Specialized Allez 24

Price Paid:  $600.00 at Landis

Favorite Ride:
South Mountain , Phoenix

Summary:
Great Bike for a first timer. The Bike has good performance. Not for quick starts in a race. Great for communting or touring. I had some issues with gears switching. Got it adjusted twice and no problem since then.

I am riding it for more than 2 years now. Feels great.

The bike comes with strap pedals. I changed them to a Speed Play Clipless. Great feel and efficiency with the new pedals.

Tires suck. Buy new tires to improve performance and also reduce flats. Factory tires are flat prone and no control on gravel.

Factory seat is real hard. Change to something soft for your butt.

Strengths:
Great color ( matte blue). People love when i ride on it. I have several people comment on the color and style. Feels great. Great control, smooth ride. Good worth for money. Great bike if you plan to commute or tour.

Weaknesses:
Not for racing. You will be far behind other road bikes if you want to race. Bad tires, bad seat.

Similar Products Used:
Giant , Specialized Sport

Price Paid:  $750.00 at Bicycles Record

Bike Setup:
tiagra group
no-name brakes

Summary:
For a first bike, it was the best i could get for that price. The tiagra group is working well under low pressure and the bike doesn't seem to pull so much. I had an old "ten speeds" last year wich was so much heavyer and slower.
I regret i haven't ask to change my stock tires at the store.

A realy good bike for a new rider

Got it in april 2004 with a great reduction, the bike was stamped at $969can and the store sold it to me for $750can

Strengths:
Light, fast, great looking, not very expensive but is good quality

Weaknesses:
Tiagra group is rough under hign pressure like climbing hills or sprinting

Price Paid:  $550.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Percy Warner-Nashville

Bike Setup:
SPD clipless pedals. Upgrading seat

Summary:
Great entry level bike for newbie triathlete. Several seen at the 2003 Music City triathlon. Shifting takes a little patience and practice.

Strengths:
Easy to ride, comfortable reach to bars. fit and finish is excellent. Specialized quality.

Weaknesses:
Upgrading seat to something softer.
You get what you pay for...

Similar Products Used:
GT Aggressor 1.0 Mountain Bike

Price Paid:  $1100.00 at chatswood cyclery sy

Favorite Ride:
oylmpic park homebush

Bike Setup:
standard

Summary:
This bike was going for $999 for following week when I went to pick it up after paying $1099 the weekend before. Anyway the bike ride is not bad but I have not rode a road bike before. The shifting from the smaller crank to the larger crank is not exactly smooth. However everything else seems to be ok.
Might consider upgrading when I get a little bit more riding under my belt.

Strengths:
Light, nice ride.

Weaknesses:
hard to shift sometimes.

Price Paid:  $600.00 at n/a

Bike Setup:
look pp357 pedals, vredistein courier tires, ritchey two bolt seatpost.

Summary:
stiff frame very responsive, to the point of being harsh. components perform reliably. seat pole, saddle, and tires a big drawback.

Strengths:
stiff ride even when sprinting. components match up with just about all other road bikes in this price range. great mat paint finish

Weaknesses:
combination of saddle and seatpost doesnt allow for neutral saddle tilt. would try to get dealer to switch to two bolt before leaving the store. tires done after only 450miles. chainring wears easily, and two shifts are sometimes required going up or down to small chainring.

Similar Products Used:
beater bikes over the years, nothing this good. but for the price could definitely be better.