jaxgtr

Well,

It seems like forever that I've been lurking the LBS's around me forever trying this and trying that, looking on eBay and Craig's List, well I found one that will fill the void in my cycling needs. I found a 2004 Specialized Allez Comp on Craig's List for $725.00. It has a complete Ultegra Group, 9 spd, Mavic Open Pro 32 spoke, Utegra hubs, Look pedals, he even threw in some brand new never worn pair of Sidi shoes. Dude is getting married and the future Mrs., said it's got to go. So I said I would take it off your hands.

I'm going to take it to the LBS tomorrow to get it size and setup for me, and then I will post some pics with my new ride. While it's a little more stretched than I like, I am going to set it up to be a little more relaxed and as I gain more experience and lose some more weight will put it a little more agressive.

It looks like this.

Tom Stormcrowe

SCHWEET!

jaxgtr

Sorry, I had to fix the picture. I have a better one loaded. I just found the same bike on ebay and it has some fairly good pics.

https://cgi.ebay.com/04-Specialized-A...ayphotohosting

jaxgtr

Yea, I'm stoked and can't wait to ride it around with the proper setup for me.

ronjon10

Congrats on the bike! Feel sorry for that guy though. Whipped!

Chris in WCVA

When he's the Clyde, she'll wish he'd kept the bike!

That's a great bike! I'd say its....Schwell!

jaxgtr

Oh, he's got other's, this one of 3 or 4 that he was letting go.

Soonerinfrisco

He is SCREWED!

(51)

Sweet looking bike! I shudder just looking at those spokes. I'm afraid I would taco those suckers in no time.

I guess you'll be speeding by me in the mileage chart soon

Tom we need a "Hybrid Emeritus" certificate made for jaxgtr.

jaxgtr

Well will see on the milage, I still want to do my century on my Hybrid just to say I did. Since the position is so much different than what I am used to, I am going to ease into this bike and not make my first ride a 50 mile 18 mph rampage, but I so want to have an avg speed in that range in the future. I figure I will start out at 10 or 15 and go from there. While the seat seem comfy on the test ride, I might find it not so comfy after 10 miles.

The wheels on the bike in the pic are not what I have thank goodness, while I am riding low spoke count wheels now, I don't think I could push my luck at 16 spokes. Luckily this bike came with 32 spoke Open Pro's built by Wheelsmith, and I think they are the gold label model. This dude spared no cost and did not go cheap on this bike, but he did work at a local LBS, so I got to assume he got them at a much better rate than the general public.

I'll still be riding my Hybrid, especially on days when it raining or a heavy threat to rain, which you are well aware of, happens quite often in our Florida summer's.

bdinger

Whoa, sweet ride! Talk about a craigslist score, this is one of the better ones I've heard of!

Welcome to Specialized land. After reading this post, I think I'll ride my much-neglected Specialized tomorrow. Startin' to miss it a bit

jaxgtr

Yea, I can't wait to pick it up from the LBS after the tune up and adjustments. I'm thinking this might be the once in a lifetime deal as I almost bought a Pilot 2.1 about 2 weeks ago, but held off as something in the back of my mine said, "Wait, Don't Do It. You'll be sorry". I almost got some new shoes too, but waited on those until I got the new bike, now both have been solved.

The only thing bothering me is the LBS where I do most of my business and where I took the bike to get the work done is not a Specialized dealer and I was given somewhat of a cold shoulder when I brought the bike in. I eneded up taking it to the local Specialized dealer. I was a little shocked by the reception I got as I have spent many a dollar in their business and probably will continue to frequent the shop, but I don't know how much more money I will be dropping there. I don't know if it was the brand or if it was the fact that I got it off Craig's List as I have seen many brands not sold by them in the shop for service, so I figured I wouldn't catch any grief, but it was a weird vibe I got.

Anyone else ever have this experience?

bdinger

I had that vibe before, oddly from the shop where I ended up buying my last bike. I didn't like the vibe I got, but on a whim went there when I was looking for another bike. It must have been just a bad batch of employees, as they have gone above and beyond now to accommodate my needs and wants. Only thing that sucks is that they are across town, on a arterial that is ALWAYS jam packed with traffic. The shops closer to me are allright, but tend to be higher priced and not as knowledgeable.

Ironically, the place I bought my Specialized from is a great shop, and one that I was told to avoid. They've done great work every time I've been in there, and the mechanics seem to be genuine bike guys.

