Anyone got an Allez ?

[nammynake]

Just ordered a Specialized Allez Sport 18 (compact chainset). Originally I was going for the Allez Triple 24 for £590, but Specialized have dropped their prices recently in preparation for the 2012 range, so found the Sport 18 going for a penny under £600. Same frame as the Triple 24 but with better a groupset (Sora rather than 2300). I know people complain about the Sora, without those tiny down-shift thumb levers, but all the bikes with Tiagra and upwards were above my budget. I did test ride an Allez and to be honest didn't find the Sora shifters too bad.

Bike here:

http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bc/SBCProduct.jsp...

Anyone own an Allez ?

[bleesh]

I've got a 2009 Allez Sport Triple (27 speed though) and I'm very pleased with it.
The guys at the LBS were pretty good at sizing it for me - there were more expensive bikes that I liked, but couldn't get the adjustments quite right.
The Allez was a great fit.
Use it for cycling to work in the summer (about 8 miles each way) and also do 80-120 miles on the summer weekends.
The supplied Alex Rims wheels have been superb as well - very much up to the crap roads round my way.

[Antony Moxey]

Bought my lad an Allez Triple a couple of weeks ago. It's his first ever roadie and he absolutely loves it. It's a little bit small for me but he's more than happy with it, plus I think it's a good looking machine too.

[curlie467]

Great bikes and i agree about the sora equipment, it is good stuff, i had it on a bianchi and it was nice to use.

[dubbs]

Still got my Allez Sport - think it's a 2006, Tiagara and still going strong despite many thousands of miles commuting.

It's now converted to a flatbar to do commuting properly but aside from that the whole drivetrain is original.

Alexrims have been ok, rear wheel caught a nasty pothole one day and got replaced with a Mavic Aksium.

Not quite a triggers broom yet Good solid bike.

[IroningMan]

My winter bike is a 2005 Allez sport, rebuilt with 105. Nice frame, rides very well, but greatly improved by a carbon seatpost.

[princeperch]

I've got an allez triple 2010 for my commuter - cracking bike which has let me down on only 2 occassions i) when a spoke on the back wheel went ping after 7 months which wasnt great but only 15 quid to sortand ii) when a gear cable went ping for no reason. The first wasnt sorted by evans for free but the second was. I'll keep it for 3 or 4 yrs then proabably flog it on for a couple of hundred quid..

Upgrade the tyres cause theyre ste - trust me..

[AndrewM]

I've got a 2009 Sport Compact - been a great bike - I've upgraded the wheels to Mavic Aksium which are a massive step on from the Alex S500 rims, the brakes to Tiagra and it performs very well - the Sora changers are a pain as you can't change up when on the drops but overall, good value for money.

[the_engineer]

nammynake said:

Just ordered a Specialized Allez Sport 18 (compact chainset). Originally I was going for the Allez Triple 24 for £590, but Specialized have dropped their prices recently in preparation for the 2012 range, so found the Sport 18 going for a penny under £600. Same frame as the Triple 24 but with better a groupset (Sora rather than 2300). I know people complain about the Sora, without those tiny down-shift thumb levers, but all the bikes with Tiagra and upwards were above my budget. I did test ride an Allez and to be honest didn't find the Sora shifters too bad.

Bike here:

http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bc/SBCProduct.jsp...

Anyone own an Allez ?

I'm looking to buy one. Do you mind me asking where you picked yours up from?

[SteveS Cup]

I always see these on a Sunday up Box Hill... very popular bike, they must be fairly good!

[nammynake]

the_engineer said:

I'm looking to buy one. Do you mind me asking where you picked yours up from?

Just a local bike shop in Crossgates (Leeds) but I think most place will have dropped their prices (Evans certainly have).

[the_engineer]

Thanks Chaps.

Just had a look on Evans - there are so many models!! Can anyone advise on the finer points on which one would be better:

http://www.evanscycles.com/search.html?query=allez...

For commuting mainly and longer distance rides.

The sport 27 certainly looks handy at £620..or is the sport 24 at £520 the best comprimise?

[the_engineer]

swerni said:

you may even want to consider the tricross.

I've got one as well and have changed the tyres to full road ones.
It's very sturdy and is also comfortable on long rides.

You can also put mudguards on as well, so work well in the winter,


You are more than welcome to try mine, but unless you are very fking tall you may struggle

whats the difference between the allez and the tricross?

The tricross is at a much higher price point than the allez it would appear.

And I'm now being tempted by a custom specced Ribble...oh dear...

[Mr Will]

the_engineer said:

The sport 27 certainly looks handy at £620..or is the sport 24 at £520 the best comprimise?

Sport 18 at £599; Triples are for girls

[dubbs]

As are compacts...

[XitUp]

My girlfriend wants a new road bike (we went for a ride in the Lincolnshire Wolds yesterday and her heavy old Peugeot convinced her of this). Would and Allez be good for a woman, or should she stick to a pink ladies bike?

This seems really good value http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/al... is it?

Edited by XitUp on Sunday 3rd July 10:41

[Teebs]

XitUp said:

My girlfriend wants a new road bike (we went for a ride in the Lincolnshire Wolds yesterday and her heavy old Peugeot convinced her of this). Would and Allez be good for a woman, or should she stick to a pink ladies bike?

This seems really good value http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/al... is it?

Edited by XitUp on Sunday 3rd July 10:41

Just picked one up last Thursday. It got a very good review on Bikeradar, and I really like it. Did a 38 mile hilly route yesterday and it was great.

I have nothing to compare it against, but it's a good starting point for me.

[john_p]

I know it's not a straight comparison, but how does the gearing on 18 and 24 gear road bikes compare to the gearing on your typical approx. 24/34/42 front, 12-28 rear setup on a MTB ?

[IroningMan]

39/52 front, plus 12-25 rear. Compacts will be something like 34/50 at the front.

[Mr Will]

Tap the figures in here: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/