weekend and compare it to the 2021 model to see if there really is a significant difference.