Specialized Allez 2011 Triple review
Thebigbee
Posts: 570
Hi guys,
Just had my first day's riding with my new Specialized Allez 2011 Triple.
Will get this out the way first, apologies to anyone that I have offended on this forum when I have had a few jars or been an awkward sod. This is a (very) long post so if you just want to know about the bike scroll down to the REVIEW!
This is to help any newbies out that may be considering getting their first road bike or, are put in the same situation as me, and have been forced by the insurance company to buy a bike from a specific company.
Bike history. Always rode mountain bikes of varying quality. Always bought mountain bikes and then eventually realised that I hardly went off road, let alone near a "mountain". Started putting road tyres on my mountain bikes which helped. But I always felt from the gear ratios I was putting in a lot and not getting a lot in return.
Much like the majority of my girlfriends! They came and went - or got stolen.
Bought my first hybrid - a Scott Sportster P6 2010 2nd hand at the beginning of the year. And realised what I had been missing. Made such a difference those 700c wheels. That got nicked when I was burgled so whilst awaiting the insurance decision I bought a Scott Sub 30 2010 as I needed to get around.
The trade up was unbelievable with 27 Deore gears all round. All in I was £470 + around £110 with all the upgrades and accessories I had bought whilst waiting for a decision from the insurance.
Long and short, they paid out, pretty damn quick in all honesty - and I had to buy a bike from their supplier so I opted for the Specialized Allez 2011 Triple for an extra £190.
I am up to £660 + extras - when I only wanted to spend £170 to replace my nicked bike. But I do have 2 pretty damn good bikes.
REVIEW of the bike!!
The first thing I would say is, if you are serious about getting into riding then you have to have a realistic minimum budget of £400 + for a new bike. A 2nd hand one will obviously less. Don't buy cheap shite though.
I asked loads of questions on this forum about reccomendations and got loads of really helpful advice - thanks to all the guys who helped me out!
There are issues about frame geometry, weight, gears, spec and also brand name.
I knew nothing about the double / triple issue.
I could have bought a Claud Butler double (18 speed) that would have saved me £100 - I was limited to one retailer - but my eye on the bigger picture - resale value - swayed me towards the Allez 2011 Triple at £100 more. From what I have seen Specialized hold their value, IMO, better than CB or a lot of other makes.
If I didn't get on with it then I could get shot very easily. If I did want to get shot and upgrade, as long as I looked after it, same thinking.
Bike arrived fully built from the seller - just had to turn the bars and attach the pedals. They forgot to include a pedal spanner which slightly annoyed me. A 15mm spanner, if you can find one, which I couldn't, does the job!
First impressions - looks very sexy and discreet in matt black with red accents. Carbon forks, all components appear good quality and well manufactured.
For an RRP of £589.99 so they bloody well should be if its brand new.
The only shite quality components from my uneducated eye are the pedals. They really are junk. Plastic no name rubbish. You get clips which I will be using for the forseeable future because I don't like the look of clipless shoes. The pedals really are crap and IMO that is unecessary penny pinching. At least supply some basic metal Wellgos - no?
TEST RIDE
Went out on my first test rideof 50 miles on this, and indeed any "proper" road bike. To say I am impressed is an understatement.
Gear change was silent and snappy - once you get used to how they work! It is a new way of shifting and riding.
The brakes worked perfectly. The geometry was ideal for my height despite what I had read on the size guide and argued with the salesman who I bought the bike blind from!
I am 6' - 6'2" depending on who measures me. The guide says I needed a 58cm frame but the salesman told me it was a 56cm. He was spot on.
The majority of the 50 mile ride I was in the largest chainring and was bemoaning the fact that I had got a triple. Having said that there were 2 hills I decided to attack and I was in the granny, granny ring - and I was so glad that I had them!
Compared to my very decent hybrid, this bike is in a different league. I was cruising at 18-20mph. On the Scott I would have been going pretty much full tilt to cruise at that speed.
It is not the lightest bike or best specced bike. But in that price range, for a bike that will hold its value I doubt you would find much better.
I hope this review "essay" helps someone who is in the market for a new road bike.
Cheers
Apologies for my verbosity!!
Just had my first day's riding with my new Specialized Allez 2011 Triple.
Will get this out the way first, apologies to anyone that I have offended on this forum when I have had a few jars or been an awkward sod. This is a (very) long post so if you just want to know about the bike scroll down to the REVIEW!
