Any Thoughts on this Specialized Allez Sport?
03-20-19, 10:45 AM
#1
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Any Thoughts on this Specialized Allez Sport?
Thoughts on quality? Is the price fair? Would it take a rack in the back. I'm just looking for an upgraded commuter. I'm upgrading from an old Schwinn Sierra. He was even interested in trading my bike plus 250....
chattanooga.craigslist.org/bik/d/chattanooga-allen-specialized-for-sale/6845883388.html
chattanooga.craigslist.org/bik/d/chattanooga-allen-specialized-for-sale/6845883388.html
Last edited by LifeNovice1; 03-21-19 at 07:10 AM.
03-21-19, 07:08 AM
#3
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Wow. That was so helpful. Thanks. Guess someone ate Smartass Flakes for breakfast.
I'm new to biking. If I knew more about bikes and knew what to look for, I wouldn't be asking the questions now would I?
I'm new to biking. If I knew more about bikes and knew what to look for, I wouldn't be asking the questions now would I?
03-21-19, 07:32 AM
#4
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-Is the front derailleur hanger replaceable (or a band type), and in good condition?
-Is the chain NOT saggy and the chainring/cassette NOT reeeeally shark-finned?
-Take off the wheels and spin the axles by hand. If there’s any catching, bearings are shot. If it’s cup and cone (as opposed to sealed cartridge bearings, they look very different if you look closely), then the hub and therefore the wheel is shot.
-Are the spokes and more critically the nipples clean and in good condition? If they’re oxidized to hell and back, they might be decent to ride, but a true job will make the wheels explode.
-Violently shake the crank. If there’s any play at all, the bearings are probably shot. It’s hard to detect roughness but see if you can take the chain off (maybe drop the chain on the inside?) and spin the crank. It should be smooth and not rumbly. Don’t worry about drag - that’s just seals and grease.
-Do the brake pads allow angled adjustment? If not, you’ll probably want to invest in better ones - a point of negotiation.
-Look at the welds near the head tube and bottom bracket. Run your finger over them. Any cracks? If there’s a crack in the paint, the odds are low of it just being in the paint.
Thats all I got for now. Good luck. And if the seller gets sketched out by you inspecting the wares, I’d say run.
03-21-19, 07:49 AM
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I purchased about a 1996 Specialized Allez Sport on Craigslist many years ago. The bike has been great and yes I added a rack on the back because I use it for long trips.
The prices vary from $250 to $500.
The prices vary from $250 to $500.
03-21-19, 08:15 AM
#6
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Thoughts on quality? Is the price fair? Would it take a rack in the back. I'm just looking for an upgraded commuter. I'm upgrading from an old Schwinn Sierra. He was even interested in trading my bike plus 250....
chattanooga.craigslist.org/bik/d/chattanooga-allen-specialized-for-sale/6845883388.html
chattanooga.craigslist.org/bik/d/chattanooga-allen-specialized-for-sale/6845883388.html
As to price, it's a bit steep. Going by color, it looks like a 2005 model. Bicycle Blue Book puts the price of an excellent one at around $150, although that seems a bit low. $250 would be a good price but $350 is perhaps a bit high.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
03-21-19, 08:19 AM
#7
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Thanks guys! That's a pretty good checklist there. I had to google "bottom bracket". That's how little I know about bikes.
03-21-19, 08:53 AM
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I bought this 2002 Allez at Performance back in 2002 on sale for $399. Yearend closeout, list was $899. The bike on the ad looks overpriced to me, but if it fits, and you like it, go for it. They are good solid frames. Mine came with anluminum fork, which rode really hard to me, coming from an old steel Bianchi, that got killed by a car. I put an Easton carbon fork on. Sometime they went to carbon standard, not sure if the one in the ad is carbon or Al. I also broke several rear spokes, before I had the rear wheel re-spoked with DT Swiss. I also had a front spoke break at 30 mph, which was interesting. The Sora front derailleur broke as did the front Sora shifter. I also upgraded the brakes to 105s. As a first bike, its a good start, but try go get the price down a little. If you were in LA, I'd sell you mine.
