Specialized 2000 Allez A1 Sport Triple

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at SuperGo

Favorite Ride:
Solvang Century

Bike Setup:
See above

Summary:
A great bike, once I trashed the Ritchey Zero Dish wheelset. Replace with Shimano R540. BG saddle swithced for a Selle ITalia Octavia, Michelin Race PRo tires, Speedplay x-3 pedals,Weyless carbon fibre seatpost, otherwise stock. I love logging long miles on the bike with this setup, comfortable, fast and resposive.

Strengths:
Frame, 105 drivetrain for a bargin, geometry fits me perfectly (50cm).
I'm 5'7" 170 lbs.

Weaknesses:
Wheelset, stock saddle.

Similar Products Used:
None, other bike is 2002 FSR

Price Paid:  $699.00 at Supergo

Favorite Ride:
Furnace Creek 508

Bike Setup:
CXP30/Ultegra wheels, Armadillo tires, 11/32 cassette, Memoflex gel seat, carbon fork, hirise stem, aerobars, rack & small rear panniers for touring

Summary:
The best $700 I ever spent in biking, even though I did have some problems: Ritchey wheels are junk. Supergo completely rebuilt twice for free, and still spokes popped (I only weigh 170#) but they finally swapped for Mavic CXP30/Ultegra wheels. Bottom bracket and right 105 shifter replaced under warranty. I did swap to a $50 Supergo carbon fork and Memoflex Gel saddle. I take this bike touring all over Europe, commute on it, log many miles on it. Finally the frame broke at one of two derailleur hanger bolt holes, but Supergo is getting me a new one (5-year frame warranty) and I'll continue to knock out thousands of miles a year on it.

Strengths:
Great value, triple gearing (changed the rear cassette to 11-32, I go straight up LA's Fargo Street hillclimb, 33% grade), nice looks/color/paint, good warranty. 105 components shift very reliably and feel good. Nice ride, not the harsh aluminum ride I feared. Great touring bike! My first all-new bike, even with the problems I've had, I've been treated fairly by Supergo and would buy the same bike again.

Weaknesses:
Wheels, tires, seat replaced. Not a lightweight bike. Frame cracked at derailleur hanger bolt hole, will replace under warranty.

Similar Products Used:
Carbon Trek 2100 105 7-speed downtube, Carbon Trek 5500 Ultegra STI

Price Paid:  $750.00 at talbots cyclery

Favorite Ride:
canada road

Bike Setup:
specialized crank, ritchey wheelset, shimano 105 components

Summary:
This bike is an aluminum frame bike and it has a great carbon fork. This is a great bike for someone that is just starting to ride or even for someond that has been riding for acouple of years. I am just 12 so this bike is more than enough for me.

Strengths:
Ritchey wheels and shimano 105 components. THis is just a great all around bike.

Weaknesses:
I haven't found any yet.

Similar Products Used:
Bianchi Imola, le mond Alpe De' Huez

Price Paid:  $500.00 at Used at Nicollet So.

Favorite Ride:
Cheery Creek

Bike Setup:
All stock except Zoom adjustable stem and Michelin Axial tires.

Summary:
Bought it used for one season from previous LBS back home. Best deal I could find for 105 Equiped bike. Put 700 miles on and still look forward to riding every evening. No problems with spokes and I like the seat but I am 5' 11" 150 lbs so not much weight riding on it. THe only problem I've had is with the valve cutting where it passes through the inside wall of the rim. It seems specialized's plastic rim strips don't do the job because the hole they cut for the valve is larger than the hole in the rim so when you air them up if you flex the valve at all is rubs the sharp rim where it passes through and blows when you get to pressure. Some heavier tubes and a little tape around the base of the valve stem fixed this.

Strengths:
Fast, great climber with(or even without) the granny gear. Durable components at a reasonable price(even when new).

Weaknesses:
Crank is cheap and creeks. Took it off the bike, disassembled it, cleaned it, and it took care of the problem for about 150 mi. Now it is worse. Wish they went with the 105 instead the the cheep Specialized (Sugino) brand. Ride is harsh, every time I see a bump coming up I cringe. New axial tires give some forgiveness over the Turbos.

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale T400 before I turned to mountain biking

Price Paid:  $1500.00 at Bob''s Bikes

Favorite Ride:
MS150 - Gulf Shores, Al

Bike Setup:
Replaced with: Salsa Saddle Ti rails, Mavic Cosmic Elite wheelset, Yellow Continental Grand Prix 300

Summary:
What can I say, other than I love this bike. Smooth ride, just a little bit on the stiff side. However, when I bought the bike I was actually looking for a steel touring bike, but when I took it for a ride, I changed my whole riding plan on the spot. It's an extremely versatile bike. It can be raced fast and ridden long with only a little more pain than you would normally expect from steel. This bike made a racer out of me. It's been through 3 centuries and 3 triathlons in the past year and it's going to go with me into this next season as well.

I will say that it is definately time to upgrade, though. I never really found a need for the triple except for my first ride. The wheels aren't the best either. Another cyclist I've ridden with and myself have both broken spokes on the rear tire. I weigh ~195lbs, and I had one brake on a hard torque on a climb, but she didn't weigh what I did and she wasn't climbing either... and she was on her second rebuild of the same rear wheel. I also replaced the seat on the spot.

Other than that - no problems.

Strengths:
The frame. Fastest ride for the money. Decent components for the cost.

Weaknesses:
Definately the wheels. Crankset

Similar Products Used:
Lemond, Trek