Price Paid:
$575.00
at Motion Makers, Sylva Model Year:
2007 Favorite Ride:
Anywhere in Western North Carolina mountains Bike Setup:
The bike is set up with Shimano 2300 downtube shifters, derailleurs and crank. Crankset is a double 53/39 and casette is 12-28 (stock is 12-25, which is unridable in these mountains). Summary:
I'm really into steel and was intrigued when Specialized announced this new 2010 Allez Steel double for only $610.00. I called up my LBS and mentioned the bike to the owner. A week later he emailed me and said he'd got one in, in just my size, fancy that. I went and looked at it several times and took if for a couple of test rides. The frame was very nicely done, Reynolds 520 (same specs as 525 but produced in Taiwan). The geometry is pretty racy but the frame has brazed on rack mounts. It appears to be OS tubing with a beefy down tube. The components are pretty old school and heavy, but seem to work well. I was surprised at how easy it was to return to downtube shifters. The wheels are heavy (did I say heavy) but do the job. The bike has a very solid, quality feel and the ride is rock steady.
It seems that everything just kind of comes together on this bike, and it works.
It's a successful workhorse of a bike which has a heart of gold frame and fork. It's a real trip back into the 1980s. Strengths:
Quality frame and decent parts selection for the price. It would have been a hellava deal back in 1985. Weaknesses:
Heavy wheels and mediocre drive train parts. Similar Products Used:
1991 Paramount
1992 Bianchi Virata
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