Specialized 2000 Allez A1 Sport

Price Paid:  $700.00 at Town & Country cycle

Favorite Ride:
Hines Park to 7mile

Bike Setup:
Mavic Cosmos wheelset, Smimano Ultegra cassette, US Postal San Marco saddle, US Postal Hutchinson tires, Performance Forte clips.

Summary:
Overall, with the additions I have made, this is a great bike. It looks great and rides great. The A1 Aluminum frame has great response, especially on climbs. The Shimano 105 components shift efficiently and without problems. Broke 7 spokes in 1000 miles. I am 6'4" 200lbs, so a spoke here or there is to be expected, but these are terrible. A switch to Mavic Cosmos rims took care of that. The BB clicks every so often on climbs. The addition of the blue US postal saddle and tires looks great with the Red and white(cream) paint of the frame. The black color of the Mavic rims also adds alot of flavour with the patriotic "theme". Bumps are a bit rough, but I plan on going to a carbon fork very soon. Great bike for the price. Ideal for large powerful recreational riders who want to occasionally race. Can be easily upgraded to an effective racing machine.

Strengths:
Paint, weight, fit, responsiveness

Weaknesses:
Rims, bottom bracket, fork

Similar Products Used:
Vintage Eddie Merckx

Price Paid:  $1300.00 at SuperGo

Favorite Ride:
Solvang Century

Bike Setup:
See above

Summary:
Ride 100 miles + per week on this bike. Another 50 on the MTB.
Hubs and Wheels stink, replaces with Shimano 540's.Oh Daddy!
Running SpeedPlay X-1's, 110 mm Ritchey Stem, Selle Italia Octavia Saddle, Mich. Pro Race tyres, otherwise stock.
I LOVE this set-up. Once hte wheel prob fixed, this bike ROCKS!
Fast sprinter, reliable trouble free drivetrain and rail like cornering.
Enjoy the smooth speed.
A GREAT value for the enthusiest rider.

Strengths:
Frame, geometry, drivetrain

Weaknesses:
wheels, hubs, saddle

Similar Products Used:
1st serious road bike.

Price Paid:  $950.00 at Bicycle Habitat

Favorite Ride:
Columbia River Gorge from Hood River

Bike Setup:
stock with shimano 540 wheels, cateye computer and spd pedals.

Summary:
Bought this bike on a great deal from LBS. I wanted a good bike to start racing on with room to upgrade and that's exactly what I got. The frame is killer in looks and performance. It does not flex. Stand up in a sprint and it just goes. I have put 1500 miles on it, much of it pretty hard training and I love it. The seat hasn't ever bothered me. I got rid of the wheels as soon as I could. Spokes breaking etc. Now I'm riding on bladed shimanos and loving it. My LBS has been great. Fixed both shifters and relaced my rear wheel twice.

Strengths:
The frame is great. Stiff and fast. I still race on the stock aluminum fork. I don't mind the stiffness, and I love beating guys on bikes 3 times as expensive. 105 components do the job and are holding up pretty well after having both shifters replaced (much thanks to LBS)

Weaknesses:
The stock wheels are not even worth mentioning.

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $950.00 at Goodales

Bike Setup:
Shimano 105, Ritchey Hubs Mavic + CXP-21 = junk

Summary:
I've ridden the bike for about two years, about 4000 miles. Rear wheel broke spokes continually. LBS eventually rebuilt wheel with straight 14 gauge spokes. Spokes still broke. I ended up purchasing Mavic Open Pro / Ultegra. Bottom bracket made ugly noise after about 3000 miles... had to be replaced. Latest problem. Frame sheared 3 weeks ago near where derailleur mounts. Specialized will warranty, but they only have new style compact frames. The front derailleur, fork, and headset won't fit on new frame. Specialized will only warranty frame, no shipping labor, or new parts if old are incompatible with what they now offer for frames. I'm still waiting to get it back.

Need I say more? $250 for rebuild, $200 for wheels, $70 for new bottom bracket. Two years old... $520 in repairs.

Strengths:
Nice Paint

Weaknesses:
Wheels, bottom bracket, frame

Similar Products Used:
1st road bike

Price Paid:  $720.00 at lancaster cycles

Favorite Ride:
lakes

Bike Setup:
apart form forks, 105 wheel set and axial pro tyres, longer ITM stem and seat post
also prolink sad

Summary:
I found my bike while looking for something to start ,training/racing after
a 8 year break, it was last years model and discounted quite a lot,it has proved to be a good choice after >3,000 miles of riding.

Strengths:
An excellent frame and good groupset, finishing kit is good too. (apart from the saddle)

Weaknesses:
Those wheels!(changed after 3 months and 2 spoke snapping rides)
The stiff forks were too stiff for the local roads (handle bar vibration),so front fork changed for carbon item.(problem solved)

Similar Products Used:
Trek 1400