Specialized Allez E5 SLX Pro

Price Paid:  $2000.00 at Franklin Street Cycl

Favorite Ride:
Blue Ridge Parkway

Bike Setup:
Stock, save for swapped out Specialized Pro Seat for a Comp. A bit softer. Added an USE Aero Carbon seat post to replace the Ritchey WCS.

Summary:
Great looking, superbly outfitted component-wise. Extremely fast and stiff. Absolutely no wobble going downhill approaching 50 mph.

Takes the steepest hills with relative ease. A bit uncomfortable on long, in the saddle rides. Much better on hilly, up and downs.

Strengths:
Extremely good looking, like titanium. Great match of paint job and Kyserium wheelset. Fast, great cornering ability. Climbs like a scortched rabbit.

Weaknesses:
Could have been all Dura-Ace (brakes, crankset and front derauiller are Ultegra). A carbon seatpost would have been nice. (I added a USE Aero)

Similar Products Used:
Older Specialized A1 Sport

Price Paid:  $1699.00 at Gregg's Cycle

Favorite Ride:
Riding to work

Bike Setup:
Stock with Speedplay X2

Summary:
I bought this after riding my mountain bike on the road for too long and feeling it was slow and the wrong bike for the job. I tried all sorts of bikes from Trek, Klein, and Cannondale, to Raleigh. This bike fit me the best. It is more bike than I need, but the great end-of-year deal was irresistible. The bike store dude said that with the components on this bike I was paying about $300 for the frame!

This bike feels very fast and makes you want to ride fast and hard. It gets up to speed fast and stays fast. The bike climbs really well too. You can sense that none of the power in each pedal stroke is being wasted. It feels buttery smooth when peddling and there is no noise. Everyone warned me about road vibration with an aluminum bike but the road vibration is minimal. Contrary to what I have read, the seat is extremely comfortable. This bike is very stiff, light, and good looking. The Triple drive train is unusual on a bike this high-end but is great to have on really steep hills at the end of the day.

Strengths:
Light, fast, attractive, great price, Tripile drivetrain.

Weaknesses:
Tires slippery in the rain.

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $1700.00 at Bikepath Outfitters

Favorite Ride:
Downhill at 30+ MPH

Bike Setup:
Stock with Speedplay X2 pedals.

Summary:
This is my first road bike that I've ever purchased, and it's well worth the money. I'd ridden mountain bikes for several years on a Gary Fisher Sugar 4. Just got a new job and couldn't afford to injure myself so I decided to switch to road biking. Love the pure speed! Very fast to accelerate, but kinda squirrely on the road, maybe cuase I'm used to fat tires. I got the bike at discount because it was last years model. The bike is extremely light but very stiff. The saddle in particular is murder! Been riding about 50 miles per week for the last couple of months and still can't break it in. Frame size is slightly larger when compared to the A1 Allez frame size. Pat and the guys at Bikepath Outfitters in Rockford, Illinois have been fantastic.

Strengths:
Light weight, quality construction, beautiful looks, heavy discount at end of year.

Weaknesses:
Very Stiff, inquisition designed saddle.

Similar Products Used:
None.

Price Paid:  $1700.00 at Bicycles West

Bike Setup:
Stock

Summary:
Although I've only had this bike a short time I already love it, and my appreciation of it's styling and build grow every day. It is very quick to get up to speed, and climbs well. Although it is not "customary", I appreciate the triple chainring that it comes with; it adds to the bikes versatility as a great climbing bike, as well as a great sprinting bike. The frame is beautifully crafted, and the component spec is well suited to the bike. Also, this is my second Specialized bike, and I am very happy with the support from Specialized if you should have any troubles.

Strengths:
Nice component specs, light weight, looks good.

Weaknesses:
None that I've found yet

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale R1000

Price Paid:  $0.00 at online

Favorite Ride:
Specialized e5 slx

Bike Setup:
mavic cxp 21 wheels, bullhorn bars, aero bars, ultegra components,

Summary:
This bike climbs like mad but this is my first compact geometry bike so I would assume that is par for the course. The frame is light, the paint is high quality, the welds are smooth, and the brushed e5 aluminum looks like titanium.

Strengths:
light, stiff, nice paint, good welds, handles superbly, climbs like mad. Comes in variety of sizes.

Weaknesses:
It could have an aero downtube (like the e5) but its not like that makes a difference anyway.

Similar Products Used:
trek 1400, cervelo p2k