Allez Sport vs kerbs Who Wins???

Hurricane151

I am about to purchase a new bike for travelling to work and i was looking at the specialized allez sport but there are a couple of kerbs on the way to work that i need to go up and down which are to get accros a bridge which would save me about 30mins on my ride in.

I have spoken to a couple of people who have suggested if I was to use a road bike for this i would destroy the wheels within days but if i was to get say, a Sirrus ellite I wouldn't have that problem due to the size of the tyre, type of wheel and different type of frame.

I really would like to get the allez but i don't want to spend that much money and have it crumble like a digestive biscuit within a couple of days.

Can anybody help me on this? should I be looking at more of a hybrid style bike or would i be ok with the Allez.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

biondino

I never know what people mean when they talk about kerbs in this sense. How high are they? Are you going up them or down them? If the latter, then you can ride off foot-high kerbs with little bother on a road bike in normal circumstances.

If you're going clipless, then you should be able to bunnyhop up to about 6 inches without too much bother.

But, more than anything - can you not just stop for a couple of kerbs? Especially if you're on roads for a long time and this shortcut saves you so much time? If a road bike is ideal for 99% of your journey would you seriously even consider getting a different kind of bike because you'll have to take 30 seconds to stop and walk?

Hurricane151

Thanks, they are not too hign 6 inch at the most.

I would be using toe clips for a while before i pluck up the couradge for clipless.

You maybe right about slowing down and just lifting the bike up for just a couple of kerbs but I always like to keep the momentum up as much as possible.

manick0de

Just playing devils advocate, have you thought about the Specialized Tricross Sport?

Hurricane151

been thinking about that but the wheels and tyres are a bit wider and I am quite into getting as much speed as possible! hence my shift from a hybrid to a road bike just don't want it to shatter into little peices if it takes a coupe of firm kocks to the wheels / tyres.

always_tyred

You need to learn to hop up the kerbs and not just ride into them. By this I mean pop the front wheel up first (which is the closest I ever get to a wheelie) and get the rear wheel to pop up by pulling up on both pedals a fraction later (not whilst sitting on the saddle, obviously).

Or alternatively stop and lift your bike onto the kerb. Rolling off a kerb not an issue for any bike.

il_principe

Hurricane151 wrote:

been thinking about that but the wheels and tyres are a bit wider and I am quite into getting as much speed as possible! hence my shift from a hybrid to a road bike just don't want it to shatter into little peices if it takes a couple of firm knocks to the wheels / tyres.

Why do people always think this about roadbikes? I reckon a decent roadbike is tougher than a hybrid. Roadbikes are designed to handle hefty power outputs and will not smash into a million pieces if bumped slightly. I doubt the wheels on the Sirrus are any stronger than the Allez, but tbh if you get an Allez ask your LBS about upgrading the wheels anyway.

I've owned an Allez, since sold it to my sister's BF - he's pranged it twice at speed and it's still working fine.

Get the Allez, hybrids are sucky sucky compromises and not half as much fun.

lost_in_thought

Agree with Jash here, road bikes are surprisingly tough! I can't bunnyhop to save my life, but have never had any trouble riding off kerbs.

A hybrid is not going to be any better - and it's about the wheels as much as anything.

Also, this:

hybrids are sucky sucky compromises and not half as much fun.

is about as true as it gets.

MrChuck

I've got to put in a good word for hybrids here. Yeah they're full of compromises, but then so is a lot of commuting-type riding and my Trek does the job fine most of the time, and it sure feels sturdier than my road bike although granted this may be all in my head. Also putting mudguards on nice road bikes is a crime so that rules them out for commuting

That said, if I was looking to replace now a Tricross or something like it would be near the top of my list.

Sewinman

Approach curb, remove one foot from pedal, place on floor, lift front wheel, bump back wheel over curb, proceed on much superior and enjoyable steed.

il_principe

Sewinman wrote:

Approach curb, remove one foot from pedal, place on floor, lift front wheel, bump back wheel over curb, proceed on much superior and enjoyable steed.

You badly need to try a roadbike!

