Anybody had any experience with this bike. I am considering adding it to my stable. Just want to have another option besides my tri bike plus it would be good always having a bike on the trainer so I don’t have to set it up each time. I know there are big complaints about the wheels but I am not concerned with that too much. I am just wanting to get a solid all around bike and feel like this might be it for the price I am getting it for along with extras. Any ST peeps ride this model or have ridden it before?
I know there are better options but this fits my budget currently plus I would rather practice tuning and working on this bike than my nice tri bike in effort to be a better mechanic.
i have a 2011 Allez Sport that i’ve had for just about 2 years and i love it! after a few months i began the process of converting into a TT bike(forward seat post, TT saddle, complete TT cockpit, and shorter stem to make the fit work). now however, i realize that i want both a road bike and a TT bike, and my plan is to keep my converted Allez as my TT bike and more than likely buy another Allez model for a true road bike. it’s a good a “bang for your buck”
I have an Allez (cannot remember the model - but probably a 2006) set up on my trainer and it works just fine. It was my first road bike and I used it for my first few triathlons. I switched out the rear tire for a trainer tire (red, so I wouldn’t be tempted to ride it on the road), added the Garmin speed/cadence sensor for ANT+ integration.
I cannot even remember how it handles on the road but on the trainer I do notice it flexing.
I bought one new in 2003, it was the Allez A1 and it is still the bike I use. This year I did sort of like the other poster and converted it to a tri-setup and I have had no complaints about it other than a little bit of flexing on trainer. Nothing bad, and I use the rear wheel that came with the bike on the trainer and then switch out to my other wheels when I ride it outside. The stock wheels and tires do kinda suck, but that is an easy fix.
Good to know about the trainer. I am just looking forward to riding something other than my tri bike especially now that I will be able to join regular group rides. How is the overall handling. Do you still have Shimano 105 components or did you change them over the years?
Still have the same components and it shifts fine and handles fine. I ride on a lot of two lane roads that semi trucks go on and have never felt endangered or anything. As far as cornering goes, I can’t really tell you because I am probably an average handler at taking corners. I did slide out and fall twice over the past ten years, but one of those was because around the corner I had no idea the path was going to be a sheet of ice. The other was in the rain coming up over a 12 foot wooden bridge where I slide into the side. That’s probably why I like roads better than a bike path now, lol. I have taken corners a little too fast before and been able to change my line some, slow down and straighten up. The only thing I changed was the shifters to bar end, the brake levers, and the cables. Took it in this past February to have the LBS overhaul it and other than that I just clean the chain, grease it up, wipe down the frame and the usual. Stock it weighs about 24-25 pounds and how I have it now it is around 21 pounds.
I should add that I just finished a 4 hour, 10 minute ride on the trainer (Disaster on Trainerroad.com) so I’d say that it is fine for the use you are going for.
I have an 11 in my stable and it’s a solid bike. Not crazy responsive but does the job. If yours is all 105 you will be great as long as its all tuned and adjusted properly. Mine came with Tiagra RD and sora shifters and FD, only thing I upgraded was the shifters those Sora shifts suck hard. I found the Tiagra RD to shift very well with a good cable job and tune. I have some Alex wheels on it with conti gp4000s.
I have a 2010 Allez Sport, named “Laiza” which I bought really cheap, and I loved it in the beginning. After about 3 months riding it, I converted it to a TT bike for tri’s. Rode it for about 2 years like that.
Then I saved up enough and bought a Shiv named “Eleanor”. After I got the Shiv I stopped riding the Allez because it was really heavy and the geometry was not ideal for aero compared to the Shiv.
The Shiv is a beast and its really sweet to ride if set up properly. Made for Tri’s, which is what I was and am doing.
Laiza stayed in the garage for 5 months I think. Then one morning, I decided I was going to sell it. So I dusted it off, put back the road bars, stem, oiled the chain, polished the frame, new cables, bar tape, tuned the shifters and brakes.
It wasn’t looking bad. To test it out I put on my shoes for a spin in the neighborhood. What was supposed to be a 1K ride became a 35K ride, I just kept racing up hills, standing up on the pedals, around sharp corners, it was awesome. So yea, I am not selling it anymore. Its a great bike and although the sport model is not a top of the line bike, and i use it mostly on the trainer, the bike is great for climbing, bombing hills etc. Not so good for TT in my opinion even if you have the FF seatpost etc. But after riding the TT only for about 5 months, I forgot how much I loved the bike, and I’m glad I didn’t sell it.