Felt F95 v Allez Sport 2014

sihaworth

I appreciate the board is inundated with threads like these but as an absolute beginner, I'm finding the whole road bike buying exercise an absolute minefield :shock:

I think, although happy to listen to other suggestions, I've got it down between two bikes;

Felt F95 (£395 @ Merlincycles - not available through my Cycle To Work scheme)
http://www.merlincycles.com/felt-f95-road-bike-2014-72321.html


Allez Sport 2014 (RRP £540 but can get it for £440 @ Evans - available through my Cycle To Work scheme)
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/allez-sport-c2-2014-road-bike-ec052507


So essentially, there's £40 difference in bikes. With what in mind, what's the better bike? They're both under 10kg, carbon forks and Sora gears. Is there anything else glaring I need to know about?

freestyle_gus

There does seem to be very little in it.

I'd lean towards the Specialized, purely because it's easier to get a test ride and make sure it fits/is right for you.

Of course if you can also get a ride on the Felt (and Merlin have stock, looks low at then moment?) then it may purely come down to looks or which you prefer the feel of.

Both look to be lovely entry level bikes!

slowbike

I'd have the Allez - but I've already got one (entry level a few years ago) - was going to sell it when I bought my carbon bike - but it's worth more to me than cash ... so now I just upgrade/replace parts when needed - it's already done >5.5k miles and I'm still piling them on as I use it as a winter bike

Nothing wrong with the Felt that I know of though ...

Hawmaw

I've got a Felt F85 which has the same frame as the F95 but slightly better components. My mate had an Allez.
The bikes are completely different to ride. The Felt is low and feels long however the Allez feels more relaxed with a higher headtube and a less stretched out feel. The Allez is probably more suited to long miles rather than fast training runs. It boils down to what suits you and what kind of riding you'll be doing. If I was choosing now I'd take the Allez or something similar as I find the Felt a bit uncomfortable on long rides. But thats probably down to me getting on a bit and not being as supple as I once was !
As others have said , there's nothing wrong with either bike but they are quite different riding experiences so test rides would help.
The Felt Z95 is probably a closer comparison to the Allez but I think they are a bit more expensive.

freestyle_gus

That's interesting insight.

The Z95 2014 is £450 on Wiggle.

sihaworth

Hawmaw wrote:

The Allez is probably more suited to long miles rather than fast training runs. It boils down to what suits you and what kind of riding you'll be doing..

It'll primarily be used as a commuter, but that's not to say I won't try and attempt a few decent runs once the weather picks up and I know what the hell I'm doing

holiver

Hawmaw wrote:

I've got a Felt F85 which has the same frame as the F95 but slightly better components. My mate had an Allez.
The bikes are completely different to ride. The Felt is low and feels long however the Allez feels more relaxed with a higher headtube and a less stretched out feel.

Yep the geometries are very different. The Allez more relaxed than the Felt F series, but a bit more racy than the Felt Z series.

If you are looking for something for commuting purposes then I would look for a bike that can accommodate full guards and maybe a rack. The new Pinnacle range at Evans looks bang on in this regard.

sihaworth

holiver wrote:

Hawmaw wrote:

I've got a Felt F85 which has the same frame as the F95 but slightly better components. My mate had an Allez.
The bikes are completely different to ride. The Felt is low and feels long however the Allez feels more relaxed with a higher headtube and a less stretched out feel.

Yep the geometries are very different. The Allez more relaxed than the Felt F series, but a bit more racy than the Felt Z series.

If you are looking for something for commuting purposes then I would look for a bike that can accommodate full guards and maybe a rack. The new Pinnacle range at Evans looks bang on in this regard.

I don't have a great deal to carry if I'm honest. Just more a case of getting from A to B.

If Allez seems to be coming across as more of a relaxed bike, I imagine that'll make it easier for me as a beginnier to get into the swing of things?

dazz_ni45

I have owned both and if I was to chose one, I would go for the Allez. It just felt better to ride.

slowbike

holiver wrote:

If you are looking for something for commuting purposes then I would look for a bike that can accommodate full guards and maybe a rack. The new Pinnacle range at Evans looks bang on in this regard.

You can squeeze Crud RR guards on an Allez and that's ok for clean roads - but if there's any dirt on the road you'll end up picking it up and rubbing it around the inside of the guard ...
You could fit a rack with some p-clips ...

I bought a Tricross for commuting ... (he says with the Allez in the office!)

roubaixtom

I had a Felt F95 that i bought from Merlin last September. It is an ok first bike however as i was using it as a winter bike and am used to carbon etc it felt very harsh on long rides and bumpy roads. If you were to go for the felt, bare in mind that its a very low position, i had to flip the stem to get it how i wanted it, and i don't like doing that, looks odd. You would defiantly need to change the tyres on the felt as they are unsafe on wet roads, the saddle is very uncomfortable and it might be worth getting a carbon seat post so it can flex over bad roads. hope this helped

cheers

keef66

Son has a Felt F95. Got it from Wiggle when they were doing a special for just under £300. It is quite a stretched out position, and not a very forgiving ride. I keep telling him to flip the stem and fit 25mm tyres but he likes it because all he's interested in is Strava segments and he's rarely out on it for more than an hour. Plus he's only 26 so he's a lot bendier than me.

Philly8mt

Slowbike wrote:

I'd have the Allez - but I've already got one (entry level a few years ago) - was going to sell it when I bought my carbon bike - but it's worth more to me than cash ... so now I just upgrade/replace parts when needed - it's already done >5.5k miles and I'm still piling them on as I use it as a winter bike

Nothing wrong with the Felt that I know of though ...

As above!
My first bike was the Allez and although I've now purchased a shiny new bike, I'm still piling the miles on the Allez whilst the weather isn't great.
Would I sell it? Nah.

southdownswolf

I love my Allez, it has done everything from a JOGLE to local 10mile TT's with aerobars attached.
Not ridden a F95 and it may well be a lovely bike, but if you decide on the Allez, I'm sure you would be happy.

holiver

How about a 2014 Scott Speedster 40 for under £400?

http://www.scott-sports.com/gb/en/produ ... r-40-Bike/

http://startcycles.co.uk/bikes/road-bik ... white.html

sihaworth

Plumped for the Allez. Put my order in through so fingers crossed could possibly be able to pick up this weekend.

No idea what I'm doing after that. Suppose I better buy some lyrca.

southdownswolf

sihaworth wrote:

Plumped for the Allez. Put my order in through so fingers crossed could possibly be able to pick up this weekend.

No idea what I'm doing after that. Suppose I better buy some lyrca.

Bibshorts are the area to spend money on here. You generally get what you pay for, with the better pads making your life on the bike a much more pleasant experience.