Sewinman

jashburnham wrote:

Sewinman wrote:

Approach curb, remove one foot from pedal, place on floor, lift front wheel, bump back wheel over curb, proceed on much superior and enjoyable steed.

You badly need to try a roadbike!

I have one!

batch78

Cycle faster, then the 30min time deficit is irrelevent.

Or all of the above.

I've come from MTBs to road bikes and was a little cautious at first, after hitting some bad potholes and broken road surfaces I'm now convinced the wheels are tough enough.

Hopped kerbs, expansion joints, potholes and road kill, no ill effects to bike. And I'm 6'1 & 14st.

DavidTQ

Most half decent road bike wheels are actually pretty strong although they may be narrow the rims are far deeper than most mtb \ hybrid wheels, coming down off a kerb deeper rims make for more bracing and strength than wide but shallow rims, where a road bike wheel is likely to be weaker than MTB or hybrid wheels is someone trying to bend the rim sideways, where the narrower rim will make it weaker. This isnt the sort of force most potholes, kerbs etc will apply.

Totalnewbie

Yes, don't just ride into kerbs children. That could land you with a broken elbow. Don't ask me how I know this.

biondino

Especially don't do it when you've just seen a pretty girl at a bus stop and are no longer looking where you're going. Don't ask me how I know this.

richara3

I would go for a tricross, Ive got one and its certainly robust enough for my commute. If it was a pure fun and training bike I was after I would have gone for the allez. but I somtimes carry heavy panniers and always commute by bike whatever the weather I felt the tricross was more suitable. Ive been out riding with a local road club a few times and despite not being as fast/light a bike as the pure road stuff there was not that much in it. I even managed to keep up last time despite being new to riding.

My next bike will be more road/race orientated though. BTW my sirrus owning friend prefers riding my bike to his own despite his being noticably lighter. He says the riding position on the tricross is more comfortable.

cougie

Riding head on into kerbs doesnt sound much fun. Just learn how to lift the wheels and its sorted.

But maybe you shouldnt be riding on the pavement anyway ??

Totalnewbie

I certainly shouldn't have been trying to ride up that particular kerb anyway. I am the biggest goody-two-shoes going, but that night I had been working late and as no one was around I went to use an naughty shortcut (one of the 'passages' in central London that was deserted). The minute I put a foot out of line, the Fates stepped in and taught me a lesson. I am not one of those people who can get away with stuff, clearly!

I never used that shortcut again. :oops:

biondino

Whereas mine I was in theory riding on the road, parallel to the kerb :oops:

Totalnewbie

I'm glad to see someone else is working late aimlessly confessing about kerbs...unless you are already home which is perhaps more likely :roll:

I should really go and change and go and ring my bell at some Bond St peds soon.

biondino

Nope, still at work! I don't even finish officially for another 13 minutes. It's shocking the long hours forced on me

If you leave in about 20 minutes there is a small chance our paths will cross - I'm on my Trek tonight, so keep an eye open!

Totalnewbie

I'm on a Specialized hybrid with hub gears (oh the shame, but so much less maintenance in winter, and I'm lazy). And, for some reason, knee-high argyle socks.

Perhaps see you in a bit, am off to start the faffage now.

rally200

If you only want to own one bike buy the Allez (or a Tricross) if you've any real distance to cover, or any inclination towards "sporty" riding. I started with an alledgedly sporty hybrid and soon outgrew it,and bought an allez.

biondino

Totalnewbie wrote:

I'm on a Specialized hybrid with hub gears (oh the shame, but so much less maintenance in winter, and I'm lazy). And, for some reason, knee-high argyle socks.

Hott (the socks, not the hybrid, I'm not a pervert). I think I missed you because I was working so damn long and hard, of course.

gtvlusso

For some reason, I read this thread as "Allez Sport Vs Kebabs"....

rally200

gtvlusso wrote:

For some reason, I read this thread as "Allez Sport Vs Kebabs"....

I've ridden over plenty of kebabs on my Allez and no wheel damage yet. only doner to date, shish could be a different matter.