Ordered my new toy today...

daveclow

its a Specialized Allez in satin black

i cant WAIT to give it a blast. went for a 61cm frame as im 6ft 3 and a bit and long legged.
im also looking forward to spending money pimping it out/minor improvements gotta love new toys!!

im new to the sport so need any recommendations for helmets and cycle computers before i properly go out on the road. i know there are endless reviews out there but hearing it straight from the public is much more valuable imo. Im all ears!

pics to come!

cheers guys.

rogerthecat

Hi new myself, however, after reading most Bike forums I have a few points for you to consider.


Helmet have a look at the Spiuk Nexion just as it has a net inside and will help avoid bugs in your hair.

Computer well I have just got the Polar CS200 paid a few bob for it, however the features that it has are all that I needed / wanted at the moment, speed, distance calories ride duration and time, I am sure it has other stuff on it but I have not explored them fully yet.

Gloves I have 2 pair, fingerless cheep halford ones and some CEBA Windstoppers (with fingers) as the ride to works was getting painfull (not so bad now).

Tops m8 I will more than likley get slated for this but I wear a high vis jacket, and will continue to wear it so long as I ride on my own, there are some complete tatws on the road, car /van drivers; anyway enough said on that, I think you get the point, not sure on these gay looking tee-shirts all the riders wear mabey someone can enlighten us.


Looking fwd to the photos of ya Bike


RTC Out

mask of sanity

Nice, which Allez is it? Got an 18 myself and its a joy to ride!! Hope you have as much fun on it as i have had, and continue to have, on mine!

Longwaydown

I collected my new Allez on Wednesday and have only had time for a couple of miles since.. Planning on a ride tomorrow to get to really enjoy it!

You are in for a treat Dave!

CiB

I'd leave the helmet out of it all and spend it on a decent comp personally.

You did ask.

Barkiesnake

iIm all ears!

in that case finding a helmet may be difficult.

giant_man

+ 1 for the Spiuk Nexion. Better than the 7/10 C+ gave it.

blu3cat

Tops m8 I will more than likley get slated for this but I wear a high vis jacket, and will continue to wear it so long as I ride on my own, there are some complete tatws on the road, car /van drivers; anyway enough said on that, I think you get the point, not sure on these gay looking tee-shirts all the riders wear mabey someone can enlighten us.

even with hi-vis but car drivers still don't see you :roll:

What do you mean by Gay t-shirts - cycle jerseys? The ones that don't flap around slowing you down and wick the sweat away from your body ensuring you feel more confortable when riding - no idea

I do have a t-shirt that says "cock master" is that a gay t-shirt? (Terrence & Phillip joke from South Park the movie - long story)

blu3cat

I do have a t-shirt that says "fool master" is that a gay t-shirt? (Terrence & Phillip joke from South Park the movie - long story)

sorry that should read "c*ck master"

daveclow

its a 27, from Evans Cycles. very helpful bunch on the phone.

lookin like a c*** master is absolutely fine by me, my 1st sport (at the moment) is rowing and the all-in-ones i have to race in are PRICEless haha, we all look so gay, i quite fancy the cycling 'sponsored up' look tho

gloves is a top shout, ill look into that.

but a carbon fibre bottle cage......i want one! its gunna be like pimp my bike!


is upgrading the tires to a quicker set of rubber worth it?

Longwaydown

If you want to ride in the rain, an upgrade on tyres is pretty essential - the standard tyres are complete slicks!

ian_s

I wear a dayglow mesh workmans gillet type thing. Probably look like a c@ck but at least I look like something.. :P

I'm interested in gloves - are the gel ones worthwhile? Any recommendations? I was looking in my Spesh catalogue and they look quite tasty but is 25quid-ish for a pair of gloves really worth it...

rogerthecat

@ian_s, I think so m8, my windproof ones cost me £23.99 I think it was, not a happy bunny when I am unable to feel my fingers first thing in the morning.

Padre 1

Carbon bottle cage?? Try carbonistauk on ebay - get one for £15. It's the cheapest I've found and arrived really quickly.

AndyOgy

Longwaydown wrote:

If you want to ride in the rain, an upgrade on tyres is pretty essential - the standard tyres are complete slicks!

Can't agree with that enough. I got my Allez in late August last year, just as the rain was starting to wash all the crap into the roads. The standard tyres lasted about 3 weeks and punctured all the time. It was my first road bike so I was initially worried that this may be par for the course. However, I splashed out on some Conti Gatorskins and they completely transformed the ride. They seem to be wearing pretty well too.

Apart from the tyres, pedals and rear brake pads, the rest of the bike is still standard and I'm so glad that I chose the Allez. Having read the other threads on here, it certainly seems to be the best road bike for the money.

balthazar

Longwaydown wrote:

If you want to ride in the rain, an upgrade on tyres is pretty essential - the standard tyres are complete slicks!

Which is as it should be - tread pattern serves no purpose for bike road tyres, wet or dry, save brand distinction. It is mimicry of car tyres. Thankfully, manufacturers recognise that many people understand this now, and fully slick tyres are again more available.

AndyOgy

Absolutely. It's not the slickness of the standard tyres that is the problem, it's just the fact that they're rubbish. I didn't change the tyres just to have some tread, the standard tyres were cut to shreds after only about 500 miles on (admittedly pretty poor) sussex roads and cycle paths. And they seemed to be on first name terms with the fairy.

rally200

Gay looking T-shirts?

I hope that's not my Judy Garland print skinsuit you're referring to !

If you mean tight fitting jerseys there is a reason for them - they don't flap in the wind, and they help wick sweat away - it really does work. If you've got a bit of a belly in the way then a MTB jersey will normally have a more forgiving cut

as to the tyres - +1 on the views above tread is irrelevant a bike tyre is too narrow to aquaplane, but the standard "mondo"(?) Allez tyres are flint magnets & have no kevlar or similar so are worth an upgrade

AndyOgy

And since nobody else has said it - I'd just like to raise the fact that the 2009 Allez is a damn sexy machine. I love the Satin Black finish, the curved top tube, the carbon wrap seat post, the uber shiny components and the delightful curves on the rear stays. She feels fast, she looks fast and she is fast.
I pre-ordered mine last year so had never seen one in the flesh until mine turned up. No picture can do this bike justice, I think that this may be true love.

Longwaydown

I agree - I think it's a lovely looking bike and I don't think much touches it for the money. I did look at an 08 Scott S50 for £549 that got me tempted, but the LBS I bought from swayed it by their service and knowledge (Primera in Bournemouth).

Regarding tyres - I meant the standard tyres don't seem that wonderful - having spent many years motor racing on slicks, I can testify that a road bike doesn't have to clear water like a car tyre!