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For some reason I get to buy a new bike on c2w every year. Last year I bought a cannondale caadx, which cost me around 350 quid after deductions.. It's ace.
I have a nice roadie, and the caad x is used as a gravel bike. I was intending to buy some new wheels and tyres, chuck on some mud guards, and use it as a winter road trainer. But now I'm thinking that I should be taking advantage of the ridiculous deal I get on bike to work. Basically 15% off the cost, plus another 40% on top of that in tax savings.
Eyeing up the bottom of the range allez, spec is a bit shit, comes with claris, however I have a set of kysrims to put on it so thinking that for under 300 notes that might make a great winter bike and I'd not have to faff with swapping wheels, guards etc. Plus it's red, and I've always wanted a red spesh roadie.
Downside is it's rim braked, and gears are shit
Madness? Or will it make a better road bike than the caad x. And if so, are allez frames any good?
Would you not be better buying something a bit more focussed on what you want? Either a dedicated gravel bike, or winter bike with discs?
The allez is a good bike although the latest model split between the allez and the allez sprint. The former got more relaxed geometry for its intended sportive market, the latter got sharper and stiffer as a crit bike.
Cheap shimano group sets are fine, functionally you'd struggle to criticise it even against the expensive versions. I'd probably want disk brakes if I was buying a new dedicated winter bike though.
claris is ace for winter, works well and is cheap to replace when it wears out in the winter grot
Treat yourself to an allez elite ... great frames that are as smooth to ride as carbon.
The caad x is perfect for the gravel riding I do, it has decent wheels on it so fulfils that purpose perfectly.
The idea behind the allez is that I can leave it chained in the stairwell of my flat, don't need to clean the caad x after a muddy ride, and won't need to faff around with changing tyres, removing guards etc. Plus I can fit my stages on the allez, but will need to swap bb and crank to use it with the caad x.
Not fussed about disk brakes tbh. Even in pissing rain using my carbon wheels on the good bike I have never felt the need for them. Sure the rims won't wear out, but with the milage I do on it I'll get a few seasons out of it yet.
The choice is really a bargain allez for 300 quid, or spend the same on a new crank, wheels and tyres for the caad x for road use. That also works out at around 300 quid. Which would be better for road use, the slightly better speed caad x, or the dedicated roadie allez
Depends how you define better.
Ive got big-ish tyres and guards on my caadx and a caad road bike.
Guards, disks, tyres, wheels all contribute to a few extra lbs and make it feel slower. But it is comfy and dry.
Having two bikes one for off road and one with guards does sound like a good idea though. Is there nothing within budget that would have disks though?
Well I can buy one for up to 1000 on c2w but I really don't need another so I thought 600 was a fair amount for such a frivolous purchase. Also I have good caliper wheels to stick on it. Even if I did spend a grand then the wheels would be shit, and I value good wheels over disks any day of the week
It’s a fairly shite bike, Instead of focussing on what you are saving look at what you are spending. That’s the real figure. You’d be better off buying something you really need on a 0% credit card
If you have to leave it outside your flat, sounds like you don't have the space for it and you are just buying because you are getting a deal.
We could all have "saved" 15% yesterday on Ebay, but it's not money saved if it's not something you need or really want is it? 😉
What is the riding purpose of this potential bike, besides being left to rust while being chained up in the stairwell?
I'd be inclined to look at a hydraulic braked hybrid, or a fatbike, to offer something different from the nice summer road bike and the adventure bike.
The idea behind the allez is that I can leave it chained in the stairwell of my flat
Then don't get a Specialized, the scrotes probably can't differentiate between Claris and Dura Ace, but they'll know their bike brands and a Specialized logo on the downtube is essentially a theft magnet.
Spend about the same, possibly a bit less and have a btwin equivalent Or something similarly "non-premium" branded?
Can't get bwin on bike to work
It probably will be inside the flat, but if not there are nicer hikes to nick in my stairwell
I'm probably going to stick some spare bits on it anyhow so it'll end up with quite a nice build if I can source some 11 speed shifters and a mech. Got nice wheels, tyres, chainset etc already..
Thought about just buy2a frame from px, but I can't get much Better than an allez frame for the 300 quid it's going to cost me.. Or at least not one with guard mounts etc
Ended up pushing the button on the bottom of the range allez, and spending another 100 quid on a set of 11 speed 105 shifters.
Going to swap out the wheels for some kysrim elites I have spare, chuck on a 105 crankset and lighter saddle I have kicking about, and source a carbon post and some 11 speed mechs. Should end up costing me around 500 quid all in for a pretty well speced bike which by my calculations should come in at around 8.5 kgs..thats obviously before I add in guards, bottle mounts etc.
On reflection I won't be leaving it out in the stairwell given it'll end up being a pretty nice build.
I've got a 2018 Allez Elite Red Hook, the frame and fork are ace. To be honest the 105 gearing is brilliant too.
Presuming the bogo one has the same fork, you can't get guards on with anytign bigger than a 23mm tyre and the fork has no eyelets - the Elite comes with the FACT SL5 full carbon fork like on the Tarmac, there's tons of room in the back mind.
It comes with a full carbon fork.. Think it's the same across the range. I was planning to run 25mm tyres with sks race blades. Won't that work?
Having recently moved to 25 mm tubeless the difference between them and gp4000 23 mm is definitely noticeable
Also.. What tyres are they. I love the skin wall look. Was going for durano raceguards for the winter but those look ace
That fork thing was due to a recall, the stock fork had eyelets and (claimed) clearance for 28s. Word on the street was all you could fit was 25 and guards.
Then they had to recall the forks for some reason, so the bikes were all fitted with the tarmac fork instead, hence restricted clearance and no eyelets.
Am guessing 2019 models should fix the issue. Don't bet on getting 25s into the front fork of the 2018 models.
Personally had a looooong think about buying the Red Hook Elite and putting a bunch of nice kit on it, spreadsheet build came out at £1800 before BTW discount etc. and approx 8.3kg before guards. Don't regret buying a Rose instead although do have some Red Hook paint-job envy!
Tyres it comes with are 25 mm, so shouldn't be an issue on that front. Will need to checkout the guards situation when it arrives next month
One possible solution for the guards, I couldn't fit a guard + 25c tyre under my fork crown, so had to terminate the guard at the back of the fork.
Works perfectly, tried some of those little eyelets that sit on the front QR but the shape of the dropouts didn't work, so had to go P-Clip, but other than that the guards lasted all winter and worked perfectly.
You'll be fine with race blades and 25mm tyres, just not proper full front guard.
The tyres I have are 25c Vittoria Corsa G+, they measure up at 27mm on a 17mm ID rim, you'll get 28's in there easily.
Quick question for anyone that has a recent allez. What size is the seat post and front mech clamp size. I'm assuming it's 27.2 and 31.8 band on mech?