Upgrade Specialized Allez Sport or new bike?

poddy

Have been running a Specialized Allez Sport 2013 (and previously 2011, which got nicked) and been pleased with it. It's totally standard with the standard Axis Wheels. I'm tempted by either the BMC Granfondo GF01 disc or the Cannondale Synapse disc, but they're a lot of dosh, circa £2.5k. Tempted by the disc brakes but also a lighter bike. Had a fun time in the wet on the Cheshire Cat this year that's made me think perhaps discs are the way to go.

I'm 48 not into racing, just some long rides and occasional sportives. So not sure how much difference a lighter bike would make to me?

Alternative is to upgrade current bike with new wheels perhaps. Just not that sure it's worth all the extra £ for a brand new bike, given that I seem to be keeping up ok with my peers on carbon (mostly) bikes.

Any advice greatfully accepted-any suggestions for worthwhile upgrades or upgraded bikes?

Anonymous

Why don't you just call your local Evans and test ride the two bikes to find out for yourself rather than asking on here?
If you just want to be dissuaded from spending the cash then you will certainly get that from most on here.

If you get a significantly lighter bike it will feel very different.
A lighter bike will come with better kit..... which will also feel different/better.

You will still be faced with changing pads (if rim), possibly callipers (if rim), tyres and probably wheels to get it feeling its best.
Not to mention saddle, stem and possibly bars to get a good fit.

The two bikes you mentioned are great.
They are also more relaxed than your Allez, so as you seem to be shying away from the Allez type ride I cannot see that sticking new tyres on will be what you are after.

Once you have test ridden the bikes and ruled out a purchase, put some 105 5800 callipers, swissstop pads, decent tyres (as mentioned above) and some decent Mavic or Fulcrum wheels on the Allez.

Edit 2: Do this in the spring I was answering generally, not seasonally.

Bobbinogs

Some very good riders race on Allez's so there is nothing wrong with the bike. Thing is though, if you live in the UK it is about to get pretty cruddy so you won't find many experienced riders rushing out to buy new bikes/tyres/wheels, etc. Now is the time to focus on base miles and just trying to get out as often as it is safe to do so. Hence, if you have to spend some money make sure you have some decent winter tyres/lights and some good clothes/gloves. When spring comes, you can think about a few changes that will make a big difference (so something like Zondas/Racing 3/5 LG with Schwalbe One tyres). If you want to spend more after that then take a cycling break somewhere warm in April.

poddy

Thanks for this. My biggest gripe was with the brakes tbh-in the wet I find them almost useless, especially in an emergency, feels like I'm going to break the cables sometimes. They are the standard Sora pads, which I replaced recently. So will try the Swisstops now over the winter before jumping ship to discs. That's been really helpful so thank you.

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721703#p19721703]Carbonator[/url] wrote:

Why don't you just call your local Evans and test ride the two bikes to find out for yourself rather than asking on here?
If you just want to be dissuaded from spending the cash then you will certainly get that from most on here.

If you get a significantly lighter bike it will feel very different.
A lighter bike will come with better kit..... which will also feel different/better.



You will still be faced with changing pads (if rim), possibly callipers (if rim), tyres and probably wheels to get it feeling its best.
Not to mention saddle, stem and possibly bars to get a good fit.

The two bikes you mentioned are great.
They are also more relaxed than your Allez, so as you seem to be shying away from the Allez type ride I cannot see that sticking new tyres on will be what you are after.

Once you have test ridden the bikes and ruled out a purchase, put some 105 5800 callipers, swissstop pads, decent tyres (as mentioned above) and some decent Mavic or Fulcrum wheels on the Allez.

Edit 2: Do this in the spring I was answering generally, not seasonally.

superkenners

I have a 2009 Allez sport which had Tiagra to start with and clunky Mavic CX22 (if I remember correctly) wheels, upgraded to a 105 groupset, carbon post and some better wheels (in fact only thing left if frame and forks) and it dropped a good chunk of weight and worked that bit better. The Allez frameset is great. I've also got a nice carbon bike for best now, and while carbon frame and Di2 are great it is not that far ahead of the Allez in terms of speed/comfort.

