Allez Sport or Trek 1.2?

dg lander

Hi
I went to my LBS last weekend and test rode the Allez, liked it, went home ordered c2w voucher. Now I'm reading cycling plus magazine and I see the 1.2 has a decent review as a first bike. My LBS also stocks this bike, so I think I will give it a test ride this weekend before I commit. Looking at the specs of the two their isnt much difference and as a novice I doubt I'll be able to tell after a short test ride. So basically my question is: which of these 2 bikes would you reccomend?
Thanks
Dave

Daimler

If you can try them both then you can decide yourself.
People on here may be biased in their opinion.
At that price range there really isn't much in it.

I bought myself an Allez 16 as my Winter/Trainer bike and it's excellent for £499.99.
The Sport is about a 1lb lighter in weight and is better specced.
The Allez's have good frames on them too.

I am a Specialized fan and I always find the contact points (saddles, stems, bars) on all their bikes to be of very good quality and comfy. Other bikes can often mean inferior quality contact points.
So for me if you want a bike you can simply buy, get on and enjoy the Allez wins for me.

dg lander

Thanks,
I don't mind biased opinions, it all helps. I'm leaning towards the Allez even though I think the trek looks a bit nicer. Don't suppose you know how the frames compare in terms of quality, reputation etc?

The 'brilliant bikes for under £700' article has thrown me off a bit as it doesn't mention a lot of the bikes I've been looking at including the Allez. They've singled out the trek 1.2 as 'the perfect entry point to drop bar riding'. I assume they've done this feature because this is the time of the year when people (like me ) start thinking about taking up cycling to commute and are therefore looking for a first road bike.

Squillinossett

I dont persnally like the look of most Specialized bikes, including the costly ones!

Take them both for a ride and see what you think, I use a Trek 1.5 as my winter bike and love it to bits, it was my first proper road bike and though its my winter "hack" still take it out now and again as I simply enjoy riding it.

Daimler

The frames are pretty similar in quality but IMO the Allez edges it. The frame quailty on my bike is good and I like the hourglass shaped stays.
I also believe the Allez is more racier in geometry than the Trek if you like that.
The shallow drops bars on the Allez are very comfy and means you can ride on the drops more than other deep drop bars.
They tested the Allez Elite a few issues back too and said the frame was pretty good. Along with excellent contact points.
The frame on my Allez 16 and the Allez Sport is the same as the £800 Elite.
Both have the option of Triple chainsets if you fancy that too.
Do you get a choice of colours on the Sport?

alfablue

In praise of the Trek 1.2: my g/f bought this bike (in triple form) and it has been fantastic for fast day rides, winter rides with mudguards fitted, and also she has toured in Tuscany and the Netherlands (takes a rear rack and a reasonable load - we were camping, and handles brilliantly). It is a great all-rounder.

(Unfortunately, after only 18 months of cycling she is now starting to show me a clean pair of heals and I ride a bike twice the price )

dg lander

Daimler wrote:

Do you get a choice of colours on the Sport?

No just white which I'm not massively keen on, would have preferred red. The look of the allez is a bit plain compared to the 1.2. Just noticed the 1.2 has unbranded brakes whereas the allez has sora, not sure if that makes much of a difference.

alfablue

I think the unbranded brakes will be tektro - they perform fine.

Daimler

The White Sport does look quite nice in the flesh.
red is also nice.
The Trek is a nice bike, don't get me wrong....I really need think you need to see for yourself.
Sora Brakes are perfectly adequate and work well.
Trek Bontrager branded parts are good items.

At this price point I'd go with what you want.

dg lander

Daimler wrote:

At this price point I'd go with what you want.

I dunno... I'm thinking I might just take the Mrs this weekend and ask her which colour will go best in the utility room

ScottieP

I'm biased too as I ride an Allez Elite (from 2005) but having looked not ridden the two - I like the spec of the Specialized better. If you want a red one - you need to look at the Allez Elite at £799 which also has full tiagra and better wheels over the Sport. Same frame though from the web - so either would be good. My Allez has been great. Both the Specialized and the Trek are good bikes though - you won't be going wrong with either.

The Spiderman

I have a Trek 1200,which is similar to the 1.2 but older.Good bike,generally but do find it quite harsh.Not sure if the Specialized is better in this respect.

I`d also look at the Giant Defy.