Allez alternative
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Trek 2.1. It's 105 all around except for Tiagra brakes. I'm sure there are options from the other big brands (Giant, Fuji, etc). FYI the local shop had mine listed at $200 lower than MSRP. So if price is critical to you, take a moment to look up the nearest dealer and call them for a price rather than rely on the MSRP at the website.
if you can catch a holiday sale it may help you out
over the presidents day holiday I picked up an allez elite for just under 1000 before taxes (although I didn't get a bunch of free stuff like others may have gotten)
check out some other brands too though, just about every company has an equivalent to the allez elite
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/model/defy.1/3882/37098/
http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2010-Product-Catalog/Road/F-Series/F75.aspx
http://www.fujibikes.com/Road/Performance/Roubaix-1-0.aspx (similar price but with rival vs 105)
http://www.cannondale.com/usa/usaen...Road/CAAD9/Details/1244-0RA95D_0RA95C-CAAD9-5
all the prices are pretty similar, it's more about which one feels right and looks good because in terms of "value", they're all pretty close
over the presidents day holiday I picked up an allez elite for just under 1000 before taxes (although I didn't get a bunch of free stuff like others may have gotten)
check out some other brands too though, just about every company has an equivalent to the allez elite
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/model/defy.1/3882/37098/
http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2010-Product-Catalog/Road/F-Series/F75.aspx
http://www.fujibikes.com/Road/Performance/Roubaix-1-0.aspx (similar price but with rival vs 105)
http://www.cannondale.com/usa/usaen...Road/CAAD9/Details/1244-0RA95D_0RA95C-CAAD9-5
all the prices are pretty similar, it's more about which one feels right and looks good because in terms of "value", they're all pretty close
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If you like the fit, ride and handling of the Allez, the C'dale CAAD9 and Jamis Ventura line might be worth a look. Scott Speedsters and Fuji Roubaix's are others.mcnells said:
Regarding the level of gear you get for the price, keep in mind that fit matters most in biking, and the services your LBS offer add value. IMO/E being comfortable on the bike is going to keep you riding, not the gear. I'd give up 105 for Tiagra if it meant riding a well fitted bike.
The bikes with the 105 drivetrain will generally cost the same.mcnells said:
The only way to get the 105 without the high price? www.bikesdirect.com. Order the right size the first time... assemble, then pay a shop to fit you.
Technically, I'm happy with my Spec Secteur Elite
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A key point. Order the wrong size first time and be faced with the decision to keep an ill fitting bike or return it (at the buyers expense), reorder and restart the process.tednugent said:
Also, it's likely an online buyer will tap their LBS for final assembly, tuning/ adjustments, fitting - for a fee, which (all told) these extra expenses tend to close the price gap between online 'stores' and LBS's.
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Personally, I feel like BikesDirect is the dumbest idea ever for someone who can't or doesn't want to wrench their own bike and fit themselves. Every LBS I've ever been to will give you a free fit if you buy the bike from them, you have to pay $80-100 or more perhaps to get fit if you don't buy the bike from. Every LBS I've been to offers at least one year of free maintenance on your bike (the one I personally use offers lifetime free maintenance). I've used this perk at least 4 times since I bought my bike at the start of the year. Who knows what this would have cost if I hadn't bought my bike there (more than free I know). Most LBSs will give you a discount on extra crap you buy when you buy the bike. Pedals, helmet, shoes, shorts all 10% off when you purchase a bike really adds up. Plus, you start off building a relationship with a LBS that will hook you up if they are worth a damn when you need it. For instance, the owner of the shop gave me a free tire that was very lightly used when I found a cut in mine. Bikesdirect and other internet bike shops don't give you all that service. Go to a LBS and the higher price you pay up front will pay for itself if you are the average joe like most of us.
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It's legit. Here's the deal though. I had a friend get a bike from bikes direct. This was his first bike though so he had to take it to a LBS to get it put together which cost money, then he had to get the LBS to properly fit him which cost money, then when he has to have maintenance on it that he can't perform himself he has to pay for it. By the time you factor in all those costs he ends paying just as much as I paid for mine only it's less convenient and he gets less service.
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If you can work on it yourself, or have a friend who can, Bikesdirect is awesome. Co-workers come to me all the time because they know I ride. When they see the prices on their site, they buy from them. I almost should be asking for a kickback from them...just kidding. Of course since I sent them there, I am always the one to build it for them, and fit them as well. Fitting someone on a bike isn't rocket science. Most LBS employees don't know much more than most of the folks who post here. If you are smart enough to have found the website, then you are likely smart enough to find a website that talks about bike fit.
