bigbadwullf

First ride on the Specialized Allez Double. So, this is what a bike is supposed to feel like?! Rode 28 miles and was ready to keep going. 29 on the old Cannondale about killed me last week.
Wow.

NOS88

Glad you're enjoying your new ride. Where or on what did you find the biggest change between the two?

bigbadwullf

1. Riding position. Sore lower back while/ after riding is gone.
2. Seat(excuse me......saddle ). Weight distributed better.
3. Harsh ride is gone.
4. Shifting. Brake lever/ shroud shifting vs downtube.

The rest really isn't much different. They don't really roll any different and actually the Cannondale might roll better(wheels/tires probably). Wolber wheels on the Cannondale are probably better than the Alex rims/ wheels on the Allez. Bontrager tires on the Cannondale might be better than the Mondos on the Allez. My buddy that is taking my Cannondale rode with us and he would out roll me going downhill and I weigh more than him.

BluesDawg

New bikes are nice, aren't they? And now you know one of the first things you'll want to upgrade.

wobblyoldgeezer

Now I really know nothing at all about compulsive pattern of destructive behaviour

But a chap of my acquaintance once told me

You can spend the rest of your life and the rest of your money trying to chase the first taste.

Sell it now. Walk away. Don't look back

stapfam

Wobbly has it about right--Walk away now or start saving for those Ti Bits to make the bike lighter- stronger and have Bling.

Wheels-- Why not get the cassette changed over from the Dale wheels and try them on the Allez? Easy quick way to see if you will need to spend a fortune on new wheels.

BluesDawg

That may not work. Could be the old bike has a 7 speed cassette hub that won't take a 9 speed cassette. Might even be a freewheel hub.

stapfam

Forgot about Freehubs.

But I once had a set of Alex rims on Formula hubs and that was on the OCR3 which was my first road bike. 6 months in and I was not happy with the bike-The MTB was less tiring and faster on the downhills. Got a set of handbuilt wheels and top speed went up- average speed on a 30 mile ride went up and confidence in the bike went up aswell-It now handled as I thought it should.

If the Dale wheels will not be transferrable- see if you can borrow a set of decent wheels from a mate. But do it in 6 months time when you have got the bike and you adjusted to the increased comfort- fun and milage you will be having.

Pat

The fit is the most important thing. It sounds as if you have it dialed in. Glad you like your new ride.

billydonn

Pictures are required aren't they?

bigbadwullf

Cannondale= 6 speed Shimano 105(20 years old at least)
Allez= 8 speed Sora

Requisite picture: Why yes that is water running over the road....

bobthib

+1 on Pat's comment. On a roadie, FIT is KING. I really recommend a good PRO FIT at some point. Mine was a Retuel fit by John at Racer's Edge in Boca Raton.

Be careful riding in that water. Besides being dangerous to you, it's not good for your bike. In my new bike excitement, 2 years ago I took my bike out after a big storm. I rode through some big puddles. Not a far ride, but just enough. Now I find I've been "grinding coffee" in my bottom bracket for 2 years. Not wonder my crank never seemed really smooth...

ItsJustAHill

+1

Nice bike.

bigbadwullf

Oh, we didn't ride thru the water. We got close enough for a few photos. But then again what would be the difference between that and getting caught in the rain? Got fit by bike shop rider/mechanic I trust at time of purchaseright down to the cleats on my shoes.

Philipaparker

Welcome to the 21st Century. 26 year old Cannondale? I know there has been some progress made over the last 2 1/2 decades.

stapfam

Riding in water.

Offroad and my bikes get everything thrown at them-Mud- Sand occasionally and plenty of water. In fact on the winter rides I hunt out the puddles to lose a couple of lbs of clay off the frame



Wash down when I get back and every month the wheel bearings would be stripped and rebuilt. Surprising how good the MTB hub seals are. But in 2001 I did a road ride on my new pair of crossride wheels. A road metric and it rained- we also had a few Fords to pass through that were a bit full and were well up the wheels. 50 miles into the metric and I starting having Pawl problems on the freehub. It would miss a few clicks as if the chain was jumping. Tried the wheels a week later and the pawls were jammed open. I had spare wheels so didn't bother about it till 2 years later. Took the rear wheel into the LBS to see if he had a new Freehub. 30 seconds later and he had the freehub in bits and looking in the spares boxes for new Pawls Springs and bearings.

Most freehubs are not strippable for cleaning or re-greasing but some of the proprietary ones are. Shows that it does pay for quality I suppose but water can get past the best seals and make a right mess of the Bearings.

And the wheels in the Pic are my winter ones that I still have. 94 XTR hubs on Mavic 217 rims and they are ultra light and strong for an MTB wheel--Till you take them out to play in the winter.

AzTallRider

It wasn't the brightest thing I ever did, but I've ridden through water up to my BB on my commute to work. It was one of those things people do just before they become a headline: "Cyclist washed downstream in flash flood."

bigbadwullf

Oh, we know a little about about flooding . 14 inches in one day last May. All of Tn was flooded from Memphis to the other side of Nashville. Look at a map . 200 miles from Memphis to Nashville. Little media coverage(imagine that) other than the Titans field flooded.