Correction: I re-read the CL ad and it already has a carbon fork and seat post. Should be a good ride. It's the same size as mine, and I'm 6' tall, around 200 lbs, if that helps.
Correction: I re-read the CL ad and it already has a carbon fork and seat post. Should be a good ride. It's the same size as mine, and I'm 6' tall, around 200 lbs, if that helps.
Last edited by Slightspeed; 03-21-19 at 11:35 AM.
03-21-19, 11:22 AM
#9
Banned
Public Library has Magazine back issues ..
Main thing you need to figure out is assessing Condition of the worn parts..
will seat post / stem come out or is it stuck? An often posted topic from Ebay Bargain Shoppers .. After the fact...
....
03-21-19, 08:08 PM
#10
Senior Member
I bought this 2002 Allez at Performance back in 2002 on sale for $399. Yearend closeout, list was $899. The bike on the ad looks overpriced to me, but if it fits, and you like it, go for it. They are good solid frames. Mine came with anluminum fork, which rode really hard to me, coming from an old steel Bianchi, that got killed by a car. I put an Easton carbon fork on. Sometime they went to carbon standard, not sure if the one in the ad is carbon or Al. I also broke several rear spokes, before I had the rear wheel re-spoked with DT Swiss. I also had a front spoke break at 30 mph, which was interesting. The Sora front derailleur broke as did the front Sora shifter. I also upgraded the brakes to 105s. As a first bike, its a good start, but try go get the price down a little. If you were in LA, I'd sell you mine.
Correction: I re-read the CL ad and it already has a carbon fork and seat post. Should be a good ride. It's the same size as mine, and I'm 6' tall, around 200 lbs, if that helps.
Correction: I re-read the CL ad and it already has a carbon fork and seat post. Should be a good ride. It's the same size as mine, and I'm 6' tall, around 200 lbs, if that helps.
03-22-19, 12:34 PM
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I bought a new Allez Sport in 2015 and am still riding it after about 8,000 miles. 5,000 of those miles are from last season, all on the stock parts (aside from a chain replacement halfway through the season). Shimano Sora groupset is nothing to write home about, but it gets the job done if taken care of. I never had a problem with the front derailleur, but the rear had a tendency to start skipping gears earlier than I would have expected. The bike got me from Seattle to Chicago without any problems last season. Brakes are probably the least impressive aspect, but I didn't know that until I upgraded and realized what I had been missing.
The aluminum frame + carbon fork ride fine in my opinion, and the roads are poorly maintained where I live. I did break two rear spokes after about 6,000 miles, but I'm pretty sure it's because I tried to true the wheel myself and overtightened several spoke nipples; not a problem with the wheel itself.
+1 to the above post re: checking the wear on the cassette. If you go take a look at it, take it for a test ride and try shifting a handful of times to check if it clicks or skips.
I also agree that $350 seems a little high, but it's craigslist and I've never sold anything (bikes or otherwise) for the price I listed on CL. People almost always offer less than half what I've listed it for. If you take a look at it, I would offer $200 and see if they can meet you around the $250-$275 range.
FWIW, I'm 6'1" and 195lbs and was told I have a "long torso" when I got fitted on the Allez two years ago. I have the 58cm frame and was told I could probably size up slightly on my next frame.
The aluminum frame + carbon fork ride fine in my opinion, and the roads are poorly maintained where I live. I did break two rear spokes after about 6,000 miles, but I'm pretty sure it's because I tried to true the wheel myself and overtightened several spoke nipples; not a problem with the wheel itself.
+1 to the above post re: checking the wear on the cassette. If you go take a look at it, take it for a test ride and try shifting a handful of times to check if it clicks or skips.
I also agree that $350 seems a little high, but it's craigslist and I've never sold anything (bikes or otherwise) for the price I listed on CL. People almost always offer less than half what I've listed it for. If you take a look at it, I would offer $200 and see if they can meet you around the $250-$275 range.
FWIW, I'm 6'1" and 195lbs and was told I have a "long torso" when I got fitted on the Allez two years ago. I have the 58cm frame and was told I could probably size up slightly on my next frame.
Last edited by csaxby; 03-22-19 at 12:36 PM. Reason: Additional Info
