1st road bike Specialized Allez

dashik

Hi there

So as per the title really. i'm about to go and buy my first road bike since my Raleigh Arena 5 speed racer when I was a teenager 35 years ago....... (49 this september just so you know :P) I need to lose at least 3 to 4 stone .....

I have the fortune to live about 3 mins in the car from Leslie Bike Shop in Glenrothes and they seem a decent bunch so a no-brainer to buy from the really LOCAL guy

I've done some looking around and I've decided that the Specialized Allez is the bike to go for (Seems a very popular choice). Currently the red has it over the black.....

Thing is I thought about buying second hand but what puts me off is that unless your buying a decent high end bike my worry is that some scumbag is selling a nicked bike, unlikely I know but......

So for the peace of mind I'll buy new from the LBS.

Anyway can anyone tell me if the 2013 entry level Allez comes with a carbon front fork? The Specialized web site says yes but the LBS says its aluminum..... I asked on the Specialized web site but they could not confim what comes as standard in the UK but the Specialized website does not say its localised for other territories outside US.

I hope that all made sense...

Also apart from the bike I think I need the following at a bare minimum -

Helmet
Front and rear lights
Bike Pump
Pedals with shoes (SPD probably)
Puncture kit and levers
Small saddle bag
Mountain bike shorts (no Lycra or shaved legs for this short fat bald git just yet )
Light weight waterproof top

I paid for British Cycling Ride membership so have the liability insurance.
Anything I missed?

Cheers

James

mattythemod

NO carbon fork on the 2013 Allez hence why i picked up a 2012 model .

Giraffoto

Another good reason to go for the 2012 model over the 2013 is you should get a noticeable discount. And red is absolutely the right choice, it's much faster

bmxboy10

i started out on an allez elite and compared to my current Ti bike the ride was harsh. i would want to make sure i had the carbon forks thats for sure. its a good bike but there may be better bikes with a higher spec and better riding position for you if you are just starting out.

thegreatdivide

I started out on an Allez Sport when I got back into road biking. It's a good entry level ride.

dashik

Thanks for the replys guys. I think I'll have the LBS call the distributer and see what he can get his hands on.

If he can get an Allez 2012 with the Carbon fork for around the same price then I think that's what I'll go for.

But at the moment cash is an issue until next year and hes doing keen price on the 2013 model as well lol. So I might as well go with the Allez (either model, carbon fork if I can get it) and then next year get another bike with a better spec when I can make use of it (Basically not so fat ) and keep the Allez for rainy days/winter.

Which in Scotland means most days

snoopsmydogg

chances are the lbs won't be able to get hold of a 2012 model if he doesn't have one in stock.

What sort of price is the lbs offering? retail on the 2013 is £550 which is actually less than last years model.

mattythemod

Dashik wrote:

Thanks for the replys guys. I think I'll have the LBS call the distributer and see what he can get his hands on.

If he can get an Allez 2012 with the Carbon fork for around the same price then I think that's what I'll go for.

But at the moment cash is an issue until next year and hes doing keen price on the 2013 model as well lol. So I might as well go with the Allez (either model, carbon fork if I can get it) and then next year get another bike with a better spec when I can make use of it (Basically not so fat ) and keep the Allez for rainy days/winter.

Which in Scotland means most days

Spesh Uk have no 2012 models left now , although you could try Hargoves cycles online .

dashik

mattythemod wrote:

Spesh Uk have no 2012 models left now , although you could try Hargoves cycles online .

You sir, are a gent I got one of the last 2 2012 Allez left in the Go Very Fast RED from Hargroves for £499 delivered. All I have to do is set the seat height, stick front wheel on and turn handle bars.

The LBS was offering a 2013 Allez for £450 but he could not get a 2012 with a carbon fork. He did suggest the Giant Defy 4 2013 model and there was nothing in it apart from the Defy is mainly white and would not be available for another 2 weeks.

All in I decided the Carbon fork was worth the extra £50 over the 2013 model as theres nothign in the spec between them really other than the fork.

I saved £24 odd anyway by getting the SPD pedals at Halfords online with there 20% off offer. LBS was asking £45 for same box!!!!

I think I'll get the Shimano shoes from them and a helmet at the same time if they are competively proiced too

Cheers.

mattythemod

Your more than welcome , glad the info worked out for you !! and your right that Red speshs go quicker !

allezlesbleus

After buying 2 bikes that turned out to be nicked on Gumtree I decided to buy from a local bike shop. I got a proper fitting there and ended up buying a black Allez 2013 for the same price as the discounted 2012s they had just finished selling. It doesn't have a carbon fork but I don't notice any difference between my 2013 and my mates 2012. That may well be because I'm a noob, i don't know.

