Specialized

[Boyfrom64]

I am keen to hear peoples views - positive and negative on Specialized bikes - especially the Allez / Secteur range?

Currently I have been offered two good deals, one on a 2010 Orbea Aqua TSR and a 2011 Scott Speedster S55. My local LBS who is selling the Scott will include a full set up of the bike that includes reducing the handlebar stem etc if required to get the bike set up perfectly for me, where as the LBS with the Orbea does not seem quite so professional as he simply saying that he will set the seat height and angle of the handle bars etc.

However, I have seen an 2010 Allez model at an extremely good price and am now considering buying this and then paying my local LBS to set the bike up for me. However, I am not sure if I should just bite the bulltet and buy the Scott from him.

All thoughts will be greatly received.

 

[Norm]

When answering questions like this, the first question is always "which one have you ridden and how did you feel" and the second is "what sort of riding do you do".

Without knowing those, there's not much chance that you'll get anything other than people saying that they have one or the other and that it's the bestest bike, which could be pretty much completely irrelevant for you.

For instance, if you are 5'6" with a 34" inside leg and you are 85 years old and suffer from arthritis, then a response from someone who is 18 and rides TT's every other weekend shouldn't be part of your consideration.

I've got a 2010 Secteur Sport which I've had about 18 months, and I love it. A very comfortable way to cover a significant number of miles on the road. For me.

 

[Boyfrom64]

@ Norm, you raise some good points.

I have started to ride bikes to help with my fitness, previously I use to run but a knee injury has caused me to stop hence why I have taken up cycling. My aim is to ride 3 times a week, initially 2 short 1 hour rides and 1 longer 2 hour ride at the weekend. I am 46, fairly fit and whilst I am 5'8" my inside leg is only 31".

This bike purchase will be my first proper road bike and whilst I do not wish to spend to much I am keen to get the right bike, for the money I want to spend. My thought process, is that in around 3 years time, I will go out and buy a carbon fibre bike and keep my first bike for winter riding.

I suppose the reason for my dilema, is that there are so many bikes to choose from. I appreciate that the important thing is riding a bike and choosing the one you feel most comfortable on. However, the reason for posing the question about the Specialized Allez is becasue of the very good price I have seen the Allez being sold at. The questions in the back of my mind are, how can it be sold at this price when other similar bikes are alot more money, how well put together are they, how good are the components etc?

 

[Phixion]

It depends which model of the Allez you go for, ideally you want at least Shimano Tiagra groupset, which the cheaper bikes don't have... you'll find they come equipped with Shimano 2300 or Shimano Sora. The main issue I have with 2300 and Sora groupsets is the shifting mechanism, on Tiagra and up groupsets you have seperate levers for shifting.

Here is a good place to read up about Shimano groupsets: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimano

Specialized is a good brand, as good as Trek, Scott etc. All frames are pretty similar at that price point, you just have to find the bike with the best components on in that price range.

If it helps, I bought this recently - http://www.wiggle.co...uicer-mid-2010/ It's got Tiagra groupset, reduced from £999 to £599 due to being a 2010 model rather than the new 2011 (specs are exactly the same, frames are slightly different colour). It all depends what type of bike you're after, I'm in it for fitness, I wanted something comfortable with a decent groupset at a good price, something that I could use in any weather without worrying (mudguards and steel frame). You will be hard pressed to find a bike equipped with Tiagra for less than £800.

 

[Norm]

I have started to ride bikes to help with my fitness, previously I use to run but a knee injury has caused me to stop hence why I have taken up cycling. My aim is to ride 3 times a week, initially 2 short 1 hour rides and 1 longer 2 hour ride at the weekend. I am 46, fairly fit and whilst I am 5'8" my inside leg is only 31".

So, whilst you are 3" shorter than me, your inside leg is 2" longer so my liking of the Secteur may not be relevant.

You are a similar age (I'm 47) but I'd still not consider myself to be fit, even though I've been riding 2 years and I did an off-road metric century yesterday.

There are indeed many bikes out there, I've got 4 which I use regularly myself which have very different purposes and each is in a different size (from XL in the MTB to M for the road bike).

IMO, the main criteria for which one is best for you is the size rather than the components. As Phixion points out, bikes come with a variety of bits on the different models in the range.

IMO, if a Spesh or a Trek or a Giant or whatever is the right size with the right design to meet your needs, then buying the right set of components is just about the money. Buying the wrong size / shape in the first place could lead you to buy an ornament rather than something which fits your needs perfectly and has you out riding every day whatever the weather.

 

[MLC]

Have a look athe bike spec the 2010 Allez may have 2300 group set where as the Orbea or Scott might have Tiagra or 105. That may one of many reasons for the good deal others could be the last 2010 bike they have and they want to out it, to meet a sales quota even if it means for selling a loss.