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When you compare the resources available to NASA and their associated industries to solve a given problem, then compare that to a rider who has a (name that fit issue), all of a sudden rocket science looks easy.spookyload said:
Further, anyone holding such a simplistic view doesn't read too many threads here, many of which have to do with fit issues. When you have one that's causing discomfort or even preventing you from riding, it's major, and many times the fix is elusive, and googling seldom results in a straight forward remedy.
As far as LBS employees level of knowledge, that's true of any retail environment I can think of. Visit a substandard shop (or any store) and receive substandard service, visit a reputable, knowledgeable one and receive quality service. That's why shopping for shops along with bikes is the way to go.
BD and other online bike 'stores' are little more than conduits for the manufacturer. The bike is manufactured, partially built up and sent to a warehouse. From there, orders are filled and the 'bike in a box' shipped. To varying degrees, that's the level of service that they provide.
Online 'stores' have their place, but ironically it's with experienced cyclists that are well versed in bike geo, understand their sizing requirements and likely do their own fittings and wrenching. Noobs (who are more apt to buy from such stores) are facing many pitfalls and judging from post purchase threads I've read here, aren't always happy with their purchases and many time end up spending more.
While skilled bike fitters may not do fancy trig or other calculus in the course of their fitting, their experience has value that you can't duplicate on your own. A good fitter can put things "right" on the first try that the rest of us would have to learn by the seat of our pants, literally. Less experienced fitters will generally take more iterations to get things to the same level of comfort and efficiency, and in most DIY cases means that the rider doesn't do additional adjustments and ends up with a less refined fit.spookyload said:
This dynamic plays out every day on the automotive race track. There is no formula out there that tells you how to set up a car so they change things little by little, one thing at a time. Everyone is (or should be) finding ways to get better/faster, but the experienced people will advance more quickly because they can take advantage of past patterns of success.
David
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If in casual conversation the shop rep eyeballs you and offers that "you're about a large", I wouldn't necessarily run from the store, but if as a follow up you ask him/ her to describe the fitting process and it amounts to little more than a cursory sizing or checking standover, then run from the store.mcnells said:
A reputable shop recognizes the importance of meeting a cyclists needs both in type of bike that'll match their intended purposes as well as fit. They'll ask about cycling experiences, fitness/ flexibility, type(s) of riding you're interested in doing (recreational, fitness, training), and any goals you may have. Then they'll size/ fit you to some bikes of interest (many use stationary trainers, others size cycles) and send you off on test rides. Get out on the road and ride for some duration, focusing on fit/ feel, ride and handling of the bikes. When you return to the shop, they'll ask for feedback from you.
This general process will repeat as you try more bikes, and during it while you place your trust in a fitter (to an extent), you should take a proactive approach and ask any questions you have or offer feedback on how something feels, both positive and negative.
It's important to shop for a reputable LBS along with shopping for bikes, because in all likelihood after the purchase you'll be going back to them for support - tweaks to the initial fit, tune ups/ adjustments, warranty assistance, if needed. They'll become a valuable asset to you, so choose accordingly.
I bought a bike from Bike's Direct intending it to be for my wife, and it was slightly large (which was my fault, but more on this). It's a fine bike, great parts, etc. It was easy to put together. I also bought a bike stand, and I have a bunch of 'regular' tools, and a multi-tool, although I ended up not having a 15mm wrench for the pedals (my set skipped from 14mm to 17mm or some reason), so I bought one of those too.
Anyways, before returning it, I decided to figure out the sizing thing more in depth, reading here, and elsewhere and at the moment the conclusion I have is "No one knows what fits you but you...after riding for a long time." I could be wrong.
So that bike fits me fine, and I was going to get one. I previously was riding a 2009 Kona Smoke, which is basically a mountain bike with road tires. The Kona worked fine for commuting, but I was certainly looking to upgrade soon for longer rides (perhaps I subconsciously ordered too big, heh). I also have a much more intense biking buddy to ask advice of and get tuneup help for the low, low price of a sixpack of Sierra Nevada, and I drink half of it. Deal.
