Specialized Allez. Is this the best road bike for £400?

[Rusty-C]

Since moving to London, I've been cycling a soft-tail mountain bike with a two-ring chainset... but, I'm tired of being overtaken by women carrying two kids - it's embarrassing - so what £400 bike would best save my blushes?

This has caught my eye: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/al...

[Mr Will]

That's not your size unfortunately, and the 2011 bike is a lot more money

Are you sure you want gears, or could you be tempted by a single-speed?

[ad551]

There are other sizes of Allez available here: http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Specialized-Allez-16-2010-... if Evans don't have your size. I think it is a good bike for the price although I am biased towards Specialized.

I want to know how Mr Will knows what size bike you need...does he have secret files on all forum members?

[anonymous-user]

have a look at Beone and Vitus

www.wiggle.co.uk have a sale at the moment so you would be daft not to have a look. at that sort of price, its all much the same i nterms of spec and materials.

[DarrenL]

I have the Allez 2010 (in Silver)- and its brilliant. A tad heavier then the Tarmac version (Allez comes in around 10 lbs IIRC),The Allez will see your right for short bursts around London and longer treks too.

At the bike show last year I was speaking to one of the guys on the Specialized stand, who said that the 2011 version is much closer to the Tarmac version, with a slightly lighter frame, if that influences your decision?

[Chicane-UK]

Why not look into something second hand.. you could pick up a very decent year or two old road bike which has probably done next to no miles, for the sort of price you want to spend!

[rykard]

What about the Secteur?

[Roman]

ad551 said:

There are other sizes of Allez available here: http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Specialized-Allez-16-2010-... if Evans don't have your size. I think it is a good bike for the price although I am biased towards Specialized.

I want to know how Mr Will knows what size bike you need...does he have secret files on all forum members?

Excellent value.

These are also excellent if the sizes are right:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/gtr-series-...

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m7b...

[ShampooEfficient]

Did you have to post those? I already have a bike, an MTB, that gets used for everything, but now I'm looking at shiny bikes I can't afford...

[Rusty-C]

Mr Will said:

That's not your size unfortunately, and the 2011 bike is a lot more money

Are you sure you want gears, or could you be tempted by a single-speed?

I like the idea of a single speed for two reasons: It's simple so it shouldn't break; likewise it'll be less attractive to thieves.

But, my main worry with the single-speed is I'm going to spend a lot of time wishing I had the gears to go faster. This has been half the problem with the mountain bike. And, you can't throw a road bike down a mountain so if fun's to be had, speed seems like the obvious door to chap...

Having read a few reviews and the word on the street from the PH faithful - thanks guys - I'm kinda talking myself into an Allez.

But, what's caught your eye in the way of single-speeds? Turns out my tax is literally nothing and I'm thinking the car's not really financially viable, so I might to be doing some test rides this week...

[ShredderXLE]

Just noticed on that Pauls cycles website they are selling cannondales with a CAAD 8 frame and SORA groupset for £499.........even though sora is a bit pony, that is a very very good aluminium frame that would have been specced on bikes costing about 1.5 - 2K three years ago. I would buy that and run the sora into the ground and then upgrade to ultegra in a years time if you find you really enjoy road cycling. You would have a decent race bike then.

[princeperch]

you can probs pick up a cheap 2010 giant defy for less than 400 quid if you have a look round..

[sixpot]

Roman said:

These are also excellent if the sizes are right:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/gtr-series-...

I can vouch for that. I've just bought the GT and although I'm still learning, so far it seems fantastic and really good value. Be quick tho' they're selling out quick and the 2011 bike if £700 (Ouch)

[shalmaneser]

The GTRs in Evans are excellent value at the moment, even the frame is quite nice!!!