Really and truly you are not going to go far wrong with any of those bikes so choose the one that fits and what one feels right for you even if it comes to something as simple as colour preference. Always within the constrains of your budget of course. There is always the appeal of buying a slightly cheaper bike so that you can spend the rest on kit and if the Allez feels right and does it for you then thats great but if it doesn't feel quite right move on. 25 miles on an ill fitting bike will be a test of endurance 75 mils on a bike that fits you well will be a pleasure.

I previously had a Sepecialized Secteur but much prefer my Cannondale Caad (more aggresive position over the Secteur) and preferred the Caad over the Trek 1 series, the Allez and Cann. Synapse I rode (didn't try Bianchi) but some will think I'm mad to say such a thing. That does not necessarily make me right and them wrong or vice versa. Bike choice is very subjective and extremely personal. It all boils down to what one feels right for you.

You can tweak things such as flipping the stem and moving the saddle fore and aft. Maybe rotating the bars a smidgen in the stem but you go down the route of changing stems/crank length etc that bargain you got to make it fit properly can become expensive.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

2010 Secteur Elite here and I love it, in fact I have sold my Dawes Galaxy Ultra because I just ride the secteur all the time it is so comfy even on 100+ rides.

 

[BlackPanther]

I'm owned my 2010 Specialized Allez 16 for 3 weeks, and I've put just over 300 miles on it. I'm absolutely amazed by the level of comfort the bike offers. I 'set it up' (well, moved the seat) myself, and I may raise it a little bit more, but I'm used to the position offered by my now redundant Dawes Tanami hybrid. I see little point in commuting on the Dawes any more, as the Allez is lighter, faster and much much more fun for much much less effort. If I'd known just how comfy a road bike could be for commuting, I'd have bought one ages ago. I can't speak for the other bikes, but the Allez is fan-dabby-double-dozy!

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Really cannot comment about the other bikes. I recently bought a 2010 Secteur Sport Triple at a bargain price and I love the bike, it is very comfotable for what I use it for. The only complaint I had was that the standard brake pads were garbage, but after upgrading them to Clarks CPS240 I am more than happy.

 

[chonkers]

cant comment on other bikes for youbut i got the sectuer elite apex 2011 2wks ago i love it only thing i changed was the tyres from 25s to 23s but thinking of changing the wheels to

cheers

ian

 

[Boyfrom64]

Thanks very much to all for the replies. I am going to go and try both an Allez and Sectuer this weekend before I make my final decision.

 

[sabian92]

@ Norm, you raise some good points.

I have started to ride bikes to help with my fitness, previously I use to run but a knee injury has caused me to stop hence why I have taken up cycling. My aim is to ride 3 times a week, initially 2 short 1 hour rides and 1 longer 2 hour ride at the weekend. I am 46, fairly fit and whilst I am 5'8" my inside leg is only 31".

This bike purchase will be my first proper road bike and whilst I do not wish to spend to much I am keen to get the right bike, for the money I want to spend. My thought process, is that in around 3 years time, I will go out and buy a carbon fibre bike and keep my first bike for winter riding.

I suppose the reason for my dilema, is that there are so many bikes to choose from. I appreciate that the important thing is riding a bike and choosing the one you feel most comfortable on. However, the reason for posing the question about the Specialized Allez is becasue of the very good price I have seen the Allez being sold at. The questions in the back of my mind are, how can it be sold at this price when other similar bikes are alot more money, how well put together are they, how good are the components etc?

You think that's bad, I'm 5'11 with a 29" inch inside leg! Buying jeans is a bloody murder for me

Personally, I'd go for the more professional guy. He'll be the one who'll help you more if you need repairs and probably be more likely to be more friendly.

 

[Paul_L]

I've got a 2009 Allez.

I've done nearly 1500 miles on it and i love it.

Bearing in mind it's one of the lower spec versions of the Allez range so it's a mix of Tiagra and Sora. The Sora front shifters aren't great, but hey it's a £550 road bike with carbon forks.

I particularly like the upright geometry of the Allez frame but it might not be for everyone. I'm 5ft 11 with back problems so a sprortier geometry causes me lowe back pain.

 

[bennydorano]

I have a Specialised Secteur Sport, as someone who's 6ft 2" I automatically went for a 58cm, i found the amount of stretching shocking tbh, maybe it was just me (as I've back bother) but I put a much shorter stem on and it's spot on now - although I'd imagine a 'proper' cyclist would be disgusted at the way I have it set up.

 

[PaulSecteur]

Another thumbs up for the secteur here!