Would buying a more new road bike really make a difference?

Tino4444

Hi All,

I would really appreciate your comments regarding my next bike purchase or upgrade.

I have been riding a Specialized Allez 09 now for approx 1 year and I find it a really nice bike to ride. The standard wheels that it comes with (not with bike but believe they are Mondo) are crappy!

I have been looking at new wheels for the bike and quite like the look of the Zonda wheels (approx £400). I have been toying with the idea of upgrading my Allez by adding these wheels with some ''racing'' tyres.

However, I have also been wondering whether my money would be better spent on a better bike (£1500 + maybe a tarmac or something similar)?

Would I really benefit that much from purchasing a tarmac rather than upgrading the wheels on my Allez?

I use the bike for duathlons and time trials in the summer months.

Tino

flasher

New bike for sure and relegate the Allez to winter duties

dennisn

Tino4444 wrote:

Hi All,

I would really appreciate your comments regarding my next bike purchase or upgrade.

I have been riding a Specialized Allez 09 now for approx 1 year and I find it a really nice bike to ride. The standard wheels that it comes with (not with bike but believe they are Mondo) are crappy!

I have been looking at new wheels for the bike and quite like the look of the Zonda wheels (approx £400). I have been toying with the idea of upgrading my Allez by adding these wheels with some ''racing'' tyres.

However, I have also been wondering whether my money would be better spent on a better bike (£1500 + maybe a tarmac or something similar)?

Would I really benefit that much from purchasing a tarmac rather than upgrading the wheels on my Allez?

I use the bike for duathlons and time trials in the summer months.

Tino

FWIW. It sounds like you are equating "better / faster" with simply spending more money.
New bike? Sure why not? Who doesn't want a new bike? But, thinking that just spending a bunch more money will put you on the podium is, well, ......wrong. Won't happen. You'll
look faster and get a few ohs and ahs but actually going faster is not really in the cards
if all you're doing is shelling out money for, so called, go faster goodies. If you really want to go faster spend your money on a coach and learn how to train. Then again if you have bunches of money, well, get those new bikes.

Tino4444

dennisn wrote:

Tino4444 wrote:

Hi All,

I would really appreciate your comments regarding my next bike purchase or upgrade.

I have been riding a Specialized Allez 09 now for approx 1 year and I find it a really nice bike to ride. The standard wheels that it comes with (not with bike but believe they are Mondo) are crappy!

I have been looking at new wheels for the bike and quite like the look of the Zonda wheels (approx £400). I have been toying with the idea of upgrading my Allez by adding these wheels with some ''racing'' tyres.

However, I have also been wondering whether my money would be better spent on a better bike (£1500 + maybe a tarmac or something similar)?

Would I really benefit that much from purchasing a tarmac rather than upgrading the wheels on my Allez?

I use the bike for duathlons and time trials in the summer months.

Tino

FWIW. It sounds like you are equating "better / faster" with simply spending more money.
New bike? Sure why not? Who doesn't want a new bike? But, thinking that just spending a bunch more money will put you on the podium is, well, ......wrong. Won't happen. You'll
look faster and get a few ohs and ahs but actually going faster is not really in the cards
if all you're doing is shelling out money for, so called, go faster goodies. If you really want to go faster spend your money on a coach and learn how to train. Then again if you have bunches of money, well, get those new bikes.

Thanks for your reply.

I am currently on a training programme via my triathlon club. I am currently training in different hr zones etc. So training is not really my issue here. I appreciate that the engine drives the bike.......however, is there really that much of a difference between an upgraded bike and a new one?

I think I am going to upgrade the wheels this summer and ride the allez for another year!!

Escargot

If you're unsure about spending on a new bike then why not go to an Evans 'Ride It' event.

They book out a range of bikes for about £25 so you can get a decent idea of what the bike is like to ride. They mainly hire out Specialized, Trek and Colnago so you may well find something of interest in there.

dennisn

Tino4444 wrote:

dennisn wrote:

Tino4444 wrote:

Hi All,

I would really appreciate your comments regarding my next bike purchase or upgrade.

I have been riding a Specialized Allez 09 now for approx 1 year and I find it a really nice bike to ride. The standard wheels that it comes with (not with bike but believe they are Mondo) are crappy!