What I do know is that black is far better than red!

I've done over 300 miles on it so far and I'm very happy with it.

dashik

I'm sure I wont be able to spot the difference either but I figure what the hell, If I'm going to be a fat bloke on a bike it might as well be a sexy red one with some Carbon Fibre

I picked up a pair of shimano R075 SPD Shoes for £39.99 delivered and that just leaves the helmet. Im going to see about a Boardman one from Halfords as its down to about £40 so thats good value.

I'm struggling to find a pair of fat blokes shorts as my waist is around 43" and I'm only 5'5" lol

Seems the XXL is for slim girls at 40"

Apart from the helmet its as cheap as I can get on the road just now

mattythemod

Giro Savants are a nice airy helmet with lots of vents and decent styling about £37 quid from myspokes.co.uk......and if its bib shorts your after xxl should fit that waist size fine as a pal was that size and had xxl with no dramas .

dashik

Hi again, those helmets look decent and the price is not bad either. I'll see what they have in MTB ones as I wear glasses so I'm thinking the front peak would be useful if it rains.....

I'm looking around for a pair of baggy shorts. i'm trying to get the cheapest pair possible as I don't plan on having to wear that size for long.....

I'm going to nip to sports Direct and see what they have. Anything under £10 will do

negativelycra

Op, something to add to your toolkit - slip link and chain tool.
I've just started and snapped a chain this weekend. Walking 4 miles to the local shop is a pain - if i was 15 miles away it'd have been a nightmare!!

dashik

It also looks Like Edinburgh Cycles have some good deals on end of range kit so I plan on niping in tomorrow after the other halfs radiotherapy at the Western General hospital

dashik

Ok well I nipped into Ediburgh Cycles and got

A pair of Altura ZELPA gloves.
A Pair of Altura Baggy Shorts with liner.
A Specialized Align Black Helmet.
A revolution Track pump.

All for £70

Ok so apart from the Helmet its all budget stuff but that the idea

dashik

Sitting here (Im)patiently waiting the arrival of my new bike Might be lucky and have it for the weekend.

Thing is I just know its going to hurt like a bitch for the first month until I get past the completly unfit bit and you can guarentee that all the sunshine will evaporate the second my shiny new bike does arrive !

I've bought a Mini Wedgie saddle bag, just a puncture repair kit and a bottle cage and bottle to get. Oh and a travel pump.

dashik

It's On it's way

Can't wait I will have to though a little, I have a busy morning and have to take my partner to Radiotherapy in Edinburgh.....

So sod's law being what it is. It will either arrive just before I leave to torment me, making the hospital trip a long one, or I'll get back about 1:30 pm and sit there the rest of the day for them to deliver at about 6pm.......

dashik

Spoke too soon! TNT, You'd think they could keep track of something as large as a bike huh? Apparently it will be delivered tomorrow but at least they know where it is........

dashik

Ok well due to the Tarmac being cancelled I've upgraded my Allez!!

Now sporting full 105 groupset, just the brakes to go. I'll then change the post and stem and a set of wheels will be sorted soonish

What a difference the 105 groupset makes compared to the Shimano 2300. Don't get me wrong, its a decent enough groupset the 2300, but you can tell how smooth the 105 is

Loving the Toupe RBX Expert 155mm Saddle

slowbike

Interesting - I'm doing the upgrade the other way around (2011 allez with carbon forks) ... I've already done the wheels and now the chainrings are nearing EOL I'm considering going 105 - but there's just that slight niggle that says "buy the tarmac" ...

dashik

Lol I know but in my case funds are limited. so I decided to get some of the most effective upgrades done first along with some of the cheapest. Since I'm not that fit at the moment the wheels will be last, I figured the smoother shifting and comfier saddle and gel bar tape etc would give me the 'nicest' upgrades and I'll sort the wheels last by which time hopefully I'll appreciate the performance of them. Since i'm not in the pro peleton I went for 105 as a decent groupset with durability.

So far I've shaved 572g off the weight so that's ok. But to be fair its more about usability then weight.

What wheels did you get then? I'm thinking Fulcrum Quattro's. I'll stick an S-Works stem and Pave seat post on her along with the 105 brakes and that's it.

I might be looking at swapping the frame when its all done but tbh I think once I've finished upgrading this I'll just save for a year or so and buy something really nice. N+1 etc

slowbike

Wow - that's quite a weight saving! I bought a pair of fulcrum racing Ts - they are oem wheels with the fr5 hub and 7 rim - nice to ride and got a deal in the lbs so they didn't cost much either...