Specialized's Answer To The Demand For A Women-Specific Go-anywhere Hybrid Bike - The Ariel

Even so, the Ariel is just as effective at taking you speedily and painlessly to the office or college, as many owners have testified. The state of many modern roads will be no trouble, as the shock absorbing ability of the Ariel will cope effortlessly.All the bikes in the series are built onto the same A1 Premium aluminium alloy frame. The swan-neck curve of the top tube is particularly distinctive. Specialized are clearly concious of practical matters, as the frame will take racks and mudguards. There's additionally a fitting for a kickstand.All bikes in the collection carry suspension forks. Manufactured by Suntour, they increase in quality as you go up the series. The two highest models, the Sport Disc and Comp Disc have lockout forks to enhance their rideability on the road.Disc brakes feature on the three top models, the basic Ariel having V-brakes. The top of the range Comp Disc's sytem is in fact hydraulic. Hydraulics frequently make it easier to employ the high braking force of a disc system. Disc brakes benefit from keeping their braking surfaces away from the grit and puddles, enhancing efficiency and keeping down abrasion.The triple chainrings give you a wide choice of gear ratios, making tackling hills effortless. The number of gears increases from 21, through 24 to 27 on the top model.Efficient running on the road is helped by the 700 mm wheels. Rolling resistance is kept down by the semi-slick tyres, which simultaneously have enough grip on the side to handle expeditions along the towpath.You get a very comfortable cycling position from the low-rise handlebars, comfort being increased by the women-specific grips and Riva saddle.So the Specialized Ariel collection gives you quite a lot of possibilities. All clearly conform to the same design philosophy - performance bikes that will suit the commuter, but will also allow for more off-road riding than the typical road-oriented hybrid.The basic Ariel is great value for money, but the improved sophistication up through the collection is worth paying for if you have the budget. At the top of the series, the Comp Disc model is among the best you can get.