This is to help any newbies out that may be considering getting their first road bike or, are put in the same situation as me, and have been forced by the insurance company to buy a bike from a specific company.
Bike history. Always rode mountain bikes of varying quality. Always bought mountain bikes and then eventually realised that I hardly went off road, let alone near a "mountain". Started putting road tyres on my mountain bikes which helped. But I always felt from the gear ratios I was putting in a lot and not getting a lot in return.
Much like the majority of my girlfriends! They came and went - or got stolen.
Bought my first hybrid - a Scott Sportster P6 2010 2nd hand at the beginning of the year. And realised what I had been missing. Made such a difference those 700c wheels. That got nicked when I was burgled so whilst awaiting the insurance decision I bought a Scott Sub 30 2010 as I needed to get around.
The trade up was unbelievable with 27 Deore gears all round. All in I was £470 + around £110 with all the upgrades and accessories I had bought whilst waiting for a decision from the insurance.
Long and short, they paid out, pretty damn quick in all honesty - and I had to buy a bike from their supplier so I opted for the Specialized Allez 2011 Triple for an extra £190.
I am up to £660 + extras - when I only wanted to spend £170 to replace my nicked bike. But I do have 2 pretty damn good bikes.
REVIEW of the bike!!
The first thing I would say is, if you are serious about getting into riding then you have to have a realistic minimum budget of £400 + for a new bike. A 2nd hand one will obviously less. Don't buy cheap shite though.
I asked loads of questions on this forum about reccomendations and got loads of really helpful advice - thanks to all the guys who helped me out!
There are issues about frame geometry, weight, gears, spec and also brand name.
I knew nothing about the double / triple issue.
I could have bought a Claud Butler double (18 speed) that would have saved me £100 - I was limited to one retailer - but my eye on the bigger picture - resale value - swayed me towards the Allez 2011 Triple at £100 more. From what I have seen Specialized hold their value, IMO, better than CB or a lot of other makes.
If I didn't get on with it then I could get shot very easily. If I did want to get shot and upgrade, as long as I looked after it, same thinking.
Bike arrived fully built from the seller - just had to turn the bars and attach the pedals. They forgot to include a pedal spanner which slightly annoyed me. A 15mm spanner, if you can find one, which I couldn't, does the job!
First impressions - looks very sexy and discreet in matt black with red accents. Carbon forks, all components appear good quality and well manufactured.
For an RRP of £589.99 so they bloody well should be if its brand new.
The only shite quality components from my uneducated eye are the pedals. They really are junk. Plastic no name rubbish. You get clips which I will be using for the forseeable future because I don't like the look of clipless shoes. The pedals really are crap and IMO that is unecessary penny pinching. At least supply some basic metal Wellgos - no?
TEST RIDE
Went out on my first test rideof 50 miles on this, and indeed any "proper" road bike. To say I am impressed is an understatement.
Gear change was silent and snappy - once you get used to how they work! It is a new way of shifting and riding.
The brakes worked perfectly. The geometry was ideal for my height despite what I had read on the size guide and argued with the salesman who I bought the bike blind from!
I am 6' - 6'2" depending on who measures me. The guide says I needed a 58cm frame but the salesman told me it was a 56cm. He was spot on.
The majority of the 50 mile ride I was in the largest chainring and was bemoaning the fact that I had got a triple. Having said that there were 2 hills I decided to attack and I was in the granny, granny ring - and I was so glad that I had them!
Compared to my very decent hybrid, this bike is in a different league. I was cruising at 18-20mph. On the Scott I would have been going pretty much full tilt to cruise at that speed.
It is not the lightest bike or best specced bike. But in that price range, for a bike that will hold its value I doubt you would find much better.
I hope this review "essay" helps someone who is in the market for a new road bike.
Cheers
Apologies for my verbosity!!
0
Comments
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Thanks for the review.
In March I bought the Allez Sport 2010 double. I really like it. It is the first road bike that I have ever owned and I am by the very definition a noob. I am learning quick and falling in love with cycling.
I have only wished once that I had that extra gear and it was while climbing a monster of a hill here in AZ. While climging along at what seemed to only 2 or maybe 3 mph I kept looking down to see if an extra gear had magically appeared - it never did. The hill about killed me.