Which.. with the impending nasty weather here, I'll be putting some miles on my Specialized.

jaxgtr

I completely forgot to post a picture of the new ride. I really comfortable on it. Did hae to move my saddle from my hybrid over as the saddle the bike came with I'm not quite ready for. The shoes the guy gave me did not fit real good, so I sold them and will be picking up some new ones this week so I can use my road peddles.

I also visited my favorite LBS issues seem to have healed with a little time. The guy I typically talked to came out and looked at the bike the other day and even took it for a ride and said it was a nice ride. I am going to join the shop for a ride this week after they close.

biffstephens

Very cool....congrats on the purchase....

That looks like one heck of a deal....

conurejade

Terrific looking ride!!

I'm 6-8 months away from a road bike myself - but maybe I'll just vicariously enjoy your good fortune until then.
It just proves that good things come to those who wait. Congrats!

PATH

Sweet looking bike! Enjoy!

kensuf

That's a great looking bike! Congrats!

One comment though, you may want to level out that seat.

Enjoy the new ride!

Ken
ps - Will you be coming over here to Gainesville for the "Ride to Remember" on May 12th? Let me know and maybe we can do a BF group ride for part of the century (it'll be my first "long ride" back after a 3 week layoff, so I'm not even sure I'll be able to do the whole century).

jaxgtr

Yea, I pulled that seat off my hybrid just before I took the pic and it was level on that bike. I took a 15 mile ride on the other seat it came with and I pretty much rode home standing up, man was that thing painful after a couple miles. It had some Michilen Pro2 Race tires that were pretty worn and had a couple of small cuts that look like it could be trouble and since those tires are pretty soft, I figured with my weight I would be blowing through them pretty quick. I just put on the Michelin Krylion Carbon tires about an hour ago that have a lot of good reviews on them. 2 for $48 on ebay.

As far as the Ride to Remember, that is up in the air. Wife has to go out of town that weekend so I have munchkins duty. Trying to find someone to watch them now, so will see. I am going to try and get down to Hawthorn sometime soon as well. I'll PM you if I can go so we can meet up somewhere.

Have fun on your tip oversea's. I'm still trying to convince the wife to do a tour through the Tuscan region of Italy, but she not quite in to this riding thing yet. She does short 5 and 10 mile rides, 60 to 100 is not her idea of fun.

kensuf

Although I *really* love the pro2 races, they do cut easily and I find myself supergluing a few of the cuts at least once a week..

Considering your weight (BTW, congrats on dropping below that 3 number!), you may want to consider Specialized Armadillos. They're supposed to be just about bulletproof. Maybe 25's too.

Let me know about the R2R when you've figured out. From next Saturday until May 7th-ish, I'll be gone, but I'll check my PM's when I get back.

Tom Stormcrowe

Jax, we'll be posting pics when we get back from our tour, maybe that'll get the bug in your wife as well!

jaxgtr

Yea look at the Armadillo's, but a friend of mine who rode on them had all sorts of problems, but not sure if it was the rider or the tire. I've been real happy with the Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase 28's I've been riding on, but those are a little tight on the rear with the chain stays, so I thought I'd give the Michelin's a go. I hate giving my hard earned money to the French, but every so often, you have to roll the dice. I like to see how a different tire brand handles compared to what I'm used to. Considering I was riding 38's at first, the 23's are a huge difference, but so far they seem fairly stable.

I'm going to actually leave the hood tonight since I've changed the rubber to see how the bike feels and handles on my normal route. Ride up a couple of parking garages and bridges as well which will be interesting on the way down. Look out below ...........Fat guy on a bike coming through.

Tom, that will be great. Can wait to see them.

Neil_B

Nice bike! What a reward for breaking 300!

lutz

The Armadillo tires are certainly bulletproof, but you pay for this security.
I could not believe it when I mounted them for the first time. It was like cycling with a heavy trailer. These things roll like molasses. I never experienced something alike with any other tire.
I one appreciates the added exercise they are great. I am running now Continental Ultra Gatorskins (supposedly also very flat-resistant) and I am feeling about ten years younger again.

Congrats to this nice bike!

(51)

Sexy

Keep us posted on your impressions once the "honeymoon" is over. I'm considering getting a custom bike, but I am a bit leary of the $3,000 price tag.