Fitting Di2 to external rout frame (Spesh Allez)

[aerobrain]

Hi

Is it possible to fit Ultegra Di2 to a frame with external cable routing? And without it looking like a total dogs breakfast?!

It's an Allez Elite frame, I know I know, you'll probably now all scream "why" but let's take that out of the equation for now :-)

Cheers

Lee

 

[Cycleops]

Yes and yes.
I'm sure you'd be much happier if you just saved your money.

 

[aerobrain]

Yes and yes.
I'm sure you'd be much happier if you just saved your money.

If I wanted to save money I wouldn't of taken up cycling lol :-)

Its one of about three upgrade options at the mo, the long term aim being a new frame set in a year or so. The other two options are new bikes but a lot more expensive....

 

[AndyRM]

I'm not sure you'd see much benefit in spending £1,000 on a new groupset for an Allez.

What's it currently running? Googling suggests Tiagra & some other bits.

Personally I'd look at upgrading to a 105 group and saving my cash for a new frame, then transferring and upgrading as budget dictated.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I'm not sure you'd see much benefit in spending £1,000 on a new groupset for an Allez.

He'll see exactly the same benefit as spending a grand on a new groupset for a top end Colnago, the gearshifts will be improved.

 

[aerobrain]

I'm not sure you'd see much benefit in spending £1,000 on a new groupset for an Allez.

What's it currently running? Googling suggests Tiagra & some other bits.

Personally I'd look at upgrading to a 105 group and saving my cash for a new frame, then transferring and upgrading as budget dictated.

As I mentioned this was just a thread about is it possible but I knew people wouldn't be able to resist :-)

Turning your logic around, why buy 105 when I'm anticipating getting a higher end frame set long term. May as well get all the components I want now, if I only upgrade to 105 in a year or so time I'll then just want to upgrade it again anyway. I know overall its usually cheaper to buy a whole new bike but this way would make it two smaller hits rather than one big outlay.

Plus, I've done some pretty long rides on my Allez, flat and hilly (including C2C in a day) and its very comfy and handles well. Part of deciding between my options will be to try my mates Tarmac with mechanical Ultegra to see how much better a carbon frame feels. If the answer is "a lot better" then I'll be going for a new bike and sacrifice electronic shifting (can't afford both straight away).

Maybe that explains some of the reasoning behind it being "an" option :-)

 

[aerobrain]

He'll see exactly the same benefit as spending a grand on a new groupset for a top end Colnago, the gearshifts will be improved.

:-)

 

[Cycleops]

I don't think there's much of a case for tinkering with your existing bike. If you want a better bike down the road sell your current one and get a new one. You could then get a Colnago! So much more kudos than saying you've got a Specialized, which is a bit like saying I've got a chair.

 

[aerobrain]

I don't think there's much of a case for tinkering with your existing bike. If you want a better bike down the road sell your current one and get a new one. You could then get a Colnago! So much more kudos than saying you've got a Specialized, which is a bit like saying I've got a chair.

lol, but I like my chair :-) funnily enough, when I bought it I was lusting after a higher end Spesh. Now they're nowhere on my wish list. Although you probably wouldn't approve of my two new options either, Cannondale Supersix and Boardman SLR.

I suppose (quite sadly) over all the events I've bonded with the bike. The frame has never let me down and I've put it through the ringer a few times, lugging my bulk up some pretty big hills :-)

 

[Pumpkin the robot]

I used to think my Allez was comfortable until I replaced it with a carbon bike. I did replace the groupset with 10 speed 105 (second hand bits off ebay) and that made a huge difference to the bike, but I had Sora groupset on my Allez.
I would suggest you would be better buying a complete DI2 equipped bike, rather than upgrading the Allez to DI2 and then getting a new frame to put the DI2 groupset onto at a later date. I have ultegra DI2 fitted to my bike and I do like it, but it has not been without its problems and it seems the majority of bike shops do not know much about soting problems out with DI2 and it could mean the difference of finishing a ride or going home!

 

[AndyRM]

He'll see exactly the same benefit as spending a grand on a new groupset for a top end Colnago, the gearshifts will be improved.

I've phrased that poorly, but yes, you're right.

@aerobrain - You been on the old Cycling Plus and getting your head spun by the bling? Sounds like you're perfectly happy with your Allez as it is. Buy a Supersix and upgrade to electronic shifting when you can afford it.

 

[aerobrain]

I've phrased that poorly, but yes, you're right.

@aerobrain - You been on the old Cycling Plus and getting your head spun by the bling? Sounds like you're perfectly happy with your Allez as it is. Buy a Supersix and upgrade to electronic shifting when you can afford it.

At the moment that option is high up the list. Unfortunately can't afford a full bike with Di2 hence the two stage possibility.

But looking at the price of 2015 bikes I'm seriously thinking about a 105 equipped Supersix for now then as you say potentially a Di2 upgrade later.

The other option is a Boardman SLR custom build with mechanical Ultegra if I can stretch to it. Already have some hand built wheels which helps the cost of the Boardman option.

Oh and my head is easily spun by bling :-)

 

[raleighnut]

105 ain't that far below Ultegra and buying a new bike in the future means you're gonna need a bad weather/training bike surely.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Oh and my head is easily spun by bling :-)

You wouldn't be a roadie if it wasn't, it's in the DNA.

 

[aerobrain]

105 ain't that far below Ultegra and buying a new bike in the future means you're gonna need a bad weather/training bike surely.

If I go down the Boardman route I'd have to sell the Allez. That's why the Supersix is edging it right now. Probably not as good a frame as the SLR but I'm guessing for me plenty good enough and then like you say I can keep the Allez for turbo/wet rides.

Main things I want are: shiny things, 11spd, shiny things, better brakes, internal routing (more to do with my GoPro than anything) and shiny things :-)