If you look at somewhere like Merlincycles you can get a set of Fulcrum 3's and an Ultegra groupset and a carbon seatpost for about £800 all in and that would probably knock about 1kg off the weight of your current build. Would also be fun to put together if you like that sort of thing. Ultegra brakes are also excellent.

And then you can build your own carbon bike later!

Loveys

Depends how much you want to spend and how much work you are happy to do yourself. I recently bought a used 2011 Allez Sport for £300 which I have upgraded with mainly used parts found on Ebay. It really does not have to be expensive to make major gains in terms of weight and quality of kit - especially if you resell the bits you take off.

Tyres: unbranded -> Schwalbe One £35 -340g
Tubes: unbranded -> PlanetX £8 -40g
Wheels: Mavic CXP22/Fulcrum 7 -> Fulcrum 5 £77 -85g
Skewers: Specialized -> Cielo Rosso £7 -73g
Crank: Sora -> R500 £26 -245g
Shifters & mechs: Sora 9 ->105 10 speed £47 +18g (105 shifters are heavier!)
Cassette & chain: Sora 9 -> Ultegra 10 £25 +7g (10 speed cassette heavier than 9)
Brakes: Sora -> Ultegra £20 -30g
Seatpost: Specialised -> T3 carbon £25 -92g
Saddle: unbranded -> SLR £40 -170g
Cables & bar tape: £20

Total weight saving = 1.05kg. Bike now weighs under 9kg inc pedals.
Total upgrade cost = £285 less £105 from selling on the old parts = £170 so £470 total for the whole bike.

The bike is absolutely transformed. It was already good. Now it is truly excellent. Given the quality of the underlying Allez Sport frame I think I would struggle to find a better, faster or more comfortable bike for the same money.

bluemoon17

Spend a few hundred quid on clothing. Will probably make more difference to your riding than anything else, if you aren't racing.

Tjgoodhew

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19722178#p19722178]poddy[/url] wrote:

Thanks for this. My biggest gripe was with the brakes tbh-in the wet I find them almost useless, especially in an emergency, feels like I'm going to break the cables sometimes. They are the standard Sora pads, which I replaced recently. So will try the Swisstops now over the winter before jumping ship to discs. That's been really helpful so thank you.

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721703#p19721703]Carbonator[/url] wrote:

Why don't you just call your local Evans and test ride the two bikes to find out for yourself rather than asking on here?
If you just want to be dissuaded from spending the cash then you will certainly get that from most on here.

If you get a significantly lighter bike it will feel very different.
A lighter bike will come with better kit..... which will also feel different/better.



You will still be faced with changing pads (if rim), possibly callipers (if rim), tyres and probably wheels to get it feeling its best.
Not to mention saddle, stem and possibly bars to get a good fit.

The two bikes you mentioned are great.
They are also more relaxed than your Allez, so as you seem to be shying away from the Allez type ride I cannot see that sticking new tyres on will be what you are after.

Once you have test ridden the bikes and ruled out a purchase, put some 105 5800 callipers, swissstop pads, decent tyres (as mentioned above) and some decent Mavic or Fulcrum wheels on the Allez.

Edit 2: Do this in the spring I was answering generally, not seasonally.

I bought a set of Ultegra calipers at the start of the spring. Think they cost about £45 and were a huge upgrade on the tiagra set i had before - granted the tiagras were at the end of their life after 2 winters.

So the braking issue can be solved easily.

But at the end of the day buying a new bike is great. Might not be the most sensible and will probably not make a huge difference but even if you keep upgrading yuor Allez in the back of your mind you will always be wanting to change it for somehting new.

So avoid that whole drawn out process and buy the Synapse

Anonymous

Get some new wheels. A lot cheaper and will make the Allez FEEL like a new bike.