I have been looking at new wheels for the bike and quite like the look of the Zonda wheels (approx £400). I have been toying with the idea of upgrading my Allez by adding these wheels with some ''racing'' tyres.

However, I have also been wondering whether my money would be better spent on a better bike (£1500 + maybe a tarmac or something similar)?

Would I really benefit that much from purchasing a tarmac rather than upgrading the wheels on my Allez?

I use the bike for duathlons and time trials in the summer months.

Tino

FWIW. It sounds like you are equating "better / faster" with simply spending more money.
New bike? Sure why not? Who doesn't want a new bike? But, thinking that just spending a bunch more money will put you on the podium is, well, ......wrong. Won't happen. You'll
look faster and get a few ohs and ahs but actually going faster is not really in the cards
if all you're doing is shelling out money for, so called, go faster goodies. If you really want to go faster spend your money on a coach and learn how to train. Then again if you have bunches of money, well, get those new bikes.

Thanks for your reply.

I am currently on a training programme via my triathlon club. I am currently training in different hr zones etc. So training is not really my issue here. I appreciate that the engine drives the bike.......however, is there really that much of a difference between an upgraded bike and a new one?

I think I am going to upgrade the wheels this summer and ride the allez for another year!!

Sounds like you're on the right track. It's the training, not the buying that will get you there.
Does "better" equipment make a difference? A little, but nowhere near the difference PROPER training, rest, and nutrition make.

mfin

Your bike will come to life with Zondas on it. Ive been through that upgrade on a bike that came with Fulcrum 7's. I can't say how much quicker it is, but it is quicker, it accelerates so much better, ride quality is good, sturdy but quite light for the money. The wheelsets that come on a lot of bikes in this Allez price range often aren't up to much (imo £100-£150 wheels are winter training wheels). A wheelset can certainly liven up or take the life out of a bike that is true.

(anyone have Eurus and have ridden Zondas too, feel difference between them? Im very interested)

In fact, not many big manufacturer's bikes at £1500 like you'd considered are going to come with wheels as good as the zondas either. That's not bigging up zondas just cos I got a pair, (cos I know a lot of people do things like that) and Im sure there are other wheels at the price just as good, but then again, not significantly better. Hubs are effectively record hubs remember, and £400 is over the top, Mine were under £300, friend got some for £330... must be some good prices somewhere.

In fact, if you have £400 then keep an eye for a bit out cos Ribble were selling Eurus for £399 a couple of weeks back, don't know if that deal will come back but thats the next one up the range, same hubs, a more aero spoke again and lighter rims, apparently without being less hardy. That would be a wheel Id happily put on a 3k build myself. Either wheel you could move onto your new bike when you get it, revert your Allez back and use it as a winter bike. You could even sell the wheels that come on your new bike unused and put your Zondas on that if they're better (which they probably will be).

Pross

In fact, not many big manufacturer's bikes at £1500 like you'd considered are going to come with wheels as good as the zondas either. That's not bigging up zondas just cos I got a pair, (cos I know a lot of people do things like that) and Im sure there are other wheels at the price just as good, but then again, not significantly better. Hubs are effectively record hubs remember, and £400 is over the top, Mine were under £300, friend got some for £330... must be some good prices somewhere.

+1 Can't speak for the wheels but in upgrading to a more expensive bike you still won't necessarily get better wheels. If you are seriously considering spending £1500 then you may be better off opting for somewhere like Ribble where you can build the bike with your choice of wheels and components. That said you would be upgrading the frame in moving from the Allez to the Tarmac and giving yourself a better platform for future upgrades. This is the approach I took when ordering my new bike - best frame I could get for my money and then upgrade with better components as and when I could afford it.

It's a constant spiral once you start on the upgrade route. You'll be like Trigger's broom in Only Fools and Horses - never changed your bike but every part of it replaced several times

Rich Hcp

The Allez frame is a decent frame.

I'd think about upgrading the transmission and wheels and save some cash.

Keep the Allez for the year, you can then get a new custom build bike or (frame and transfer the upgrades over)

Changing the bike may not give you better wheels and amybe the frame may not suit you

If you find the geometary comfortable, then why go to the bother of getting used to a new bike?

(Unless you go for a Tarmac)

Just my opinion, of course, if you feela new bike will make you faster, then go for it!