Is this a good bike?

shed head

Hi,

Sorry if this is irritating but i have little knowledge.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/allez-sport-compact-2013-road-bike-ec040965#select

i would like to get into road biking, i love cycling in genral and have had many beat up bikes and cycled fair distances on them.

Anyway, looking for something affordable, i seen the above bike today in the flesh and fell in love with it!!!
People: how good is this bike, components? positioning (i'm 6ft 2) etc

I hope to get into fairly decent distances especially on the weekends.

Many thanks for looking

Roger Hassenforder

Looks ok, you are prob paying a bit extra for a '2013' model, at circa 1k of the germans money, factor in BTW and you should get full carbon 105 handy.
Then again, if you love it, buy it, you'll never get full concensus here!

If youre carring the groceries, you'll be glad of the 27 in the hills, but you might spin out a smidgen on the 12 faster than on a 11 . Im 6 2" as well in a 59 frame, but not specialised

C3PO

Worth checking but I don't think Evans will ship a Specialized to Ireland! Certainly wouldn't let me order some Specialized kit earlier this year!

fat bloke

Even though for some people it would be their "sh1t bike", it is actually still a good bike.

I like that colour scheme I must say.

dermo1990

Probably not too relevant, but I've only been cycling a few months on a specialized, similar to that in price and have had no trouble. For that, you would probably be looking at a size 58 frame, given thats the size of mine and I'm about 6'2.

If evans don't ship that to Ireland, I'm sure Cycleways should have it at close enough price to that.

leeomurchu

Out of curiosity would either of these be any better than the one posted by op, I've always liked the look of the cube bikes and in the same boat as op and only new to this addiction That specialized is a nice looking bike but just wondering are the components on the bikes below better or is it just and inflated price?

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=57459

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=57452

Seaneh

leeomurchu wrote: »

Out of curiosity would either of these be any better than the one posted by op, I've always liked the look of the cube bikes and in the same boat as op and only new to this addiction That specialized is a nice looking bike but just wondering are the components on the bikes below better or is it just and inflated price?

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=57459

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=57452

the cheaper of those two has the same groupset (sora 3500) as the sepcalized in the op but it's the tripple instead of the double.

So it has 3 front chain rings instead of two.

There are advantaged and disadvantages to thos.

Advantages are you have a much bigger ratio (choice) of gears and going up hill will never be an issue, the dis advantage is it's slightly heavier.

The second one has the next groupset up (better shifting, 10 rear gears instead of 9) and a double chainset.

Advantages of the double, it's lighter, disadvantages, it won't be quite as easy to climb hills with it.

For the money, I'd go for the one with the sora to be honest, but I'm a bigger lad so the extra range in gearing would be a massive benefit for me when going up hill.
The new sora groupset is pretty much identicle to the tiagra groupset except for the number of year gears and the shape of the crankset, I really like it.

leeomurchu

Possibly anther option. I like the sounds of the compact crank.

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cube-Peloton-Race-Compact-2013-Road-Bike_57709.htm

I was told once upon a time though that you should use cycling components for bicycle and fishing components for fishing Shimano vs Sram any truth to this?

I've heard good reports on the schwalbe tyres aswell.

OP sorry for hijacking your thread

Chartsengrafs

leeomurchu wrote: »

I was told once upon a time though that you should use cycling components for bicycle and fishing components for fishing Shimano vs Sram any truth to this?

Nope. Shimano make excellent groupsets, just a matter of personal preference versus other manufacturers I find. Their fishing reels are excellent too.

Seaneh

SO that third link is basically the same bike with the next groupset up again, and again it's a lovely bike, but at 1300 it's not cheap. at that price range you have a **** ton of choice.

Seaneh

Basster wrote: »

Nope. Shimano make excellent groupsets, just a matter of personal preference versus other manufacturers I find. Their fishing reels are excellent too.

This, Shimano and Sram, neither is better than the other really, they both have groupsets at different price ranges and they are all comparable although Sram has less choice and starts closer to the higher end, Apex being comparable to 105 (a lot of people say it's a better groupo).

Flandria

I sense a Campagnolo/Shimano/Sram debate brewing... better than a helmet thread I suppose:D

Seaneh

Flandria wrote: »

I sense a Campagnolo/Shimano/Sram debate brewing... better than a helmet thread I suppose:D

I don't see how there can be a debate... it's just personal preference.


I happen to like the double tap system and ergonomics of Sram stuff myself, so they are my preference. Other people like Shimano or Compag, nobody is right or wrong, we just have difference hands...

leeomurchu

Seaneh wrote: »

SO that third link is basically the same bike with the next groupset up again, and again it's a lovely bike, but at 1300 it's not cheap. at that price range you have a **** ton of choice.

I'll be getting it through the bike to work scheme higher rate so it should knock a good few quid off. I'm looking to get something for triathlons but that's not necessarily tri specific I like to go out on long weekend rides aswell. Kinda wanna get the best bang for my buck and avoid upgrading components in the near future if ya get me.

What others would be better in and around the 1000 - 1200 mark I've heard good reports on planet x and mixed reports on ribble (don't think they can be got on the B2W scheme anyway)

Once again sorry op for hijacking

Seaneh

Planet x pro cabon SL is €1300 in the planet x shop in Athlone and comes with sram rival groupset, would be exactly what you are looking for and a fair upgrade on the bikes you've listed so far, and you could take it for a test ride if you were able to visit the shop in Athlone.

leeomurchu

Seaneh wrote: »

Planet x pro cabon SL is €1300 in the planet x shop in Athlone and comes with sram rival groupset, would be exactly what you are looking for and a fair upgrade on the bikes you've listed so far, and you could take it for a test ride if you were able to visit the shop in Athlone.

Thanks mate, I'll have to pay them a visit so any down sides to a carbon bike, not to be a numpty but it's not gonna turn to splinters hitting a few bumps now is it :eek:

Seaneh

leeomurchu wrote: »

Thanks mate, I'll have to pay them a visit so any down sides to a carbon bike, not to be a numpty but it's not gonna turn to splinters hitting a few bumps now is it :eek:

No. A good carbon frame us as solid as an alu frame. And you would have a warrenty either way.