Other than that, for the most part, the roads here are wide, flat, and well maintained so not much need for the extra gear. I can't wait to do some additional training to attack that hill again some day.
Thanks again for the review.0 -
Very similar outlook to my 2010 Allez Triple...except mine's a slightly less fancy silver colour. I'd heard the Allez could be a bit of a harsh ride but I find it perfectly comfy. 50miles is my max at the moment but it's getting better...
Love it. Very happy with my decision!0 -
Nice review, top stuff.
Now, ditch those pedals and go clipless, best upgrade you will make! Don't worry about falling over, as in you will fall over and look a bloody fool, so don't worry about it
0 -
FindYourGozo wrote:Thanks for the review.
In March I bought the Allez Sport 2010 double. I really like it. It is the first road bike that I have ever owned and I am by the very definition a noob. I am learning quick and falling in love with cycling.
I have only wished once that I had that extra gear and it was while climbing a monster of a hill here in AZ. While climging along at what seemed to only 2 or maybe 3 mph I kept looking down to see if an extra gear had magically appeared - it never did. The hill about killed me.
Other than that, for the most part, the roads here are wide, flat, and well maintained so not much need for the extra gear. I can't wait to do some additional training to attack that hill again some day.
Thanks again for the review.
Your welcome. I think I would have gone for a double if it was available. Sadly it wasn't. The hill I attacked in my lowest of the low was only a few hundred metres and I felt like puking at the top but surprisingly recovered pretty quickly.
Am gonna have to find myself some bigger, longer hills!
Thanks for the response0 -
esudfu wrote:Very similar outlook to my 2010 Allez Triple...except mine's a slightly less fancy silver colour. I'd heard the Allez could be a bit of a harsh ride but I find it perfectly comfy. 50miles is my max at the moment but it's getting better...
Love it. Very happy with my decision!
Take it you have the same bike but 2010? I couldn't give a toss about the colour really but mine looks nice as I'm sure yours does.
I don't find it harsh at all. Glad yr happy - Spesh are generally good bikes.
Cheers0 -
Bobbinogs wrote:Nice review, top stuff.
Now, ditch those pedals and go clipless, best upgrade you will make! Don't worry about falling over, as in you will fall over and look a bloody fool, so don't worry about it
I am tempted but I almost fell off and got run over on my maiden journey today without them!
The other reason I am not too keen is because I like going out then if I am somewhere I walk round, go to a pub, whatever. I don't like the look of them in general.
I also have one leg quite a bit longer than the other - and I can't afford a bike fit, or a clipless system
Having said that - we both know that will probably be the next purchase I make!
Cheers for the response0 -
I have recently bought a 2010 triple, first road bike for 30 years, and have got hooked, only done about 100 miles in total, longest ride about 17 miles, but need to get fit again, compared with an MTB it is so much faster, and keeps rolling.
Agree with your comment about resale values, they seem to be ridiculously expensive second hand (unless you get lucky
) at this time of year, I think i might wait till winter, when prices plunge, upgrade, then resell my 2010 next spring which should then get me up to a sport/elite for little extra expense? 0 -
Wh05apk wrote:I have recently bought a 2010 triple, first road bike for 30 years, and have got hooked, only done about 100 miles in total, longest ride about 17 miles, but need to get fit again, compared with an MTB it is so much faster, and keeps rolling.
Agree with your comment about resale values, they seem to be ridiculously expensive second hand (unless you get lucky ) at this time of year, I think i might wait till winter, when prices plunge, upgrade, then resell my 2010 next spring which should then get me up to a sport/elite for little extra expense?
Someone local to me was selling an Elite 2009 I think which was apparently better specced than the 2010 model - right size and everything on Gumtree for £475.
I would have bought it if the insurance company had paid me out in cash but they didn't!
Apparently the deal they have with the retailer means that they only had to pay about £300.
Just goes to show what a mark up they have.
I have no intention to upgrade anything at the moment. Am very happy with the bike and will do a few thousand miles and get my ability up there before I decide to upgrade.
Will try to keep it as new as possible during that time. I have even kept the polystyrene that came on the crossbar in transit and will put my lock round that.