Now, right, why did I end up ordering a slightly larger bike than I should have? My wife and I visited a bunch of LBSs looking at bikes, and I bought my Kona from an LBS. Even my biking buddy suggested the LBS. However, no one seemed particularly consistent on fitting style. Maybe my budget of < $1000 hurt, but they all seemed nice and helpful, it just didn't end up helping. No one really explained the differences in stem length or anything, it was almost all "That looks like it fits you!" One guy seemed very nice, and had my wife on a 54 Trek, saying he thought even a 56 might work. My wife is 5'' 4.5", but I figured he must know more than me, so I ordered a this 54cm bike, going against the BD fitting suggestions, figuring after checking everything the LBS guy must know a lot about fitting, and his vast experience was all cumulative into the "That looks like a good fit!" Now, not all the LBS guys gave the same fit, and being new to roadbiking, neither my wife, nor myself really know what's really "comfortable". Her old bike, an Electra Amsterdam, is really very 'comfortable' until you want to go fast or up a hill.
After that, I saw a Fuji Roubaix 1.0 on sale at a local Performance Bike shop for what I seemed like a good price, and we ended up buying one of those for her instead of going the BD route.
So I would a) contact Bike's Direct and ask them about sizing (they do run their own stores in Texas and some other states, btw), which I should have done (Yes, I'm stupid sometimes) and b) ask the LBS if you aren't happy with the bike's fit how long you can exchange it for. If you don't want to wrench, just buying from an LBS might not be cheaper, one of my favorite bike shops sells only some old rehab'd bikes, and is mostly a parts/maintenance place, and seem to have lower prices than most others for LBS.
Your mileage may very, but I don't think either online or the LBS is necessarily better, depending on your level of wrenching/budget.
I've still bought plenty of stuff from multiple LBSs (actually I bought a used fuji for my son, too, and another online bike for my step-daughter, yes, having a family makes every activity ridiculously expensive to get into), but without a sale, for me the online pricing was a big winner. The "fit" expertise certainly hasn't been high enough to make me feel the LBS is worth the extra dollars.
Anyways, before returning it, I decided to figure out the sizing thing more in depth, reading here, and elsewhere and at the moment the conclusion I have is "No one knows what fits you but you...after riding for a long time." I could be wrong.
So that bike fits me fine, and I was going to get one. I previously was riding a 2009 Kona Smoke, which is basically a mountain bike with road tires. The Kona worked fine for commuting, but I was certainly looking to upgrade soon for longer rides (perhaps I subconsciously ordered too big, heh). I also have a much more intense biking buddy to ask advice of and get tuneup help for the low, low price of a sixpack of Sierra Nevada, and I drink half of it. Deal.
Now, right, why did I end up ordering a slightly larger bike than I should have? My wife and I visited a bunch of LBSs looking at bikes, and I bought my Kona from an LBS. Even my biking buddy suggested the LBS. However, no one seemed particularly consistent on fitting style. Maybe my budget of < $1000 hurt, but they all seemed nice and helpful, it just didn't end up helping. No one really explained the differences in stem length or anything, it was almost all "That looks like it fits you!" One guy seemed very nice, and had my wife on a 54 Trek, saying he thought even a 56 might work. My wife is 5'' 4.5", but I figured he must know more than me, so I ordered a this 54cm bike, going against the BD fitting suggestions, figuring after checking everything the LBS guy must know a lot about fitting, and his vast experience was all cumulative into the "That looks like a good fit!" Now, not all the LBS guys gave the same fit, and being new to roadbiking, neither my wife, nor myself really know what's really "comfortable". Her old bike, an Electra Amsterdam, is really very 'comfortable' until you want to go fast or up a hill.
After that, I saw a Fuji Roubaix 1.0 on sale at a local Performance Bike shop for what I seemed like a good price, and we ended up buying one of those for her instead of going the BD route.
So I would a) contact Bike's Direct and ask them about sizing (they do run their own stores in Texas and some other states, btw), which I should have done (Yes, I'm stupid sometimes) and b) ask the LBS if you aren't happy with the bike's fit how long you can exchange it for. If you don't want to wrench, just buying from an LBS might not be cheaper, one of my favorite bike shops sells only some old rehab'd bikes, and is mostly a parts/maintenance place, and seem to have lower prices than most others for LBS.
Your mileage may very, but I don't think either online or the LBS is necessarily better, depending on your level of wrenching/budget.
I've still bought plenty of stuff from multiple LBSs (actually I bought a used fuji for my son, too, and another online bike for my step-daughter, yes, having a family makes every activity ridiculously expensive to get into), but without a sale, for me the online pricing was a big winner. The "fit" expertise certainly hasn't been high enough to make me feel the LBS is worth the extra dollars.
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