• Specification

• Price: £999.00
• Weight: 8.85kg (56cm)
• Sizes: 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
• Website: Specialized

So, over time I grudgingly had to admit that I didn’t have the best entry-level road bike anymore, while more recently it’s also come under threat from the likes of Canyon with the Ultimate and Endurace alloy frames, and Giant’s Contend bikes. So, clearly it was high time for a change… and what a change it is, mostly for the better, too.

The 2018 Specialized Allez Elite offers a finely-tuned ride, with a lightweight frame, predictable yet agile handling, and everyday versatility, making this a real contender if you’ve got £1,000 to spend on a road bike. While the Elite-spec model featured here comes in at £999 with Shimano 105 shifters and derailleurs, there are also Allez Sport and standard Allez models with Shimano Sora and Shimano Claris bits for £799 and £599 respectively.

Compliance has also been addressed, with dropped seatstays that mirror those of the Tarmac carbon race bike. The redesigned carbon fork is also said to do the double job of reducing road vibrations while providing a direct front end. There’s sadly no carbon seatpost to further improve comfort, but we’ll get onto that later.

We’re also told that the Specialized’s wind tunnel was also consulted in the design of the alloy tubes and carbon fork – it might no longer be a race bike, but it’s clear that the dropped seatstays are hidden away a little more effectively, while the entire frameset just looks tidier compared to the old version, helped by the internal cable routing. The toptube also looks slightly more truncated than the previous flattened oval shape of old.

The ride – more forgiving, but still exciting

The Allez’s frameset redesign dominates the whole experience. As an owner of a recently-retired Allez, it’s easy to draw comparisons between the two – but actually what occurs to me most is how fundamentally similar they are.

‘Hold on a minute’, I hear you say. ‘Isn’t this is effectively an entirely different bike that bears practically no geometrical resemblance to its predecessor. How can it be so similar?’ Well, let me explain.

The overall effect of this balanced geometry married to a lighter, stiffer and more comfortable frameset is a bike which is far more well-rounded and finessed than its predecessor. The old geometry (which has been retained by the Sprint model) is still the one you want for a truly aggressive ride on the crit scene, but for most everyday riders I’m convinced it’s a good improvement.

This means that if you want to use your new Allez for regular weekend 100km rides, as a commuter workhorse, or a combination of both, it’s now well up to the task and is as rewarding as it is versatile.

The build – Shimano 105 drivetrain, solid and reliable finishing kit

As you might expect with a bike based around a completely new frame that sneaks under the £1,000 barrier, there are certain concessions made in order to hit this important price point – but the good thing is that, while you may justifiably be tempted to upgrade certain parts, the stock kit is solid and dependable.

The rolling stock is based around DT Swiss R460 rims. With an 18mm internal width, the R460 rimis a good match for the 25mm tyres. It’s a solid setup but you do get the sense that a lighter wheelset would unlock far more performance from the very competent frameset.

Certainly, the wheels are good enough for anyone who doesn’t know any different and is just starting out with road cycling, while experienced riders might conceivably already have a set of summer wheels they’ll want to break out when the weather changes. What’s for sure is that the supplied wheelset will do just fine through the depths of winter and for general workhorse duties, while the Specialized Espoir tyres are fairly grippy and hardy enough to withstand most punishment dished out by the road. Again, there’s the opportunity to upgrade to something lighter and faster for summer riding, thanks to the excellent frame at the heart of the bike.

The shifters and derailleurs come from Shimano’s mid-range 105 setup, but bear in mind it’s not the complete groupset. You get a Praxis Alba 2D chainset on which to churn the KMC chain, and they aren’t 105-spec brake calipers either.

“At its core the Allez still boasts an exciting, enjoyable and responsive ride – except this time it’s truly designed for the people who actually buy one”

Instead, in order to help give the 28c tyre clearance at this price, Spesh has gone with Tektro Axis calipers. Cynics might say this is all blatant cost cutting, but in truth I found them to be on a par with the 105-series counterparts. The fact is that 105 is now long in the tooth and due an upgrade – and if the latest Dura-Ace and Ultegra is anything to go by, we hope the new calipers will feature wider clearance for 28c tyres – so fitting calipers that maximise the frame’s versatility is a good thing.

Moreover, the Praxis chainset is stiff and allows swift chain engagement under load. I do think the 105 5800-series chainset is slightly sweeter in its engagement both on upshifts and downshifts, but the difference is only slight and probably only noticeable if you’re a seasoned 5800 chainset user. Meanwhile, a KMC chain is a common swap in the industry wherever you look, and there’s nothing to fault there at this price point.