2011 Allez vs Tarmac

pastorboy70

Taking the plunge and buying a new bike after riding my 10 year old road bike.

Specialized has come up with the Sram Apex Groupo for the Tarmac and Allez this year. The new geometry of the 2011 Allez frame is exactly the same as the Tarmac. So...

The Tarmac Carbon frame with Apex is $2000 US
The Allez E5 aluminum frame with Apex is $1400 US.

I'm just riding for pleasure, not racing - is it worth the extra $600 to get the Tarmac?

meggiedude

pastorboy70 wrote:

Taking the plunge and buying a new bike after riding my 10 year old road bike.

Specialized has come up with the Sram Apex Groupo for the Tarmac and Allez this year. The new geometry of the 2011 Allez frame is exactly the same as the Tarmac. So...

The Tarmac Carbon frame with Apex is $2000 US
The Allez E5 aluminum frame with Apex is $1400 US.

I'm just riding for pleasure, not racing - is it worth the extra $600 to get the Tarmac?

I can't see a SRAM spec bike on the specialized web site - its all 105 from what I can see, but I may be looking in the wrong place.
It depends on amount of use I suppose. The main thing you will gain is the reduced weight of the Tarmac vs the Allez, and maybe different flex. (Does anyone know the comparaitive weight of the two bikes?)
Next main difference is the paint job - and thats just subjective.
If you are not racing I doubt you will significantly gain from the differences in the bike.
Personally, if I was in the same position to you - nice as the Tarmac is, I would go for the cheaper Allez. I've got the 2010 model so maybe I am a little biased.

MD

sonny73

I would go with the Tarmac, again I'm biased as I have one. As you ride more and more you will have a top grade carbon frame you can upgrade endlessly should you so wish.
It will be lighter certainly, so great for climbing etc. and it would be stiffer and hence you will have better power transition.
In short the Allez is a top bike, but the Tarmac should be a better, more responsive ride.
But if it's about money, if you can afford it and feel comfortable spending that $ then go for it otherwise the Allez is in it's own right a great bike.

Also the Tarmac has a Fact 8r SL2 frame: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCProduct.jsp?spid=52903&scid=1001&scname=Road I was talking to my LBS a week or 2 back about the new Tarmacs and the chap was saying about the 2011 frames being in essence what Spesh's top end models were a couple of years ago, the Fact 11r SL2, so you’re certainly getting your money's worth here without a doubt.
Either way it's a Spesh, so IMO you can't go wrong whichever you go with.

sonny73

Also the Tarmac comes in red, nice

meggiedude

Sonny73 wrote:

I would go with the Tarmac, again I'm biased as I have one. As you ride more and more you will have a top grade carbon frame you can upgrade endlessly should you so wish.
It will be lighter certainly, so great for climbing etc. and it would be stiffer and hence you will have better power transition.
In short the Allez is a top bike, but the Tarmac should be a better, more responsive ride.
But if it's about money, if you can afford it and feel comfortable spending that $ then go for it otherwise the Allez is in it's own right a great bike.

Also the Tarmac has a Fact 8r SL2 frame: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCProduct.jsp?spid=52903&scid=1001&scname=Road I was talking to my LBS a week or 2 back about the new Tarmacs and the chap was saying about the 2011 frames being in essence what Spesh's top end models were a couple of years ago, the Fact 11r SL2, so you’re certainly getting your money's worth here without a doubt.
Either way it's a Spesh, so IMO you can't go wrong whichever you go with.

I don't disagree with anything you say Sonny
If money were less of a concern I would have gone for a Tarmac too. As money is more of a factor to me (well lets be honest here - its more of a concern to the wife) then I went for the Allez. Based on my usage I really couldn't justify the extra spend. Its a head or heart thing really.
I sensibly followed my head - simply because my wedding tackle was potentially on the block here.
Your last comment I fully endorse.

MD

meggiedude

Sonny73 wrote:

Also the Tarmac comes in red, nice

Angry colour for angry riders ;-)

cborrman

I have both (2009 sl2) as main ride and 2011 allez, and can say frame wise there is not much in it, and the allez has me often asking why i spent so much money. They are both very good looking bikes in different ways, i have had them both at 70km/h plus with no probs on downhills, and the same cornering speeds, the same ability and security to bunny hop pot holes at 50km/h ... The only differences i would have to say are:

1) the pleasure of having a 6.85kg bike out of the box cannot be equalled, all i have changed is the tyres, the apex sl2 will still be way off this tho
2) raw acceleration but that may also be wheelset as well as stiffness and
3) a slight speed advantage on the few sessions when i am really, really going for it, but again could be down to components as well
4) I do find myslef stopping and admiring the sl2 with a coffee in my hand for a while, but that maybe just my carbon fetish

Put it this way, if i needed some extra cash, i would not have a major issue swapping the frames out, and have to say, if you put a wheelset like some kysirium sl or even the model below the sl's, you have pretty much all the bike you ever need. All sram gruppo's are amazing as well, apex is as good as it gets.

In short, save 600 now, flog some crap on ebay and put the 600 to some decent wheels and tyres and a romin sl saddle and the allez will be a faster (longer lasting???) more inspiring bike than a stock sl2 apex - you made the right choice. Plus you got to keep yer gonads

cborrman

Ps have you weighed it out of interest?