Specialized Allez Elite Triple

Price Paid:  $1500.00 at Charleston Bike Shop

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
local personal route

Bike Setup:
Stock with Mavic Aksium wheels

Summary:
Great bike, strong! Just yesterday I ran it into my garage house when I forgot it was on top of my car. Caved in the roof of the car and smashed the back window out and the only damage to the bike was the rear wheel bearings got buggered up. Replaced the wheels with a set of Mavic's and it is as good as new.

Strengths:
Fun to ride!

Weaknesses:
Not as lite as my wifes Ruby. The front wheel doesn't like being turned too sharp when one ways 205 lbs. I found that out this week when I turned too sharp and taco'd the front wheel and had two spokes pop out. Had to take it to the shop to get it trued.

Similar Products Used:
N/A

Price Paid:  $1250.00 at BikeSource of Charlo

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
One without traffic

Bike Setup:
Bone stock, save for eggbeater pedals

Summary:
Overall, a great first road bike. The components are good enough that it will serve well for a long time for an enthusiastic rider, but probably not for a racer or racer wannabe. I ride mountain bikes primarily, but bought this to use in the MS150 and associated training rides. Its my first road bike with carbon, and offers a fantastic ride, sharp handling and great stiffness, yet enough "give" to smooth out long rides. Compared to other bikes in the price range ($1000-1500), it is fairly well equipped, and decently light (~18lbs). I would have prefered a double up front instead of a triple, but will admit to using the granny more frequently than I thought. It is a great looking bike (Super Aguri! for the F1 fans) and get complements from a lot of riders.

Strengths:
Light weight (for the price), 105 rear end runs beautifully, the new Tiagra shifters are great, the frame itself is gorgeous, stiff, and the carbon bits soak up a lot of road noise

Weaknesses:
Beautiful frame gets filthy fast, the tiagra FD needed some tweaking, the saddle is definitely something that needs to be personalized

Similar Products Used:
Older Giant OCR1 fully aluminum

Price Paid:  $850.00 at LBS

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Nebo Loop

Bike Setup:
Stock except for new bar tape. Wheel upgrade soon.

Summary:
New to the road but this bike is awesome. I test rode a lot of bikes. Stayed patient until the LBS gave me this deal. Carbon fork and seat stays. Very nice. (For a Noob)

Strengths:
Frame, Fork

Weaknesses:
rims.

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale, Trek, Giant.

Price Paid:  $900.00 at Palm Springs Cyclery

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere

Bike Setup:
The bike is still pretty stock. Carbon forks and seatpost w/zertz inserts. Xero wheels equiped with Maxxis re-fuse tires (NO FLATS!).

Summary:
I had done a lot of research before I bought this bike and heard a few horror stories about this bike, but aproached the situation with an open mind. I began my search for bikes under a $1000 and kept my open mind as far as price too.

My first ride on this bike was to take it up a mountain in Palm Springs, CA and then come back down. I was sold as soon as I took off up the hill. The bike is solid, yet comfortable and responsive! To top it off I got it as a left over from 2006!

Since my purchase, I have spent many days looking at the country aboard my Allez and have not regretted it once. My friends try to get me to upgrade into a carbon bike, but I think that is useless since I am only losing 1 lb and I already own a great bike.

I took it out for the first time in month today, warmer weather made me do it, I still love it. If you're a big guy like me (5'10", 210) this bike will never give you a problem.

Strengths:
Great construction, smooth welds, 105s work great and smoothly. This bike totally exhibits strength!

Weaknesses:
None that I have found.

Similar Products Used:
Trek, Raleigh, LeMond, and Motobecane!

Price Paid:  $1100.00 at new york bikes

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
hmmmm....

Bike Setup:
e 5 and 105. nuff said. thinkin about mavics

Summary:
1100 ducats for the last of the e 5's on allez. man was it worth it. what a frame, light, great going up the hills--and, when you dial it up, fast as hell--hella responsive frame. not for nothing, but a sweet paint job too. i cruise by and girls (even a few good looking ones) are like "whoa.." total strangers, compliment me completely at random in the street, man you look great, man what a great bike, etc etc..

add the 105 deck and this one was a no brainer. would have been a good deal at 14 or 1500, you cant even get e5 in elite anymore, only on comp, expert, and pro. i've lost ten pounds and my legs feel like steel cables. man, what a great bike, i love it.

Strengths:
--smooth, reliable shifting (105)
--light, strong, and responsive frame. used on specialized models selling for more than twice the price.
--stylish modeling
reliable and fun fun fun. i lock in and say goodbye

Weaknesses:
got me.

Similar Products Used:
first bike. wish it could be my last. should have bought the other one on the floor.