specailized allez geometry

wirral353

i am 5ft 7in tall with 32.9 inch leg which size would be best for me 52 or 54 cm from experience i.e if you have one these bikes what is your experceince of it.

also is the sizing of 52 cm and 54 cm the effective seat tube size what measuremnet is this from bottom bracket to wear.

thanks

sungod

you'll find comprehensive measurements on the website, including how seat tube length is defined...

http://www.specialized.com/gb/en/bc/SBC ... nuItemId=0

i'd think a 54 would be more your size, but sizing depends on position/fexibility as well as body measurements, so really would advise getting a test ride

Pigtail

I am 5ft 9 with a 31" inside leg.

I haven't ridden a road bike for a long time - around 25 years.

I went to my LBS where they had a 2010, 52 Allez Elite on special offer. They insisted that it fitted me. I took it for a run and quite liked it - but wasn't entirely convinced. I then bought a pretty much unused 54 on Ebay.

I think the 54 is better. I've done about 300 miles now and really like it. I have very little if any clearance sitting astride it, which I understand is not how it should be. The main issues for me however was the top tube. The LBS said in a normal riding position I should see the end of the forks over the bar. On the 54 that is about right, on the 52 I could see most of the fork and felt as though I was overhanging the wheel.

My understanding is that the 54 is a virtual size. If it was a standard frame rather than a compact frame it would be 54 cm from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the tube, where the seat post goes in. The Allez is less than that, but to keep sizing consistent with others they quote it that way.

I would say you need to try it and take advice - however I was willing to take a chance on a cheap (cheap as in reduced from rrp, not cheap as in the amount of money it cost me!) bike on my own 'feel' for it.

One issue for me was the crank length. The 52 is 170 mm and the 54 is 172.5. Somehow the 52 felt a smaller circle than I was used to.

All of that is subjective though. I went with my own view, I really like my bike, and have no regrets. If it had gone badly wrong I could get most, if not all of my money back, then start again, possibly with a bikefit.

James

SDK2007

Spesh Allez size chart

http://www.evanscycles.com/product_docu ... -chart.pdf

You are slap bang in the middle of a 54

wirral353

Pigtail wrote:

I am 5ft 9 with a 31" inside leg.

I haven't ridden a road bike for a long time - around 25 years.

I went to my LBS where they had a 2010, 52 Allez Elite on special offer. They insisted that it fitted me. I took it for a run and quite liked it - but wasn't entirely convinced. I then bought a pretty much unused 54 on Ebay.

I think the 54 is better. I've done about 300 miles now and really like it. I have very little if any clearance sitting astride it, which I understand is not how it should be. The main issues for me however was the top tube. The LBS said in a normal riding position I should see the end of the forks over the bar. On the 54 that is about right, on the 52 I could see most of the fork and felt as though I was overhanging the wheel.

My understanding is that the 54 is a virtual size. If it was a standard frame rather than a compact frame it would be 54 cm from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the tube, where the seat post goes in. The Allez is less than that, but to keep sizing consistent with others they quote it that way.

I would say you need to try it and take advice - however I was willing to take a chance on a cheap (cheap as in reduced from rrp, not cheap as in the amount of money it cost me!) bike on my own 'feel' for it.

One issue for me was the crank length. The 52 is 170 mm and the 54 is 172.5. Somehow the 52 felt a smaller circle than I was used to.

All of that is subjective though. I went with my own view, I really like my bike, and have no regrets. If it had gone badly wrong I could get most, if not all of my money back, then start again, possibly with a bikefit.

James

yes i can see your point i dont like the 54 for same reason i dont want 172.5cm cranks as never ridden them always 170cm cranks.

i have ridden 55cm top tube before and had to fit smallest stem but 54cm seat tube is what my old bike fit suggest 53.7cm, but i like to think i could get away with 52 cm size but what puts me off is the fact the specalised sizing guide put me in middle or almost in middle of having 54cm. Do you think bike shop will swap crank arms to 170 if i ask them even so bike is in sale.

SDK2007

If you're buying a 2011 Allez then the 54 comes with 170mm crank arms as standard.

http://www.evanscycles.com/product_docu ... y-data.pdf