Specialized Allez E5 Comp

Price Paid:  $1800.00 at C and S Cyclery

Favorite Ride:
ALL OF THEM

Bike Setup:
Everything stated in my review, plus I added shimanos integrated computer, thats a nice touch and a nice computer.

Summary:
This is my 3rd Road Bike, but my first new one. I initally liked it very much, but after riding it over 400 miles or so, I really started to notice a problem. The handling was sluggish through the corners, and going down hill at speed was very scary. I had done all the modifications and tweaks to seating height, bar placement, etc... then realized that it wasn't any of that or the geometry, or the front fork, or whatever... It was the wheelset!!! What a horrid piece of junk Shimano put together with the m-535 wheels. Look great, but I dont ride for looks. I've since replaced them with Cane Creek Aerohead wheels, and I have a completely revived love for this bike. Whoever put those wheels on that bike had no idea how to bring that lovely frame to life. I have also replaced other components (bar and stem) with matching ritchey wcs components, replaced the seat and the pedals, and believe the bike should have had them when sold the first time, they are lighter and match the bike much better. I give my bike (finished) 5 stars, Initially I give it 3 stars. I love the geometry and the new handling and its only 17 lbs now due to spending some cash. The frame material is awesome, good for Colombus!!! and Specialized for tweaking those tubes!!

Strengths:
Great investment bike for the long haul if you can get past the crappy wheels and sell them to someone who doesn't know anything about bikes. Great handler after modifications made and money spent. Climbs awesome too!!!

Weaknesses:
Wheelset!!!! BARF!! Totally un-matched for this bike!! those wheels should be on a 700 dollar bike!!! Componetry could have been picked better. Im sure everyone could agree, that rides more than 100 miles a week.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Carbon Road Bike 96' year.

Price Paid:  $600.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
Schuylkill Valley

Bike Setup:
RayDown always told me the only thing that matters is the frame and hoops. I use Campy Omega HarDOX hoops. Reasons why I listened to RayDown:
-he carried an incredibly awkward 150+lb. bike stand from midtown to Brooklyn while riding fixed gear.
-he went to jail for beating down a businessman who walked into him whilest riding (too bad a cop was behind him)
-he saw a buddy's head roll across 7th ave after being hit by a truck
-he hunted down his stolen bike through 3 boroughs by stealing another bike and returning it
-he proclaimed Friday as Black Music Day
-if anyone pissed him off he would turn into... (now I can not say it or write it, but you should figure it out)... SuperNikka

Summary:
This bike is smooth and very predictable, not twitchy like some other frames I've ridden (Twreck/Canondull). Very Stiff, but that to me is a good thing because no energy is lost and it is useful on serious downhills. Be sure to stretch and take advil after longer rides!!!

Strengths:
torsionally rigid, great tracking, light (are any road bikes heavy?), excellent fork!

Weaknesses:
you can get beat up a little w/o the right seat&post

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Outspokin' Bicycles,

Favorite Ride:
Specialized Allez E5 Comp

Bike Setup:
Specialized Allez E5, Look PP357 pedals, Easton EC70 Carbon seat post, Bontrager Race Lite wheel set and stem, Shimano Ultegra components, and Shimano Flight Deck computer

Summary:
After spending several weeks visiting local bike shops and testing numerous models and types of road bikes, I reduced the my selection down to two possibilities, a Canondale R700 Si (USA edition) and the Specialized Allez E5 Comp. I rented both bikes for two days of riding both on the same road on consecutive days, the Allez gave me better feeling, a great ride; very responsive, stiff, and with a great Ultegra component package. I had a carbon fiber post installed, this made quite a change in the road feel.

Strengths:
Responsive, stiff, well balanced

Weaknesses:
Seat and seat post.

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale R700 Si, Giant TCR One, and my old reliable 1978 10 speed X-Lite 32# Schwinn Le Tour III

Price Paid:  $1800.00 at Richardson Bike Mart

Favorite Ride:
the one on a bike

Bike Setup:
2003 Allez comp
Flightdeck wireless computer (awesome)

Summary:
Very solid bike. i bought the 2003 model. price was lowered to compete with Trek, and the bike now comes with a carbon seatpost. its my first road bike- but i do know that the ride is very good for the price. bought it September 4- i've put 300 miles on it so far.

Strengths:
price
stiffness
Cipollini color scheme

Weaknesses:
saddle could be better

Similar Products Used:
trek 2300

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Bike Works, Orlando,

Summary:
Very stiff and fast. Gets the power down to the road and rails corners. Ultegra group has worked flawlessly. I swapped out the Ritchey seat post, Specialized Tires and the hard as nails saddle. I thought after a few hundred miles the seat would break in, but no such luck. I plan on swapping the wheels out as soon as possible. Don't get me wrong, I love the bike. For the price I paid it was definately the best deal going.

Strengths:
Relatively light weight, stiff and agile.

Weaknesses:
Seat post, tires, saddle and wheels. The 105 wheels are bombproof, however they come with a large weight penalty. They are great training wheels, but racing on them sucks!!!