Always helps if you have receipts and manuals when selling a bike as their are so many thieving scumbags out there!0 -
[quote="Thebigbee
Someone local to me was selling an Elite 2009 I think which was apparently better specced than the 2010 model - right size and everything on Gumtree for £475.
quote]
Not NW London about 2/3 weeks ago was it?0 -
[/quote]Wh05apk wrote:[quote="Thebigbee
Someone local to me was selling an Elite 2009 I think which was apparently better specced than the 2010 model - right size and everything on Gumtree for £475.
quote]
Not NW London about 2/3 weeks ago was it?
No - it was down South about 6 weeks ago.
London Gumtree has loads of bargains on it but I am pretty sure a good 75% of them cannot prove ownership!!0 -
Thebigbee wrote:
...The other reason I am not too keen is because I like going out then if I am somewhere I walk round, go to a pub, whatever. I don't like the look of them in general...
They make a massive difference. The Shimano MTB clipless system might be up your street:
Pedals are cheap. £20 for M520's or £30 for a M324 pedal with clip one side, normal pedal the other if you want some options.
MTB / touring shoes are often recessed into sole so you can walk about fine (unlike the bambi-on-ice road cyclists!
)
I use mine fine on my road bike AND MY NEW GRAN FONDO DELIVERED TODAY!!! (sorry - very excited. Only been around the car-park so far!)0 -
Avezius wrote:Thebigbee wrote:
...The other reason I am not too keen is because I like going out then if I am somewhere I walk round, go to a pub, whatever. I don't like the look of them in general...
They make a massive difference. The Shimano MTB clipless system might be up your street:
Pedals are cheap. £20 for M520's or £30 for a M324 pedal with clip one side, normal pedal the other if you want some options.
MTB / touring shoes are often recessed into sole so you can walk about fine (unlike the bambi-on-ice road cyclists! )
I use mine fine on my road bike AND MY NEW GRAN FONDO DELIVERED TODAY!!! (sorry - very excited. Only been around the car-park so far!)
I know - my old bike - which was another theft victim - was a Spesh Hardrock Pro and it came with those 50/50 pedals. I changed them for flats and flogged them on Ebay for about £8 posted - wish I hadn't now but you live and learn!
I know this is going to be my next upgrade - but then again I would really love a Garmin. I think this may benefit my training and motivation even more.
I need to get my fitness up first. Jeez - I am chuffed that I have done 80 miles in 3 days. Before I start spunking more money I need to ensure that I can do 40 miles without stopping!
My 50 miler yesterday I only had one break halfway - but my balls were sore towards the end and TBH I was just getting quite bored by then.0 -
Did you get it from Wheelies?
I got a secteur from them. It was a bit annoying to have to buy over the phone, but they would have given me a significant amount less cash if I'd opted for the money. Also my insurance had a max cover of £500 per bike and wheelies agreed to honour a couple of hundred more than that for one of the bikes.
I took the secteur to my local specialized dealer for a warranty problem. He guessed it'd come from wheelies when I mentioned it was an insurance replacement, he clearly wasn't very pleased with their tactics to grab the insurance market! Nevertheless they did me fine for the insurance claim.
Dave0 -
I got a 2010 spec allez a few weeks back, second hand off ebay, unused. Bright red, 58cm. Added some shimano clipless pedals and i love it to bits. Damn shame about the weather the last week or so but im off out for my first decent ride tomorrow.0
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davenice wrote:Did you get it from Wheelies?
I got a secteur from them. It was a bit annoying to have to buy over the phone, but they would have given me a significant amount less cash if I'd opted for the money. Also my insurance had a max cover of £500 per bike and wheelies agreed to honour a couple of hundred more than that for one of the bikes.
I took the secteur to my local specialized dealer for a warranty problem. He guessed it'd come from wheelies when I mentioned it was an insurance replacement, he clearly wasn't very pleased with their tactics to grab the insurance market! Nevertheless they did me fine for the insurance claim.
Dave
Hi Dave,
Yes I did! Seems like we had exactly the same problems. Having said that he recommended the 56 when all the online advice was a 58 - and he was spot on.
The cash "settlement" I would have got would have put me about £150 down. The same bike was being sold by a LBS for £10 cheaper but they also threw in a computer, cage and 6 month service.
I contacted them and they were happy to go through the insurance company. However the insurance company didn't want to know.
My bike had an RRP of £599.99 - I think the insurance company got it for about £250.
Goes to show what a rip off they are!0 -
Sounds like other people had the same opinion as me. I got a Specialized double 2009 as my first road bike and found it great.0
